END OF THE YEAR MATCHFrom Executive Director, James S. Gavrilos

Each year, our BHH Family is presented with a unique challenge. One generous

benefactor inspires us all to “stretch”…for the greater good of the community. Once again, we are launching our End of the Year Matching Campaign! Our anonymous benefactor has agreed to match every unrestricted contribution received between November 1st and December 31st. Let me repeat for the sake of clarity: The anonymous donor will match every dollar that is contributed to Boca Helping Hands, as long as the contribution is unrestricted and thus able to be used to support general operations. This benefactor will match these contributions up to a total of $175,000.00!This End of the Year Matching Campaign is our one and only appeal for the year. Now is the time to share your passion for Boca Helping Hands with your family and friends. Encourage them to fi ll out the envelopes we have enclosed

in this newsletter. Let us meet the challenge and raise the funds needed to support the incredible work we do here…and what work it is! Here are some “bullet points” you can share with those who are new to the BHH Family: In 2013, Boca Helping Hands……will distribute over 60,000 pantry bags of perishable and non-perishable groceries. …will serve over 55,000 hot meals to local families and individuals.…received a Four Star Rating from Charity Navigator for the 8th CONSECUTIVE YEAR!!! …launched Esperanza Catering…a job training program that has found gainful employment for 66% of its students. …increased its BHH Backpack program to serve 8 schools and nearly 1,400 children.

The 7th Annual Bowling for Bread event, benefi ting Boca Helping Hands was

held Sunday, August 25, 2013. Two hundred children from 15 non-profi t organizations came for an afternoon of fun, food and prizes. Our tournament winners were: 1st place: Greg Peters’ team; 2nd place: Solid Rock Christian Church & High Scorer-Ralph Patora; and 3rd place: Wyndam Deerfi eld Beach Resort and High Scorer - Lisa Baruch. Through contributions and sponsorships we made over $14,000.00 and collected 293 lbs of food.

BOWLING FOR BREAD

This year our Community Partner for Boca Raton Chamber Festival Days was Republic Services. We want to thank our volunteers, Food Donors & Corporate Sponsors! Sponsors: Gary Peters Family Foundation, Comerica Bank, DMA Roofi ng Corporation, DMA Construction Corporation, Integrated Technology Corporate Solutions, Inc., Lee Pearlson Steinberg Foundation, National Securities, Oppenheimer & Co, Inc., Summit Brokerage Services, Inc., Sun Capital Partners Foundation, Inc. Food Donors: Bru’s Room Sports Grille, Lucille’s Bad to the Bone BBQ, Miller’s Boca Raton Ale House, two fat cookies, and Uncle Julio’s Fine Mexican Food. Thank you to all who participated.1st Place Greg Peters’ Team

Joanne Stanley, Republic Services& JamesGavrilos

IN THIS ISSUE

1 End of Year Match1 Bowling for Bread2 2013 Thanksgiving

Basket Brigade2 Holiday Meals2 Staff Spotlight3 Esperanza Catering

Pilot Year3 BHH Backpacks4 Board Spotlight4 H&S Lifetime

Members

Issue 16 - Fall 2013

It’s that time of the year when Boca Helping Hands is getting ready for its Annual Basket Brigade. We are projecting a need of 1,500 Frozen Turkeys and 1,500 baskets! You can help a family enjoy a Thanksgiving Dinner by contributing

toward the purchase of Frozen Turkeys (please contact Suzan Javizian) or donating baskets fi lled with goodies! We are asking for your help in collecting the following non-perishable items:

As the Holidays will soon be upon us, the BHH family is preparing for another year of special meals for those who are struggling. On Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 28th), Boca Helping Hands will serve a complete

Thanksgiving Meal with all the trimmings from noon to 2:00 P.M. Each person who comes to have Thanksgiving Dinner with us will also receive a “take home” meal. After all…what’s Thanksgiving Dinner without some leftovers for later??? In addition, we will deliver complete dinners to our west Boca location where those who receive pantry bags on Saturdays will also have the opportunity to enjoy a turkey dinner. Anyone interested in volunteering on Thanksgiving Day is encouraged to contact our Volunteer Program Manager, Deanna Duke (Deanna@bocahelpinghands.org).On Thursday Night, December 19th, the attendees at our regular Thursday Night Family Dinner will enjoy a special Holiday Meal. The Food Center will be festively decorated, and a special visitor will arrive with presents for the children! A delicious holiday meal will be served and prepared by our amazing BHH volunteers and staff . The Christmas Dinner will be served from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M., and again, anyone interested in assisting should contact Ms. Deanna Duke for further information.

Drop off times Monday-Friday 9:00 am - 3:30 pm (Closed Holidays) Boca Helping Hands, 1500 NW 1st Court, Boca Raton, FL 33432

Please bring your items to Boca Helping Hands between Mon., Nov. 18th & Thu., Nov. 21st. If you are planning a Thanksgiving Food Drive, donating 10 or more Frozen Turkeys (we are in need of 1,500 Frozen Turkeys), or need further information please contact: Suzan Javizian at (561) 417-0913 ext. 204 or Suzan@bocahelpinghands.org

• Cranberry Sauce• Fruit Cocktail or Canned Fruit• Instant Mashed Potatoes Mix• Canned Yams

OPTIONAL• Decorative Napkins and Plates• General Thanksgiving Day card from your group or family

• Laundry Basket…a must• Roasting Pan…a must!• Stuffi ng Mix• Canned Gravy• Powdered Juice• Canned Pie Filling• Pie Crust Mix and Pie Pan• Canned Vegetables

Boca Helping Hands is happy to welcome to our team Natalie

Warren, our Resource Center Manager. Natalie was born in Abington, PA. She has lived in Florida for over 20 years and is very interested in Florida history. Natalie holds a Bachelor’s Degree in

Psychology with emphasis on Forensic Psychology from Nova Southeastern University and attended FAU for Speech Pathology. When asked what brought her to Boca Helping Hands Natalie replied: My passion is children, education and community. BHH support and impact in our community creates a safe environment where those individuals in need can receive assistance through nutritious food and a variety

of services that meet basic needs and create long term solutions.

Why a career in non-profi t? I have understood the importance of community early on in my professional career. I have always felt drawn to the nonprofi t world. It is an honor to be part of a group that strives to make our community and those that live or visit, a healthier and more fulfi lling place, says Natalie.

Natalie is married to Scott Warren and they have 3 dogs: A Whippet-Madison, and twin Chiweenies, Maxwell & Cooper, 6 months old. Someday…I will have my own sky diving /zip lining company (nonprofi t of course). Proceeds would go to education of food nutrition for families. Named: Nutrition Jumpers!

STAFF SPOTLIGHT Natalie Warren, Resource Manager

2 Issue 16 - Fall 2013

ANNUAL THANKSGIVING BASKET BRIGADE

HOLIDAY MEALSμ μ

About a year or so ago, we “rolled the dice”. We gambled on a new idea…an idea to help our clients in a new

way. Yes, Boca Helping Hands can continue to meet a rising demand for food…at least for a while longer. But a year or so ago, we knew we would eventually have to address the problem “from below”…by helping people move off assistance into independent living. With a generous grant from the Jim Moran Foundation, and additional support from The Salah Foundation and The Hagen Family Foundation, Esperanza Catering at Boca Helping Hands was born.As of the printing of this newsletter, three classes have completed (or “advanced” from) the program:…33 student-participants were admitted to the program. …7 of the student-participants found employment before their training program was complete. …18 student-participants advanced. …14 of the 18 student-participants who advanced found gainful employment.…1 student-participant returned to school. …of the 33 student-participants who were admitted in the fi rst three classes, 21 have found employment and 1 returned to school for more education.

An astonishing 66% of the people enrolled in Esperanza Catering are taking steps to move off assistance. But these are just numbers.

Here is the real story…Jessica L advanced from the 2nd Class of our training program and now has her OWN apartment. She is a KEY HOLDING EMPLOYEE for more than one location of Subway Sandwich shops responsible for opening and closing shifts FULL TIME. She has custody of 2 of her minor children and they are living as a family. Jessica hadn’t worked since before the birth of her 3 year old.Please, take a moment and let that sink in. Jessica hadn’t worked in over three years. She and her children were destined to repeat the cycle of dependence. Today, they have hope for a bright future. Esperanza Catering at Boca Helping Hands is just one more attempt by the incredible team at Boca Helping Hands to carry out our mission…and break the cycle of dependence.

3Issue 16 - Fall 2013

With another school year in full swing, our BHH Backpacks Program has launched its eff orts for the 2013-2014 academic year. BHH

Backpacks provides weekend food for those children on free and/or reduced lunches who have little to eat on the weekends. This year, three additional schools have signed on to have Boca Helping Hands provide this critical service. Each week on Thursday Nights, volunteers load up the pallets with the food that is trucked to the schools on Monday and Tuesday mornings. At that point, various community groups and organizations go to the schools and put the food items into the backpacks. The children pick

up their backpacks on their way out of the classroom on Fridays…return the backpacks to their schools on Monday…and the cycle repeats every week of the school year. Our participating schools (and their adopting community groups) for this year are: Addison-Mizner (Congregation B’Nai Torah), Boca El (Boca Raton Community Church), Coral Sunset (First United Methodist Church) Del Prado (Junior League of Boca Raton), Hammock Point (St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church), J.C. Mitchell (Junior League of Boca Raton), Orchard View (Grace Community Church), and Sacred Heart School.We must thank the incredible supporters who make this program possible. The R. Cathleen Cox MacFarlane Foundation, the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, the Batchelor Foundation, the Goody Two Shoes Foundation, the Van Pelt/Bass Foundation, the Wal-Mart Foundation, the Salah Foundation, the Bank of America Foundation and the Ernst and Gertrude Ticho Foundation have all made generous contributions to ensure this program’s success. And once again, Mary Wong and the Offi ce Depot Foundation generously donated all 1,400 backpacks needed for each participant. The BHH Backpack Program is truly a community response to a critical need. Thank you to all who make this program succeed.

BHH BACKPACKS

ESPERANZA CATERING AT BOCA HELPING HANDS: The Pilot Year Draws to a Close

Current Resident or

www.bocahelpinghands.org561-417-0913

MaryJo Finocchiaro, WHM, LLC/LXR Luxury Resorts & Hotels, has been a valued member of Boca Helping Hands Board of Directors since 2011 and also sits on the BHH Endowment Board.

We at Boca Helping Hands, are proud to congratulate MaryJo Finocchiaro for the honor bestowed upon her by Junior Achievement of South Florida through their Business Hall of Fame. Junior Achievement of South Florida teaches students about the free enterprise system. Mrs. Finocchiaro is one of four Laureates chosen by previous honorees. A Laureate is an individual whose record of business achievement demonstrates business excellence, vision, innovation, courageous leadership and community support. The award ceremony will be held in February, 2014.

BOARD SPOTLIGHT

For more info contactKaren Swedenborg at:

info@bocahelpinghands.org561-417-0913 x202

❤ LIFETIME MEMBERS ❤

Robert M. Arlen P.A.Lisa & Dean Borg

Winifred BorgSusan & Peter BrockwayKathleen & James Brown

Rhoda CobbPattie & Richard Damron

Cathy & Richard DonnellanJohanna & Rick Felberbaum

Mary Anna FowlerMary Cheryl & John Hargrove

Marcia & Harry HochmanLyn Houston

Cathy & Richard JohnsonDr. Beth King

Jane & Arnaldo KluczkowskiLenore Larkin

Lucy Craske Long & David Long

Linda McElweeBernard Palmer

Cecilia & Gary PetersDebbie & Greg PetersTandy & Joe Robinson

Dr. Eric ShawRobert Sheetz

Alexandria & Gurbachan SinghLeonore & Herbert Wachtel

Ann & Thomas Wierdsma

ORGANIZATIONSCendyn

Louise Baxter King Charitable Foundation

MacCutcheon Family Foundation

The Mattfolk Family Foundation

4 Issue 6 - Summer 2009

Remillard Family Resource Center1500 NW 1st CourtBoca Raton, FL 33432

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