A Total of $25,000 to Five Local Nonprofit Organizations
+ Urban Youth Impact of WPB
+ CROS Ministries of Lake Worth
+ Women’s Circle of Boynton Beach
+ Commission for Jewish Education in WPB
+ Child’s Protection Team of Palm Beach
(Palm Beach, FL – January 2, 2014) Extraordinary Charities, Inc., a nonprofit organization that recently released the second edition of A Directory for Charitable Givingspotlighting 76 local charities with annual budgets of less than $3 million, gave checks totaling $25,000 to five valuable organizations. The checks were presented at a holiday reception held on December 20 at The Colony Hotel, Palm Beach.
“This is the time of year when, in the midst of celebrating, each of us quietly counts the many blessings in our lives. This year, Extraordinary Charities had an extraordinary opportunity to reward five of the small organizations that are improving the quality of life in our community in many crucial ways,” said Ann Paton, Vice President of Development. “Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, Extraordinary Charities was able to contribute a total of $25,000 in recognition of this season of love and generosity to the following Extraordinary Charities.”
+ Urban Youth Impact — $10,000
Based in West Palm Beach, this faith-based nonprofit offers a Christmas Store and Christmas Village that serves over 2,000 Palm Beach County children annually. This program is one of several offered by the agency in its mission to reduce juvenile crime, teen pregnancies, substance abuse, domestic violence and school dropouts in Palm Beach County. www.extraordinarycharities.org/
+ Christians Reaching Out to Society (CROS Ministries) — $5,000
Based in Lake Worth, CROS Ministries has built a broad coalition of faith-based organizations, community groups and private individuals to combat chronic hunger by operating five food pantries and a “Caring Kitchen,” where families can apply for Food Stamps and other social services. To brighten the holidays of area families most in need, CROS Ministries used their award to help provide 334 families with holiday food boxes, reducing their financial burdens. www.extraordinarycharities.org/
+ Women’s Circle, Inc. — $5,000
Based in Boynton Beach, this organization is a dynamic empowerment program for low-income women who are improving their English through classes in everything from literacy to computer training. Their $5,000 award helped to fund special gifts for the women and their children including dictionaries and a special newspaper containing helpful articles that build self-esteem. www.extraordinarycharities.org/
+ Lorraine & Jack N. Friedman Commission for Jewish Education — $2,500
Based in West Palm Beach, this organization fosters a deep appreciation of the Jewish heritage by providing support and services to more than 3,200 students and 400 educators. The award will support the CJE’s YAD program in providing much needed technological support for an education program nurturing religious education for Jewish children with special needs. www.extraordinarycharities.org/
+ Child Protection Team of Palm Beach — $2,500
Based in West Palm Beach, CPT provided the necessary medical, psychological, social and legal consultants to assist the state’s Department of Children and Families find temporary shelter or long-term homes for abused children. The award helped with the purchase of 300 care packages including new clothes and toys for abused children. www.extraordinarycharities.org/
“Throughout Palm Beach County, smaller charities are making a big difference in our community. But despite their outstanding efforts in fields like education, culture, human services and the environment, as well as international outreach, many of these extraordinary charities operate ‘under the radar’ and receive little recognition for their efforts,” said Beverlee Miller Raymond. “Extraordinary Charities, is dedicated to changing the traditional picture of philanthropy in Palm Beach County and opening the door to new donor opportunities.”
“It is a special blessing for us to be able to provide this additional $25,000 in funding during the holiday season. We were so impressed by the 27 applications we received, it was difficult to pick one agency to support. Urban Youth Impact really touched us with its Christmas Store concept. They are providing an important sense of dignity for our community’s neediest parents, offering them the chance to choose special gifts for their children,” she added. “Once we read the applications, we really wanted to make a bigger impact this holiday season, and were delighted to be able to support the needs of five of our extraordinary charities.”
“Our annual Directory for Charitable Giving is designed to connect donors with these well deserving local nonprofit organizations – each with its own unique and inspiring story, as well as current needs for specific donor support,” said Mrs. Raymond. “Together, we really can make Palm Beach County a stronger and more cohesive community.”
Anyone interested in obtaining a copy of A Directory for Charitable Giving should call 561.791.0403 or view a digital version online at www.extraordinarycharities.org (http://www.extraordinarycharities.org/)
Attached Jpegs:
(All IDs are L-R / Photos by Corby Kaye’s Studio Palm Beach)
1. Juanita Hale, board member, and Pat Newsome, grants manager/community liaison of Urban Youth Impact, with John & Beverlee Raymond and Ann Paton of Extraordinary Charities
2. Alison Hitchcock of Child Protection Team, with John & Beverlee Raymond and Ann Paton of Extraordinary Charities
3. Sharada Shankar-Alducin and Sister Joan Carusillo CSC, governing board members of Women’s Circle, with John & Beverlee Raymond and Ann Paton of Extraordinary Charities
4. Tony Zimistowski, board member, and Ruth Mageria, executive director of CROS Ministries, withJohn & Beverlee Raymond and Ann Paton of Extraordinary Charities
Media Contact:
Gary Schweikhart
PR-BS, Inc.
561.756.4298
gary@pr-bs.net
