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United for Families hosts second annual galaMystery lurked around every black-and-silver-draped corner Saturday, Oct. 27, when United for Families unveiled the Second Annual Toyota of Stuart Le Bal Masque.
The event, hosted at Willoughby Golf Club in Stuart, featured live music by the Joe Scott Band, a four-course meal, an hour of open bar and a silent auction. More than 140 guests, including Rep. Gayle Harrell, attended the fundraiser, which drew nearly $18,000 for the non-profit agency.
United for Families coordinates child-welfare services for more than 1,500 children in St. Lucie, Martin, Indian River and Okeechobee counties. The agency provides services such as foster care, adoptions and in-home protective services for children who have been abused or neglected.
Saturday’s event also featured an award ceremony for the agency’s Case Manager of the Year. St. Lucie County Dependency Case Manager Andrew Givans was awarded the honor for his exemplary work with children and their families.
“If we are serious about improving the lives of children who enter the dependency system, then we must work very hard to improve the quality of the work place for those who are responsible for them,” United for Families Chief Executive Officer Christine Demetriades said.
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Larry Fryer, general manager for Rechtien International Trucks, of Fort Pierce, donated his time and the use of this International CXT to United for Families for its entry in the Exchange Club CASTLE Chili Cook Off.
Children, volunteers and United for Families staff piled into the truck for the Chili Cook Off Parade. United for Families was one of many parade entries during the Oct. 12-13 event. Michael Kaiser, front left, entered his chili into the contest.
From left, Cerena Wallace, Pauline McIntosh, Rhoda Cantor and Johan Craddock take a break during Le Bal Masque to pose for a photographer.
Patty Caravella and Marie Perez, a United for Families foster parent, helped sell masks that were created by community volunteers. The masks were available for a $10 donation to any guests who forgot to bring their own masks.
United for Families Board Chairwoman Pat McCoy, Development Director Christina Kaiser and Chief Executive Officer Christine Demetriades pause from their hostess duties to take a picture together during the event.
Rep. Gayle Harrell, left, Steve Doyle and Sylvie Kramer, executive director for Healthy Start Coalition of St. Lucie, were some of the 141 guests who attend the masked event. Doyle's firm, Culpepper and Terpening, was a Masquerade Sponsor for the ga
The event's Phantom Sponsor for the second year was Toyota of Stuart. Toyota of Stuart guests included Fred Belanger, Mr. and Mrs. Pete Corradino, Mr. and Mrs. Barry Grant, Mr. and Mrs. Tim Hoke, Mercie Peach and David Pierce.
Siw Sleight and Lori Troup, right, attended the event. Mrs. Troup is a regular volunteer at United for Families and a graphic artist.
East Coast Paving -- a division of Hubbard Construction was one of Le Bal Masque's two Diva Sponsors. From left, Bob Kilmer, Mark Cunningham, Phil Smith and Michael Mills.
The night was full of masks -- from left, Matt Krumme, Kelly Krumme, Christina Kaiser and Michael Kaiser monkey around for a picture.
Barry Grant, of Toyota of Stuart, and United for Families Chief Executive Officer Christine Demetriades present the Case Manager of the Year award to Andrew Givans.
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United for Families News
- Celebrated children's wildlife author and photographer Michael Patrick O'Neill will sign books from 2-5 p.m. Dec. 9 at Barnes and Nobles Booksellers during a children’s book fair hosted by United for Families.
O'Neill, winner of the 2002 BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition, is a renown wildlife and underwater photographer. His children's books include, Fishy Friends, All About Sea Life, Shark Encounters and Ocean Magic.
The Dec. 9 event is the second United for Families book fair to be hosted at the Jensen Beach book store. A percentage of proceeds from books sold during the fair will be donated back to United for Families as store credit.
Visit the United for Families table to receive your free voucher or visit the events page at www.unitedforfamilies.org to print additional vouchers.
- United for Families and the Sade Group at Smith Barney will host the first in a series of free planned giving luncheons noon Nov. 29 at United for Families headquarters in Port St. Lucie.
Michael A. Lampert, PA, a board certified tax attorney, will lead the workshop. Topics will include:
• Six methods used to transfer assets to a charity
• How each method works and which one might suit you best
• The tax implications of “normal” giving vs. “strategic” giving
• Reducing your estate taxes through charitable giving
The workshop, which will include a complimentary lunch, will be held at 10570 S. Federal Hwy. Ste. 300, in the United for Families board room.
For more information, or to register, please call Frank M DeVito at (772) 223-3258, or visit United for Families on line at unitedforfamilies.org.
- Hibiscus Children’s Center awarded United for Families its prestigious Annual Partnership Award Oct. 18.
“United for Families is a major partner in the treatment and prevention of child abuse along the Treasure Coast and it was important for us to recognize that,” said Gary Pettit, Chief Operating Officer for Hibiscus Children’s Center, adding that, “75 percent of our funding comes from United for Families.”
United for Families is the community based care agency that coordinates and oversees child-welfare services in St. Lucie, Martin, Indian River and Okeechobee counties. Hibiscus Children’s Center is part of United for Families’ network of providers.
“We are absolutely thrilled beyond words to be honored by Hibiscus Children’s Center in this manner,” Christine Demetriades, Chief Executive Officer for United for Families, said. “Our goal is to partner well with our community, so when we are recognized by such a wonderful organization, we feel deeply valued and on our way to fulfilling our mission.”
- United for Families will mark the grand opening of its new Stuart service center with a special tree-dedication ceremony at 9 a.m. Dec. 7 at 3465 SW Willoughby Blvd., next to the Martin County Health Department.
The yellow building is home to more than 20 child-welfare workers, or dependency case managers and supervisors, who coordinate the safety plans for children who enter the dependency court system because of abuse or neglect.
Child welfare services had been housed at the service center’s previous location on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. for more than 20 years.
The new facility is flooded with natural light pouring in through large windows, a conference room, a family meeting room, a clean and comfortable visitation room where children who have been removed from home can visit with their families, and a kitchen.
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Caregiver News- Starting Jan. 11, there will be a new 5-week Positive Parenting course available for foster parents.
Classes will be provided at the Martin County service center at its new Willoughby Boulevard location and are scheduled for 6-9 p.m. Jan. 10, Jan. 17, Jan. 24, Jan. 31 and Feb. 7.
- Caregivers in need of extra help this holiday season should contact Community Resource Coordinator Lea Ely and sign up for the Adopt a Family program. The holiday sponsorship program has paired foster families to small businesses in the community for seven years. Call 398-2920 Ext. 297.
- Okeechobee has a new mentor. Anna Adamo agreed to mentor Okeechobee foster parents through the United for Families Foster Parent Mentor Program.
For more information, including dates for upcoming meetings for foster parents as well as the Relatives As Parents Program, call Jill Feaster at 398-2920. - Caregivers looking for local business discounts are encouraged to visit the "services" page of the United for Families website, unitedforfamilies.org. A variety of businesses offering discounts to foster parents are listed.
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Community News
- Reich & Mancini PA and Treasure Coast Square Mall will host a Kids Safety Fest from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday outside the mall.
McGruff the Crime Dog will be at the event, during which parents can have identification cards made for their children. For more information, call (772) 878-9800.
- Tickets to win an 8-foot by 8-foot playhouse or workshop are available at the United for Families office located at 10570 S. Federal Hwy.; from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Martin County Chamber Holiday After Hours; and from 3-8 p.m. Nov. 23 at the United for Families booth at the Vero Beach Mainstreet Holiday Festival.The house will be raffled at 7:45 a.m. Dec. 11 during the Martin County Chamber Breakfast, which will be hosted by United for Families. Raffle tickets are available for a $10 donation.
- United for Families would like to thank all its community volunteers who helped at its Hot Fore Chili booth during the Exchange Club CASTLE Chili Cookoff Oct. 12-13. More than 10 United for Families volunteers helped during the two-day event.
- Another united thanks goes to Riverside National Bank and the many individuals who helped make the Toyota of Stuart Le Bal Masque a success.
Student volunteers, foster parent volunteers, volunteers from local businesses and retirees worked more than seven months as committee members, designing and creating centerpieces, inputing data, making masks and gathering silent auction items.
Those interested in serving on the 2008 Le Bal Masque committee should call Leslie Haviland-Smith at 398-2920.
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