2011 NON PROFIT COMMUNITY PARTNERS

There's something special about the Adolph and Rose Levis Jewish Community Center (JCC). You can feel it as soon as you walk through the door -- whether you've come to bring your child to preschool or to camp, to attend a Jazz concert or theater performance, to workout in a state-of-the-art athletic facility or drop your child off at KidFit, to pick up your child from our after school program or to have your child attend one of our innovative Special Needs programs, to board the bus for a day of travel or to participate in a spiritual workshop at the JCC Sandler Center. The Levis JCC is your special place, providing the meaningful and caring connections that make our community home!

The Surfers For Autism mission is to unlock the potential of people with developmental disabilities, support advocacy for autism issues and scientific research. Our focus is to eliminate stigma through public awareness and education and to unite communities through volunteerism.

Leukemia, lymphoma, other cancers and genetic diseases are random killers. They can strike any one of us at any time. But for many, there is hope of a cure through a bone marrow, blood stem cell or umbilical cord blood transplant. In fact, one in 200 Americans will receive such a transplant in their lifetime. Headquartered in Boca Raton, Gift of Life is one of the nation's public bone marrow, blood stem cell and umbilical cord blood registries. Through its life-saving work, Gift of Life is a world leader facilitating transplants for children and adults suffering from many life-threatening diseases, among them leukemia and lymphoma. Gift of Life's vision for the future is simple: A match. Anytime. Anywhere. For anyone. Please join us in a global movement to save lives. Become a member with a simple cheek swab today!

The American Heart Association (AHA) helps build healtheir lives, free of cardiovascular deseases and stroke. That single purpose drives all we do. The need for our work is beyond question! The AHA is a non profit organization in the USA that fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. The AHA is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. To learn more about AHA click on our web link below.

For 20 memorable years, Boca Ballet Theatre has been passionately pursuing a mission to enrich the cultural landscape of our community and to educate our youth in classical ballet and concert dance through focused training, interaction with professional dancers and participation in full-length ballets and contemporary choreography. Since its founding in 1990, the Company has earned a position among the top civic companies in the country while the School of Boca Ballet Theatre, one of the few nonprofit dance schools in the country, has garnered attention for its distinctive approach to training and successful outreach programs. Boca Ballet Theatre starts each Season of Dance with the holiday classic, The Nutcracker presented by Marleen and Harold* Forkas, and follows that up with Spring and Summer dance concerts to appeal to all audiences. Each year a free concert at Mizner Park Ampitheater is offered with the City of Boca Raton during Memorial Day Weekend. Boca Ballet Theatre’s outreach efforts reflect the broader values and possibilities associated with arts education. 1st Step, the Company’s award-winning 35-week, after-school intervention program, introduces underserved children living in the communities managed by the Boca Raton Housing Authority to the art and discipline of dance in a fun, safe environment. All obstacles to participation are removed; Boca Ballet Theatre provides dancewear, shoes, laundry service and transportation. Now in its tenth year, 1st Step’s popularity and possibilities keep on growing.

Broward Children’s Center’s purpose is to promote the health and happiness of those with disabilities. Our private nonprofit provides an array of medical, educational, and daily living services designed to maximize the independence of those with special health care needs. From premature infants to young adults, we are focused on developing and delivering the very best care necessary to ensure each individual is given every opportunity to thrive and succeed.

Boca Helping Hands serves the economically challenged, culturally diverse population of east Boca. Founded in 1998 by a group of local volunteers in response to the growing challenge of hunger and poverty in our community, Boca Helping Hands provides food, financial assistance and job-training to the underprivileged. Focusing on the “whole person,” the various programs of BHH are well integrated to meet the needs of individuals, children and families, with the goal of breaking the cycle of dependence. A hot, nutritious lunch is served six days each week, with a “family dinner” offered on Thursday evenings. In addition, pantry bags with non-perishable food items are distributed every day. A Resource Center works with residents of Boca Raton who are in danger of being evicted from their apartments or having their utilities cut off for non-payment. BHH has a “Job Mentor Program” which establishes an e-mail account for our clients and provides a mentor to assist with the preparation of resumes. Clients have the opportunity to take basic computer-skills classes. Clients also are given two hours per day in the BHH Computer Lab to search for employment through the internet. Those who secure interviews and/or employment offers are given professional attire from our “dignity closet.” A full time staff of five…and over 200 dedicated volunteers carry out the mission of Boca Helping Hands: The mission of Boca Helping Hands is to provide compassionate service through food and assistance programs to individuals, families and children to instill dignity and break the cycle of dependence.

Our greatest wish is for our boys and girls to break the cycle of abuse and neglect and realize their dreams. Every time one of our children grows up to be a responsible and successful adult, SOS rejoices. Not only have we provided them with a safe, happy home and helped them heal from their past traumas, but we have also given them the hope of a better future.

The Southeast Florida Chapter enhances efforts for researching a cure and provides support and educational services to over 200,000 Alzheimer's patients, families and caregivers in Broward, Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, Martin, Monroe, St. Lucie and Okeechobee counties.

Scleroderma is a chronic connective tissue disease generally classified as one of the autoimmune rheumatic diseases. The word “scleroderma” comes from two Greek words: “sclero” meaning hard, and “derma” meaning skin. Hardening of the skin is one of the most visible manifestations of this very, even today, unknown disease. The exact cause or causes of scleroderma are still unknown, but scientists and medical investigators in a wide variety of fields are working hard to make those determinations. What is known is that scleroderma involves overproduction of collagen. Our chapter’s mission is to educate and support our local patients who suffer from this devasting disease. We hold support groups, medical symposiums, a 2K walk, and fundraising events throughout the year to further our cause.

The Tri County Humane Society is a no-kill organization. Once an animal is rescued by Tri County, it is saved for life. We will not release an animal to another organization that has a policy of euthanasia. In addition, we will only place animals with qualified prospective owners. Tri County rescues thousands of pups, cats, dogs and kittens each year that were on death row ready to be euthanized. That is why our no-kill shelter is vital to thousands of animals that depend on us for their lives.

Kids4Kids Serves Our Youth and Our Community. Our mission is to provide emphasis on learning, help students succeed in life, provide positive activities, build self-potential awareness, encourage physical fitness, provide motivation, and most of all build confidence while providing After-School Programs, Summer Camps, Walkathons and Sports Programs within schools in Broward and Palm Beach Counties, which focus directly on the needs of Elementary, Middle & High School students, and parents.