PALM BEACH, FL. – As Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches enters its fifth decade of service, the agency’s 41st Annual Tree Lighting Celebration is being led by a pair of women who have worked tirelessly in support of the mission to end and prevent episodes of family homelessness.

Longtime Adopt-A-Family supporter and board officer Heather B. Ferguson has been named chair of the event, a beloved holiday tradition that will be held Dec. 2 at a private Palm Beach club. Lisa Swift, another dedicated agency friend, is serving as honorary chair. Both women have been active with Adopt-A-Family’s work since the 1980s.

New to this year’s event, a Young Friends Committee of agency ambassadors is working in harmony with the Tree Lighting Committee and in support of other agency initiatives throughout the year. The Young Friends Committee is chaired by Jessica Swift, daughter-in-law of Lisa Swift, and co-chaired by Victoria Racanati Feinberg.

Chairing her second Tree Lighting Celebration, Ms. Ferguson became involved with Adopt-A-Family when she served on the Adoption Selection Committee, which was tasked with choosing families to receive assistance. She chaired her first Tree Lighting Celebration in 1990 and has remained a passionate advocate for the organization.

“One of the first families I met was a single mom working two jobs while her children slept in the backseat of her car,” Ms. Ferguson recalls. “That experience drove me to involve others. The need is still so great, and I am honored to be even a small part in the work the organization does to change lives.”

Lisa Swift remembers her first Tree Lighting Celebration at the Worth Avenue National Bank, where her husband’s Kiwanis Club sponsored a family. She knew immediately that this was a cause that would remain close to her heart. With a background in social services, she was invited to join the Adoption Selection Committee and quickly became an integral part of Adopt-A-Family’s holiday programs. A former Tree Lighting chair and dedicated volunteer, Ms. Swift says she is thrilled to serve as honorary chair and added, “I’m especially excited to see our new Young Friends Committee bringing fresh energy and festive plans to the celebration.”

The 41st Annual Tree Lighting Celebration will usher in the holiday season where guests will enjoy an extensive silent auction, lush orchid display, and “everyone wins” Wine Pull before sitting down to a three-course gourmet meal and live auction led by Neil Saffer. A client testimonial and the lighting of the Angel Tree add meaningful touches to the event, Adopt-A-Family’s largest annual fundraiser. Last year’s Tree Lighting Celebration raised $1.2 million, directly funding programs that support families in crisis and create long-term pathways to stability.

Tickets for the event are $500 per person. Tables and sponsorship opportunities are still available. Visit www.aafpbc.org to learn more about Adopt-A-Family’s mission, programs, and impact. For event-related information, please contact Sydney Parmet at sparmet@aafpbc.org or (561) 444-0399.

Palm Beach County, FL – After a record-breaking year, Clinics Can Help (CCH) is excited to announce its 12th Annual Golf Classic, returning Friday, October 24, 2025, at a new location: Eastpointe Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens. This year’s event will continue the tradition of honoring everyday champions, both CCH’s clients and the community members who support them while working hard to raise money to support CCH’s KINDER Project (Kids In Need of Durable Equipment Right Now).

Registration for the event will be open at 7:30 a.m. with both range time and breakfast available as well as the opportunity to get a head start on bidding in the silent auction. Returning as event chair is CBS 12 morning anchor Matt Lincoln, joined once again by PGA Tour Champion Dana Quigley as Honorary Chair. The Quigley family, longtime supporters of Clinics Can Help, are deeply connected to CCH’s mission following the assistance they provided to Dana’s son, Devon, for many years.

The tournament will officially begin at 8:45 a.m. with a scramble format, open to mixed, men’s, and women’s divisions. Exciting contests and prizes will be awarded for:

• Longest drive (men & women)
• Closest to the pin (men & women)
• Hole-in-one competition presented by AutoNation Cadillac West Palm Beach.

All proceeds support CCH’s KINDER Project, which provides critical medical equipment to families of children with special needs. Many of these families face overwhelming medical costs, and the project helps their children live safer, more independent lives.

Registration Information:

• Golf entries range from $375 – $1,500
• Lunch-only tickets available for non-golfers at $100

To learn more, register, or sponsor the event, please visit https://www.clinicscanhelp.org/our-events/cch-11th-annual-golf-classic/or contact Angie Niehoff at (305) 582-7450 or golfinfo@clinicscanhelp.org.

West Palm Beach, Florida – Each year, Clinics Can Help (CCH) and its heartfelt base of advocates and supporters gather for the Cribs for Kids luncheon to spur funding, collect resources, and build awareness around CCH’s mission. While CCH serves children and adults in need of medical equipment year-round, this special event focuses on its most precious clients, newborns and infants, in need of a safe place to sleep. This year, the organization is proud to announce that Emmy award-winning journalist Soledad O’Brien will lend her voice to the event as speaker.

O’Brien is an award-winning journalist, philanthropist, and founder of Soledad O’Brien Productions, a media production company dedicated to telling empowering and authentic stories on a range of social issues. O’Brien’s work has been recognized with ten Emmy awards, three George Foster Peabody Awards, and many others. Her passion for supporting young people is realized by way of her foundation, PowHERful, which has helped dozens of young women get to and through college. Soledad lives between New York City and West Palm Beach with her husband Brad, and her four children. 

“We are incredibly honored that Soledad will join us for our annual event,” shared Clinics Can Help CEO Owen O’Neill. “She believes truly in giving a voice to all and will certainly be doing so by helping to raise awareness and funds at our event.”

Taking place on Friday, December 5th, The Cribs for Kids Luncheon will turn The Ben, located in downtown West Palm Beach, Florida, into a winter wonderland. Upon stepping in to the space guests will feel the glitz of the holidays and get a head start of their holiday shopping with local vendors providing a holiday shopping experience. Following their shopping time, guests will head to the ballroom for a chef curated lunch, the chance to learn more about the work the nonprofit does and to hear a personal client experience sharing how a simple crib truly transformed their child’s life. Both a live and silent auction will give attendees the chance to bid on fabulous items and experiences while further helping to support the organization’s mission.

Tickets for the event begin at $300. Table purchases and sponsorships are still available. For additional information about the 4th annual Cribs for Kids luncheon, or Clinics Can Help, please visit www.clinicscanhelp.org.

Lake Worth, FL – October 9, 2025 – On September 25, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County opened the doors to its new office located in Lake Worth, bringing its entire team under one roof for the first time since the January 2023 merger of Habitat Palm Beach County and Habitat South Palm Beach County. This milestone marks a significant step forward in Habitat’s mission to build homes, communities, and hope.

The move was made possible through the generosity of Bank of America, which provided a zero cost 10-year lease for the new space. This extraordinary contribution ensures long-term stability, allowing Habitat to focus its resources on building safe, affordable homes and expanding services to families in need across Palm Beach County.

“Welcoming Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County into our office space is an exciting next step in our long-standing partnership. Together we’re helping Habitat focus on what matters most: building strength, stability and brighter futures for families in Palm Beach County,” said Fabiola Brumley, President, Bank of America Palm Beach County. “For nearly 40 years, our Bank of America teammates have rolled up their sleeves on Habitat build sites, and we have proudly supported Habitat’s critical mission through our Charitable Foundation grants.”

The office build-out was led by RCC Associates, whose team donated their time and expertise to create a welcoming and functional environment for staff and volunteers. Many additional community partners contributed in-kind and discounted services to bring the project to life, including Currie Sowards Aguila Architects, ID Collaborative, Vari, A Better Plumbing Contractors, Sesco Lighting, Heritage, LektraFlor, Sherwin-Williams, Village of Palm Springs, Sample Communications, Nancy Bowers, Moraca Builders, WastePro Palm Beach, NetOne Technologies, Palm Springs USPS, One Point Partition, and Johnson Controls.

Community leaders, sponsors, and friends gathered for a celebratory ribbon-cutting in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches. The afternoon began with a networking reception, followed by a program recognizing the partners who made the new office possible. Guests then toured the new space while enjoying delicious bites and refreshments provided by Laura Ashley Catering, accompanied by beautiful floral arrangements from Wellington Florist.

As Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2026, the organization reflects on its historical impact. To date, Habitat GPBC has proudly built 442 homes, completed 783 repairs, served over 1,230 households, and engaged 39600+ volunteers. Looking ahead to this milestone anniversary, Habitat is setting bold goals to expand its reach and deepen its impact in the years to come. The new Lake Worth headquarters provides the foundation for Habitat’s next chapter of transformational work.

“This new space brings our team together under one roof, allowing us to collaborate more effectively, save critical funds, and ultimately serve more families across Palm Beach County,” said Jennifer Thomason, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Palm Beach County. “As we prepare to celebrate 40 years of impact in 2026, we are profoundly grateful to Bank of America, RCC Associates, and all the community partners whose generosity made this milestone possible.”

Habitat’s new office not only reflects its commitment to operational excellence but also serves as a cornerstone for the next era of impact, advancing the mission of building homes, communities, and hope.

Wellington, FL – Longtime Wellington resident, U.S. Air Force veteran, and successful entrepreneur Johnny Meier has officially announced his candidacy for Wellington Village Council Seat 2 in the upcoming 2026 municipal election.

With a career spanning over two decades of military, business, and civic leadership, Meier brings a unique blend of public service and private sector experience to his campaign — grounded in integrity, innovation, and a deep commitment to the Wellington community.

Meier’s leadership journey began in 1996 when he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force through the Delayed Entry Program. Demonstrating natural leadership from day one, he served as a platoon leader in basic training, later transitioning to the reserves in 2004, and ultimately receiving an Honorable Discharge in 2012.

In 2001, while still in uniform, Johnny launched his first business — a Cingular Wireless store in Oklahoma City. A decade later, he and his wife, Meroe, relocated to Wellington and opened My Community Pharmacy in 2008. With a mission to provide extraordinary, patient-first care, the pharmacy quickly became a household name, famously promoted through local TV spots featuring their daughter, Shaida, and known as “Your Free Delivery Pharmacy.”

His entrepreneurial spirit continued with the launch of PharmaCanna in 2016, a Wellington-based professional-grade CBD brand now sold in over 3,000 pharmacies and healthcare offices nationwide.

Johnny’s service to the community has been equally impactful. A Past -President and Trustee of the Greater Wellington Chamber of Commerce and a dedicated Wellington Rotary Club member, as well as an active member of American Legion Post 390 in Wellington, Johnny  has long supported local nonprofits, youth programs, and civic initiatives.

Now, Johnny is ready to bring his experience and leadership to the Wellington Village Council.

“This community has given so much to my family,” said Meier. “Now more than ever, Wellington needs steady, experienced leadership that protects what makes our village special while planning smartly for the future.”

If elected, Meier’s top priorities include:

• Keeping taxes low by eliminating wasteful spending and streamlining government
• Supporting world-class public safety and first responders
• Preserving Wellington’s hometown charm by investing in parks, recreation, and youth programming
• Standing with local businesses, ensuring they have the freedom and support to grow and thrive
• Improving traffic flow through innovative and safety-focused infrastructure solutions
• Wellington has long been a place where families grow, thrive, and stay — and that includes the many vibrant seniors who raised their children here and continue to call our village home.  Johnny is committed to keeping Wellington accessible, engaging, and supportive for every generation — especially the seniors who helped build the strong community we enjoy today.

Johnny Meier represents a clear, forward-thinking choice for Wellington — a candidate with a proven record of service, a deep love for the community, and a strong vision for the future.