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Joe Peccia,
Principal, Pine Grove Elementary, Stephanie Seibel, CEO,
Achievement Centers for Children & Families, Rose
Newbold-Blackett, Director of Afterschool and Summer
Programming, Pine Grove Elementary
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On Thursday April 10th, three
hundred and twenty women gathered at Lynn University’s Wold
Performing Arts Center in Boca Raton to award $320,000 to
five non-profit charitable organizations in southern Palm
Beach County. The grant total is the largest ever raised by
the group, and will make an enormous impact in our
community. The Achievement Centers for Children & Families
was awarded $100,000 for afterschool and summer programs at
Pine Grove Elementary School in Delray Beach.
The Achievement Centers has a long history of
providing childcare and academic opportunities to low-income
children in southern Palm Beach County. The services meet
critical needs: affordable toddler, preschool, afterschool
and summer programs to families living below the poverty
line. They will now serve nearly 1,000 children, ages 1 to
18, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 7AM to 7PM
on three campuses. Stephanie Seibel, CEO of the Achievement
Centers said, “We are so thrilled and honored to receive
this incredible support; without it, the programs at Pine
Grove would not be able to be launched to this degree.”
Rose Blackett, the Achievement Centers’
Director of Afterschool and Summer Programming at Pine
Grove, gave a stirring speech to the group of 320 women,
outlining the enormous impact this project will have on
hundreds of children’s lives in one of the county’s lowest
performing schools. As a former student of Pine Grove, Ms.
Blackett said, “Never in a million years would I have
imagined my life coming full circle within the City of
Delray Beach. I count it all as a great joy!” The new
programs will provide affordable aftercare and summer
programs to more than 250 children from low income families,
improving reading standards, closing the achievement gap,
and preventing dropout. Principal Peccia stated, “This
honor will now and may forever improve the lives of our
students.”
Fellow $100,000 grant recipients were The
Florence Fuller Child Development Centers for its Family
Preservation Program and the Creative City Collaborative (CCC),
also known as the Arts Garage, for Music and Theatre
Education. The remaining finalists, The Coastal
Conservation Association and the United Cerebral Palsy of
Palm Beach and Mid Coastal Counties, each received $10,000.
Impact 100 Palm Beach County is a charitable
women’s organization celebrating “The Power of Women Giving
as One.” Their goal is to make it possible for a visionary
idea to become a reality in a way that impacts the
community. In its three year history, the group has given a
total of $688,000 to organizations serving southern Palm
Beach County. Lisa Mulhall, past president and founding
member said, “Next year we’re aiming for 400 members and
$400,000 in high impact grants.” Their motto for efficient
philanthropy is “One Woman, One Meeting, One Vote.”
Impact 100 is operated as a charitable fund
at the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin
Counties. All women who would like to be a part of this
powerful “giving circle” are warmly welcomed. To join, or
to learn more about Impact 100 Palm Beach County visit: www.impact100pbc.com
To learn more about the Achievement Centers
for Children & Families visit:
www.AchievementCentersFL.org or to schedule
a tour call 561-266-0003.
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