West Palm Beach -- Urban Youth Impact will welcome supporters and guests to take their best swing for the underprivileged youth of West Palm Beach and Riviera Beach at its 2009 Golf Classic. The annual dinner will be held March 8, 2009 at the Borland Center in Palm Beach Gardens, followed by the Golf Classic March 9, 2009 at Greg Norman’s Jupiter Country Club.

For the first time, Sheila Rinker is taking up the role of event honorary co-chair with her husband, John, youngest son of Marshall and Vera Lee Rinker, who started Rinker Materials. Based in West Palm Beach, Rinker Materials, now known as Cemex, is one of the largest producers of heavy building materials in the U.S. with principal operations in Florida and Arizona, plus additional operations in 29 states.

As honorary co-chairs, the Rinkers, along with friends Tom and Susan Fazio of Jupiter, are bringing fresh energy to UYI’s largest fundraiser, which makes economic, educational and spiritual opportunities available for area children and teens. Here, Sheila talks about what drew her to the cause and why she would like others to be involved:

Q: How did you learn about UYI?

A: I learned about Urban Youth Impact from my husband, John. At the invitation of Mitchell Watson, he toured the facilities and was most impressed by all that Executive Director Bill Hobbs had accomplished and all that he was planning. Once you take a tour, you are hooked. You see the smiles and hear the laughter of all the kids, and you cannot help but want to get involved. I’ve sat on their Board of Directors for about a year and a half.

Q: What appeals to you about the mission of Urban Youth Impact?

A: Bill Hobbs is right on target with UYI’s mission statement -- “Loving, Equipping and Empowering inner-city youth and their families to their God-given purpose.”

Q: What are you most looking forward to with regard to the UYI dinner and golf tournament?

A: John and I are very pleased that our friends and North Carolina neighbors, Sue and Tom Fazio, are joining us as honorary co-chairpersons. I am hoping that our dinner and golf tournament will create awareness and interest in UYI. It is the only major fundraiser for the year, and therefore of great importance in sustaining the programs for UYI. We have a great dinner program planned. There will be a live auction, featuring auctioneers Curt Fonger, news anchor and TV personality for WPEC News 12 and FOX 29, and Janice Worth, co-owner of Anushka Spa & Salon at CityPlace. We will also showcase three videos of young adults who are very active in UYI.

Q: What does it mean to you to be honorary co-chairperson of this fundraiser, especially during these tough times?

A: As everyone knows, we are in very difficult times. We have all felt the economic pinch. However, I am very optimistic that when the attendees see the videos and meet the young adults they will want to help.

Q: Are you involved with any other non-profit organizations in Palm Beach County? If so, which ones and what type of volunteer work do you do?                            

A: I am on the Board of the Palm Beach Habilitation Center in Lake Worth and on the committee for the Women of Distinction luncheon at Palm Beach Atlantic University.    

Q: What is your most proud moment of charitable involvement?

A: My most proud moment of charitable involvement was when our foundation, The Marshall and Vera Lee Rinker Foundation, became involved with Habitat for Humanity, and we went to the groundbreaking ceremony of the house we were sponsoring. I have lived in Florida most of my life and in Palm Beach County for 25 years. I am a firm believer in charity begins at home. We need to take care of our own communities and the people that live here.