Page 6 - Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens - March '23

Page 6, Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens

16th Annual SleepOut from page 1
With an estimated 3,000 men, women, and children Vita Nova’s Mallets And Martinis

without a safe place to call home on any given night in
effort to spread awareness and raise the much-needed funds Scheduled For March 25
Palm Beach County, SleepOut is part of The Lord’s Place’s
to provide the resources, programs, and services necessary
to break the cycle of homelessness. The fundraising goal is Proceeds To Benefit
$325,000 and all donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar Homeless Youth In Palm
until March 31, by The Honorable Ann Brown.
In addition to the hopeless eyes behind the person holding Beach County
the “homeless and hungry” sign on the side of the street, there
are many who are unhoused and hidden from sight: the man Vita Nova will host the Sixth Annual Mallets &
whose rent recently skyrocketed and no longer has a place to Martinis on Saturday, March 25, at the National Croquet
live; the woman who became disabled in a car accident, can Center in West Palm Beach. The nonprofit’s signature
no longer work, and whose disability check doesn’t cover fundraising event will raise money to support the
the cost of living in Palm Beach County; the mother who is homeless youth Vita Nova serves in Palm Beach County.
working during the day while her children are at school and Beginning at 6 p.m. guests of Mallets & Martinis
then sleeping in their car at night. These scenarios are too will experience an exhilarating evening under the palms
prevalent. featuring croquet, martinis, and live music. Guests,
SleepOut 2023 is your opportunity to help. Based on who are encouraged to wear “Chic Croquet Whites,” Chairs: Yvonne and Ed Varona
the community’s feedback, The Lord’s Place reimagined will also have the opportunity after dinner to bid on
this annual event with brand-new activities. SleepOut will amazing live auction items and dance the night away. learn more, become a sponsor and/or purchase tickets,
give people of all ages the opportunity to actively engage Serving over 400 youth in Palm Beach County, visit vitanovainc.org/Mallets-Martinis or call (561)
in hands-on volunteer opportunities, travel the agency’s Vita Nova is a safe bridge to independence for former 472-4809.
mission pathway through a client’s eyes, and enjoy an foster care, LGBTQ, and other homeless youth through About Vita Nova
auction, music, a celebratory program, and an inspiring supportive housing, education, employment, and life Vita Nova is a safe bridge to independence for former
candlelight ceremony. SleepOut will shine light on those skills training. Working to eliminate homelessness for foster care, LGBTQ, and other homeless youth through
experiencing homelessness in our community – helping our youth ages 18 to 25 years old in Palm Beach County, supportive housing, education, employment, and life
most vulnerable neighbors access the tools needed to create Vita Nova acts as an advocate and support system for skills training. Vita Nova Inc, located in West Palm
sustainable, independent lives. homeless young adults. Beach, Fla., is comprised of three components: the Spot,
After the program, all attendees are encouraged to set up All proceeds from this event will go towards Vita Nova’s Housing (The Village), and Independent Living.
sleeping bags and tents at the event, uniquely on the outfield, Housing Program and Independent Living Services. Vita Nova means “new life” in Latin and was founded
or in their homes or backyards. SleepOut encourages people Chairpersons of the event are Yvonne and Ed by Father Leo Armbrust, a man who believed that foster
to step out of the comfort of their homes for a night in a Varona. Sponsors to date include FPL, MorseLife youth deserved a better quality of care. Through the
symbolic effort to raise awareness of those without a home. Health System, DEX Imaging, HSS Florida, Donor efforts of the Vita Nova team members, its volunteers,
“At The Lord’s Place we recognize that all people deserve Chip Williams, Searcy Law- Searcy Denney Scarola and its benefactors, older foster and homeless youth are
respect and a place to call home; so, we are answering the Barnhart & Shipley, P.A., Sunshine Health, and M allowed to lead lives characterized by independence,
call for help. Let us take you out to the ballpark for a night Law-Mrachek Fitzgerald Rose Konopka Thomas & self-determination, and personal responsibility.
where you can give back to our community and learn how Weiss, PA. and Palm Beach Illustrated. To learn more about Vita Nova or to donate, visit
to be part of the solution, and, in turn, we will be your feet Tickets to Mallets & Martinis are $225 each. To vitanovainc.org or call (561) 689-0035.
on the street helping those most vulnerable,” stated CEO
Diana Stanley.
Register to attend this free, fun, and life-changing event Advertise in This Newspaper! Call 561-746-3244
using the code “FreeEvent” or make a donation of any size
to be matched by The Honorable Ann Brown: sleepouttlp.
com/register.
“No one should have to worry about whether they have a
roof over their heads. This year, I am matching every single
dollar raised for SleepOut, because when my husband Donald
and I first attended SleepOut almost 10 years ago, we were
moved. We saw ‘the world’ represented at this great equalizer
and were impressed and moved by the number of people
coming together with donations, large and small, to make a
difference in the lives of those experiencing homelessness.
I continue to give in memory of Don. It is my way to honor
him,” commented Brown.
Attendees are also encouraged to bring supplies to help
create school backpacks, pantry baskets, cleaning buckets,
and outreach bags during the event. The kits assembled will
serve the 1,800 clients who are in The Lord’s Place care
every year, including those currently living on the street and
in their housing programs for men, women, and families. For driveway courtyard
more information on the items to bring, visit: sleepouttlp.
com. Volunteer service hours will be provided.
Each additional housed person in Palm Beach County is a
home run. Attend SleepOut 2023 and help hit homelessness
out of the ballpark.
About The Lord’s Place
For more than 40 years, The Lord’s Place has been
working to break the cycle of homelessness for men, women,
and children in Palm Beach County, through innovative,
compassionate and effective services. It provides supportive
and graduate housing at 12 locations; operates social
enterprises including Joshua Catering; provides job training
and placement services, clinical and care coordination, and
community engagement services; and has a highly-successful
reentry program helping men and women transitioning from
incarceration. For more information visit thelordsplace.org.

rec room wine cellar

This Feels Like Home

Three Nicklaus Championship Golf Courses
Homes from $300K to $3Million • West Palm Beach
For your personal tour, call 561.624.8000 or visit clubatibis.com
Left to right: The Lord’s Place Board Chair Cornelia
Thornburgh, The Honorable Ann Brown, The Lord’s Place
CEO Diana Stanley at SleepOut 2022