Page 1 - Palm City Spotlight - December '23

VOL. 25 NO. 12 www.seabreezepublications.com DECEMBER 2023

Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Big Taste Of Martin County

Returned To The Stuart Jet Center In Person

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Palm Beach and Martin
Counties held their annual Big Taste of Martin County
on Oct. 12 at the Stuart Jet Center as the first in-person
event of the season.
Known as the premier food and wine festival of the
Treasure Coast, this year the in-person event had 600
attendees raising money for mentoring programs. The
new outdoor layout was a big hit with guests who ate and
drank from popular restaurants and beverage companies
located in Martin County.
Best Dessert: The Dolphin Bar & Shrimp
Big Taste Of Martin County on page 3 Best Soup: Conchy Joe’s Seafood House Best Salad: Ellie’s Downtown Deli
Shoot For The Moon Shatters All Records

By Elizabeth Farrar misuse in preparation for Erica and John
The Mark Garwood Foundation hosted its Seventh Garwood’s introduction of the nine 2024
Annual Shoot For The Moon Sporting Clays Charity Event, Phoenix Scholarship recipients.
presented by Audi, Infiniti, Maserati, and Alfa Romeo of The Mark Garwood Foundation was
Stuart, on Nov. 3 at the South Florida Shooting Club. founded in 2014 by Stuart residents Erica
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Mark Garwood and John Garwood after they lost their
Foundation and its Phoenix Scholarship program. 24-year-old son, Mark to complications of
Erica and John Garwood hosted 45 teams and over 70 substance misuse and Type 1 diabetes.
guests for lunch at this year’s event, breaking all previous Since 2015, the Mark Garwood
attendance records. Foundation Phoenix Scholarship program
Representative Toby Overdorf and Martin County Chief has awarded 67 scholarships and educational
Deputy Sheriff John Budensiek joined John Garwood grants totaling more than $435,000 to adults
in welcoming participants before they headed to the in Florida who are in recovery, committed
competition courses. to long-term sobriety and ready to begin or
After a BBQ lunch expertly prepared by the Martin continue their education. 2024 Phoenix Scholarship recipients (back) Alec Zenner, Jenna Stoddard, Alex
County Sheriff’s Grill Team, Phoenix Scholarship recipient Smith, Destiny Ferguson, Casey Cook, Nicole Blackburn, Molly Williams, (front)
Alexandria Dennison told her story of overcoming substance Shoot For The Moon on page 7 Walter Laseter, Heidi Zuckerman
Champions Of Change: United Way Of Martin County

Celebrates Community Leaders

United Way of Martin County celebrated the kickoff of its Bryan Garner ,
annual campaign with the Community Leaders’ Celebration senior marketing and
Luncheon held at Sailfish Point Country Club on Oct. 20. communications director for
The event served as a platform to honor the outstanding NextEra Energy/FPL, served
achievements of the past year while highlighting the as event emcee.
organization’s goals for the future. At the luncheon, which “Although we’ve
was attended by nearly 200 people, United Way thanked the experienced a lot of turmoil
dozens of organizations and thousands of individuals who raise this past year causing
millions of dollars every year to help Martin County residents
meet their basic needs and build better, more stable lives for Champions Of Change
themselves and their families. on page 4

Champion sponsor and No. 2 most generous workplace, Seacoast Bank. Left to right: Philip
Dasch, Seacoast Bank wealth management assistant; Chuck Shaffer, Seacoast Bank chairman
and CEO and United Way of Martin County board member; Justin Neighbour, Seacoast Bank
senior vice president; Amy Bottegal, United Way of Martin County past campaign chair;
Denise Anderson, Seacoast Bank benefits administrator; Penny Morin, Seacoast Bank senior
market manager; Lisa Vasquez, Seacoast Bank small business banker; Sara Lynch, Seacoast
Bank commercial lender; Austen Carroll, Seacoast Bank chief lending officer