Page 18 - The Islander- April '24

Page 18, The Islander

good works

Generosity To The Lord’s Place Celebrated

The Lord’s Place celebrated
the generosity of members
of the Home Today Society,
Home Forever Society, and
Board of Directors on Tuesday,
Feb. 13 at the home of Board
Chair Cornelia Thornburgh
and her husband Richard.
The Home Today Society
consists of 172 members who
donate $5,000-plus to The
Lord’s Place annually to assist
in its mission to break the Dr. Susan and Joseph Merson with Bonnie Jones Julie Fisher Cummings, Jack Scarola and Rita Novak
cycle of homelessness in Palm Diana Stanley and Cornelia
Beach County. The society Thornburgh
collectively gave $3,860,944
throughout the 2022/23 fiscal year. The Home Forever Society
members, 29 currently living, have included The Lord’s Place
in their estate plans.
More than 95 donors enjoyed wine and hor d’oeuvres by
Joshua Catering and heard words of thanks, an update, and
encouragement from CEO Diana Stanley.
Stanley expressed her gratitude to the attendees for their
support in the “Home for
Good” campaign which raised
more than $20 million to open
the doors to the 25,000-square-
foot client service center, Fortin
Family Campus, in June 2023 Nancy and Kevin Rickard Bob and Leesa Gordon Sue and Paul Efron Jim and Michele Kukla
and increase the agency’s
supportive housing inventory. its work forever, to continue to understand that “every person is children and grandchildren about the humanity that must be
In an effort to sustain The worthy of the tomorrows.” associated with the homeless in order to end homelessness.
Lord’s Place’s future and ensure Explaining that The Lord’s Place’s work will never be “We are so blessed to have you in our world … you allow
vital programs continue despite done until every individual has a home, Stanley pleaded us to love those that nobody else will love … so they feel
any fluctuation in funding for all to continue to: be the ambassadors for the poor as worthy and as loved as all of us in this room,” Stanley
sources, Stanley announced the and homeless; believe that second chances do happen and exuded with gratitude.
“Home for Keeps” campaign – that everybody deserves to have a second chance; look For more information on The Lord’s Place, its services,
the sustainability that is needed at the homeless as if they are individuals and not just or to make a donation, visit thelordsplace.org.
for the agency to continue to do Fred and Adrianne Weissman people standing on the street corner; talk with neighbors, Photos by Capehart Photography

Commissioner’s Update

A Look At The Economic Impacts

Of Sports In Palm Beach County

By Vice Mayor Maria Marino

Bill Proctor and Ron Sports have long been same attendees utilized over 300,000 room nights which
Calvacanti Wes and MM Lang regarded as more than just translated to over $77 million in hotel revenue with an
games; they are economic estimated $4.6 million collected in bed tax. Additionally,
engines that power the Winter Equestrian Festival and Major League Baseball
communities. Beyond the Spring Training utilized an additional 96,000 room nights. In
thrill of competition and the total, these sports events created an estimated $300 million
camaraderie it fosters, sports in economic impact to Palm Beach County.
have a profound impact on This past year has positioned Palm Beach County at the
the economic landscape of top of the sports spectrum. As Florida’s Golf Capital, the PGA
counties, promoting tourism, TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, NCAA DI Women’s Golf
generating revenue, creating Championship, and the Jackson T. Stephens Cup call Palm
jobs, and boosting local Beach County home. Palm Beach County hosted the best of
businesses. Palm Beach County is unrivaled when it comes to racquet sports with international tennis and pickleball events,
golf, racquet sports, equestrian sports and baseball amenities. and equestrian sports continue to thrive with Wellington’s
In fact, The Palm Beaches has been recognized by Sports Winter Equestrian Festival. Our sports commission partnered
Business Journal as one of the top 50 sports destinations with the United States Polo Association in bringing FIP World
in the United States and No. 5 for a destination without a Polo Championships to the National Polo Center and the
Brian and Pam McIver Richard and Lisa Gieseler professional sports franchise. United States for only the second time. Jupiter’s Roger Dean
The Palm Beach County Sports Commission (PBCSC) Chevrolet Stadium hosts the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami
is dedicated to championing our county as the premier Marlins each year for their Major League Baseball Spring
destination for sports and tourism. Their mission is to attract Training and CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm
sporting events and activities to Palm Beach County and to Beach, hosts the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros.
maximize the positive economic impact of these events on As residents of Palm Beach County we know how truly
our local economy. By expanding occupancy of hotel room valuable our location in the country is. With an average
nights and maximizing the use of county facilities, PBCSC year-round temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit, 47 miles
utilizes events and activities to promote the image of Palm of breathtaking beaches, over 160 golf courses, 45 parks
Beach County as a sports tourism destination on a national with vast multipurpose playing fields, and more than 346
and international level. acres of polo and equestrian facilities, it is no wonder that
In 2023, our sports commission hosted 196 events, Palm Beach County continues to increase its sports tourism
which represented more than 40 different types of sports. economic impact.
These events brought nearly 1.3 million sports-related For more information on ways to experience sports in Palm
Michael and Scott Powers Bob and Laurence Leamer attendees who traveled from 48 states and 42 nations. The Beach County, please visit www.palmbeachsports.com/events.