Page 1 - Palm City Spotlight - May '24
P. 1

VOL. 26  NO. 5                                             www.seabreezepublications.com                                              MAY 2024

      Martin County Top Chef Cooks Up Success For House Of Hope




        Over blazing stoves, with a roomful of people watching   House of Hope does so much
      their every move, five Martin County residents turned into   in our community and it truly
      professional chefs for an evening to compete in House of   was my honor to help raise
      Hope’s Top Chef competition for 2024.             awareness of their efforts.”
        Jennifer Atkisson-Lovett, Sonita Farr, Wendy Kohler, Niki     Sonita Farr was honored as
      Norton, and Katy O’Neil all donned their aprons and created   Top Fundraiser. Ed Ciampi,
      original dishes at District Table and Bar in Stuart.  Martin County Commissioner,
        This annual event is always a sell-out. This year, the 200   once again served as emcee.
      attendees and the Top Chef contestants raised over $80,000 for   The  judges  were  Taylor
      the essential programs and transformative services for Martin   Mohlmann,  chef,  District
      County residents facing food insecurity and financial hardships.  Table and Bar; Carra Crehan,
        Jennifer Atkisson-Lovett, broker/owner of RE/MAX of   owner/operator  of  Chef’s
      Stuart, won the overall Top Chef title with her tuna tartare,   Table and Fruits & Roots; and
      voted “Top Dish,” and her energetic fundraising. “I was   Jessica Bohner, 2023 Top Chef
      honored and shocked to win Top Chef!” Jennifer said. “I had   and Top Dish winner.
      such a blast participating in the fundraising aspect leading

      up to the event. Of course, meeting the other contestants and   Martin County Top Chef  Ed Ciampi, Wendy Kohler, Jennifer Atkisson-Lovett, Sonita Farr, Niki Norton, Katy O’Neil
      cooking with them on the night of the event was just amazing!   on page 6   and Rob Ranieri at House of Hope’s 2024 Top Chef competition
      Former Hibiscus Children’s Center Resident Shares His



      Story At Special Reception



        During Child Abuse Prevention Month, Hibiscus Children’s                                           offered us as many donuts as we wanted. This was the
      Center hosted a special reception at Sailfish Point Country Club                                     first time I ever experienced having excess food. The staff
      on April 2. It was an honor to have former Hibiscus resident                                         were wonderful, they comforted me when I was sad and
      Dave Miller share his story. Miller lived at Hibiscus Children’s                                     hugged me which meant the world to a scared child.”
      Center 35 years ago and spoke passionately about the impact                                            To  Miller’s  surprise,  Hibiscus  staff  celebrated  his
      Hibiscus had on his life as a child.                                                                 birthday  during  his  stay.  He  recalled  feeling  valued
        Miller came to Hibiscus Shelter in 1990 at the age of                                              and important when he was allowed to choose pumpkin
      4. He and his two younger siblings were found abandoned                                              pie because he didn’t like cake. “I was always worried
      at a local motel in Okeechobee. Although he was young,                                               about being just a number; I didn’t feel like I mattered to
      he has vivid memories of his time at the shelter. “I have                                            anyone. As a child I didn’t understand that the kindness
      fond  memories  of  Hibiscus.  I  particularly  remember                                             and love shown to me during my stay at Hibiscus was
      getting the things that I didn’t get at home like feeling                                            intentional. I realize now that these were deliberate acts
      safe, enough food and being clean. It was late at night
      when we arrived at the shelter and we were hungry. Staff   Board Chair Scott Roads, Dave Miller and CEO Matt Markley  Former Hibiscus Children’s Center Resident on page 3
      The Community Foundation For Palm Beach


      And Martin Counties Hosted Its Legacy Society Luncheon




      On March 27At Café Boulud                         Legacy Society Member
                                                        and  Dodlee  Mosilme,
      In Palm Beach                                     Community  Foundation
                                                        Scholarship Recipient and
        The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin   Florida Atlantic University
      Counties hosted its Legacy Society Luncheon on March 27 at   Class of 2025 student.
      Café Boulud in Palm Beach. The invitation-only event, which     The  Community
      was attended by 41 guests, featured speakers: Eileen Berman,   Foundation  is  a  not-for-









                                                                                                           Cynthia Williams, Sheree Davis Cunningham, Jeffrey Stoops
                                                                                                           and Susan Brockway
                                                                                 Bradley Hurlburt and Karen
                                                                                 Hurlburt                  The Community Foundation on page 3
   1   2   3   4   5   6