Page 10 - Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens - October '24

Page 10, Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens
Community Rallies At

2024 Fire Truck Pull, Raising $26,500 For Autism Support

The 2024 Fire Truck Pull, held Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, “We are encouraged by the community’s enthusiastic
at Gardens Park in Palm Beach Gardens, brought together support for individuals with autism,” said Debra Johnson,
teams of first responders, business leaders, college athletes executive director and principal of Connections Education
and more for a day of competition and philanthropy. This Center. “The funds raised will directly enhance the
year’s event raised an impressive $26,500 to benefit students educational and developmental opportunities for our students
and adults with autism who attend Connections Education and adults with autism. Every participant, donor, sponsor and
Center, a nonprofit school in West Palm Beach. spectator played a role in making this event a success. And
In a thrilling display of power and teamwork, teams we couldn’t have done it without the contributions of Palm
competed to see which could pull a real fire truck 30 feet Beach Gardens Fire Rescue and Station 61.”
fastest. The Palm Beach Gardens Police Department emerged Connections serves 140 individuals, many of whom
as the champions in the Fastest Pull category, completing the might not have access to high quality services without the
30-foot fire truck pull in just 10.03 seconds. The Palm Beach school. More than 80 percent of the school’s students live
Gardens Fire Rescue team claimed victory in the Lowest below the poverty line, 94 percent come from minority Team Noah pulling
Combined Weight Pull category, pulling the fire truck 30 families and over 50 percent live in single parent homes
feet within the three minute time limit with a combined team or with grandparents. Fire Truck Pull on page 11
weight of only 658 pounds.
With 15 participating teams, the event was not only a
showcase of physical strength but also a testament to the
community’s generosity. The ZAZ Squad stood out in the
fundraising efforts, earning the title of Highest Fundraising
Team by raising $11,465. Zach, one of the school’s adult
clients and a member of the ZAZ Squad, led the individual
fundraising efforts, bringing in $7,220 and securing the title
of Highest Fundraising Individual.

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PBG Police pulling

BluEdge Team pulling

Volunteers – Teachers