Page 1 - Stuart Exposure - December '24

VOL. 26 NO. 12 www.seabreezepublications.com DECEMBER 2024

Education Foundation Of Martin County

Announces Teacher Of The Year Award Winners

Tonight, the Education Foundation of Martin County announced its Teacher of the Year
winners during a special celebration at the MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Event Center. Vanessa
Molina-Council of Citrus Grove Elementary School took top honors and was named the
2024-2025 Martin County Teacher of the Year. She will go on to represent Martin County in
the state competition to become the Florida Department of Education’s Teacher of the Year.
Devin Carlson, partner and general manager of Audi Stuart, Infiniti Stuart and Alfa
Romeo Stuart, the event sponsor, presented Molina-Council with the award.
The Education Foundation also recognized Alicia Carter of Hidden Oaks, who won the
middle school category, and Samantha Pankhurst of Jensen Beach High, the high school
category winner. There were a total of 23 nominees competing for the top spots.
In addition, Felix A. Williams Elementary School won the Spirit Award, which was
based on its theme, costumes, props and enthusiasm.
Molina-Council’s students inspire her to be a classroom teacher. She grew up in low-
income housing with non-English speaking parents and a sibling who had a disability. They
both attended inner city public schools in rough neighborhoods, but her teachers made
them feel valued and respected and provided their parents with guidance and resources.
This experience inspired her to pursue the teaching profession.
Felix A. Williams Elementary won the School Spirit Award, sponsored by the Education
Education Foundation on page 4 Foundation of Martin County. (Photo by Paul Careccia)

Hanley Foundation And Mark Garwood Foundation Raise $120,000

For Education Scholarships At Eighth Annual Shoot For The Moon

The Hanley Foundation and the Mark Garwood Foundation raised $120,000 during
the Eighth Annual Shoot for the Moon on Friday, November 1, at the South Florida
Shooting Club in Palm City. This year’s event marked a milestone as the Hanley
Foundation officially partnered with the Mark Garwood Foundation to continue to
provide education scholarships for individuals in recovery from substance use disorder
(SUD).
After a warm welcome from the Garwood family and a safety briefing, more than
188 shooters took the field for the friendly competition. Participants and guests enjoyed
a barbecue lunch prepared by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office Grill Team, a live
auction, and an awards ceremony for individual and team winners. Nine new recipients
were awarded Mark Garwood Phoenix Scholarships for the 2025 academic cycle at the
luncheon.

Shoot For The Moon on page 6 Mark Garwood Phoenix Scholarship Recipients
United Way Of Martin County Celebrates Community Leaders

United Way of Martin County kicked off its annual campaign with the Community Leaders’
Celebration luncheon at Sailfish Point Country Club on October 28. Nearly 200 people from
this fine community came together to honor and celebrate their outstanding achievements
from the past year while looking towards an even brighter future. At the luncheon, United
Way thanked the many generous organizations and dedicated individuals who raise millions
of dollars every year to ensure that Martin County residents are able to provide basic needs
for themselves and their families.

United Way Of Martin County Celebrates on page 8

Number 2 Most Generous Workplace Award presented to Seacoast Bank. (Robert Barfield,
Jenny Yingling, Sarah Lynch, Chuck Shaffer, Denise Anderson, Lisa Vasquez, Jared Gaylord,
Leslie Warren)