Published On: Thu, Jun 2nd, 2016

Boca Raton Volunteer Honored as Place of Hope’s Angel Mom

By CRA News Service

 Deborah Gaslow knows firsthand the emotional pain of being in the foster care system.

She and her six siblings lived with abusive and neglectful parents. As the oldest girl, she was placed in a foster home at age 12 and four years later, she left foster care, earned her GED and worked her way through college.

“It was not a good way to grow up, but also not a reason to give up,” Gaslow said recently of her childhood experience.

Today, the Boca Raton resident is a volunteer at Place of Hope at The Leighan and David Rinker Campus ­­­­­­­­­where she creates a nurturing environment for the youth.

“Being in the foster care system as a child myself, I have great compassion for our kids and young adults who need a helping hand,” she said in her bio. “I have always been super grateful for any and all opportunities that come my way, and volunteering my time and energy to these children at A Place of Hope is a gift for me!”

Gaslow was honored recently as the organization’s 2016 Angel of Hope for her work as an Angel Mom volunteer.  She serves on the Angel Mom Leadership Board as the sponsorship and fundraising committee chair.

More than 250 women and men attended the 3rd Annual Garden Party Angel Moms Brunch and Benefit at the Women’s Club in Boynton Beach on April 21.

Guests enjoyed a silent auction, buffet-style brunch, musical performances by The Symphonia Boca Raton and Heather Kirschner. There also was a live auction with auctioneer Neil Saffer.

Gaslow shared her story, which serves as a message of hope for the young women she mentors at the Alumni Impact Girls Cottage, officials said.

After hearing Gaslow’s story, the guests were moved by her strength and passion to make an impact.

“We are honored to have Deborah as one of our biggest advocates for our foster children and youth,” read a posting on the organization’s website.

Place of Hope, which celebrates its 15th anniversary this year, has campuses in Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, Hobe Sound and Port St. Lucie.

It provides family-style foster care (emergency and long-term), family outreach and intervention, maternity care and safety for domestic minor sexually trafficked victims. It also provides transitional housing and support services, adoption and foster care recruitment and support, hope and healing opportunities for children and families who have been traumatized by abuse and neglect.

For more information, call 561-483-0962 or visit www.placeofhoperinker.org.

 

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