$101,000 Awarded to Seven Teen-Run Charities During Shark Tank-like Event at the Kravis Center, Four Boca Raton-area Students are Among the Winners
L to R – Tomás Carter, Christina Linder, Mariel Sabat, Sophia George, Alex Schnider, Helen Guiterrez, Henry Castillo, Andrea Castillo, Wendy Garcia, Mara Vaknin, Lorena Sebastian, Maria Andres, Magdalena Francisco, Daniella Domingo
Nearly 500 in Attendance to Watch Local Teens Share Their Ideas During 4th Annual Philanthropy Tank Live Pitch Event Propels Local Teens Charity Ideas
Boca Raton, FL – Seven charities founded and operated by local teens were awarded a total of $101,000 in funding during the 4th Annual Philanthropy Tank Live Pitch Event held Sunday at the Cohen Pavilion of the Kravis Center.
Each of the charities made three minute presentations to four philanthropist investors, who played the role of the “sharks”. Each charity had the opportunity to win up to $15,000. The event ended with the philanthropist investors, Christine Stiller, Larry Stern, Jim Karp and John Scarpa, investing into each charity. Here is how the award money broke down among the finalists:
- Art for the Soul awarded $15,000 – works with disadvantaged children, often from Latin American countries, coming from economic hardships, traumatic experiences, and difficult home lives. Students are taught by students in a variety of subjects from basics of how to play the piano to, visual arts, and tutoring in all academics. The program was proposed by Dreyfoos School For the Arts Students: 10th grader Cristina Lindner of West Palm Beach, 10th grader Mariele Sabat of Boca Raton, 12th grader Tomás Carter of Royal Palm Beach\.
- Alex’s Free Kicks awarded $15,000 – looks to expand its program with Philanthropy Tank support. The organization currently collects soccer balls and cleats in Wellington for those in need throughout Palm Beach County. To date, the organization has collected and donated more than 550 balls and 250 cleats to the Boys and Girls Club of Palm Beach County. The goal is to collect from soccer fields across the County and get other children to become representatives and lead the local collection. The program was proposed by Alex Shnider of Wellington, a 10th grader attending Wellington Community High School.
- STEM Lab awarded $15,000 – is an educational program that targets underrepresented elementary school children. It is a year-long after-school project designed to provide mentorship to low-performing children and ensure their academic success. Students are taught over ten subjects including engineering, robotics, and medical science by local teen volunteers. STEM Lab aims to expand its program across the county with Philanthropy Tank’s support. The program was proposed by: Andrea Castillo, a 12th grader attending Spanish River Community High School, Harry Castillo, an 8th grader attending Omni Middle School in Boca Raton, Wendy Garcia, an 11th grader attending Lake Worth Community High School
- Code Autism awarded $14,000 – its mission is to develop and conduct computer coding classes for high school and college-aged students with autism. Code Autism’s goal is to facilitate an environment of social acceptance, purpose and education and, ultimately, employment for students. These courses will help combat the high rate of unemployment among those with autism. The program was proposed by Sophia Lloyd George of Palm Beach. She is an 11th grader at Oxbridge Academy.
- Mayan Girls awarded $15,000 – looks to serve the Guatemalan Mayan community by translating information such as current events, weather alerts, news topics, and community events. The program wants to assist this population who miss critical information because of a high rate of illiteracy in any language. They will record, edit, and produce work to share via social media. The program proposed by Lake Worth High School Community School students: 10th grader Lorena Felipe Sebastian, 11th grader Maria Andres, and Magdalena Francisco and Daniella Domingo, who are both in 9th grade.
- Alive with Music awarded $15,000 – seeks to use the art of music as a way to help restore the memories of patients that have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. The program was proposed by Mara Vaknin, an 11th grader from Lake Worth. She attends the Dreyfoos School of Arts.
- Little Angels Today, Bright Minds Tomorrow awarded $12,000 – aims to set up a mentoring program at El Sol for children ages 5-13, who do not speak English as their first language. They will tutor on Saturdays while their parents attend development courses. The charity will also create a camp and technology workshops to help each child develop skills in Word, Excel, and other applications typically used in school. The charity concept was developed by American Heritage 11th grader, Adriana Flores.
