Hats Off Nonprofit Awards to Honor 113 Nominees on October 1st
Emcees Suzanne Boyd and Eric Roby
Boca Raton, FL – Nonprofits First, Inc. has announced 113 nominees, representing 90 local nonprofit organizations and community partners, who will be recognized at its third annual Hats Off Nonprofit Awards ceremony.
The event, a spirited, hat-themed cocktail reception, will take place on Tuesday, October 1, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Harriett Himmel Theatre in West Palm Beach. Well-known former TV personalities Suzanne Boyd and Eric Roby, who host the Rise+Live morning talk show, will emcee the evening. In keeping with supporting the nonprofit community, hors d’oeuvres will be catered by Joshua Catering from The Lord’s Place.
Awards will be given in nine categories, including awards for organizations and individuals. New this year is the Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring an individual who, over the years, has effected noteworthy change in Palm Beach County and is held in high esteem by the community. The winners in each category will be kept a secret until they are announced on stage during the ceremony.
A blue-ribbon panel of 50 community leaders in the public and private sectors selected. Two live awards will also be announced at the event. Guests will be invited to vote on the People’s Choice Award, which will acknowledge the nominee receiving the most votes. Also, judges will be scouting for creativity when selecting a winner of the Best Hat Award.
“This event sold out last year, so we encourage people to buy their tickets early,” said Jessica Cecere, CEO of Nonprofits First, which is hosting the event. “We anticipate another exciting evening of cheerful celebration for those in the business of doing good.”
Funds raised from this unique event benefit Nonprofits First Education Programs. These programs focus on the professional development, leadership and training the nonprofit community volunteers and employees need to lead and succeed.
To view the nominees, visit https://www.nonprofitsfirst.org/page/HatsOffNominees. To purchase tickets, go online to www.HatsOffAwards.org or call Nonprofits First at 561-214-7435.
For more than 12 years, Nonprofits First, Inc. has been the leading resource for strengthening the administrative and operational capacity of nonprofit organizations in the community. Comprised of experienced professionals, consultants and volunteers, the vision of Nonprofits First is a community in which all nonprofits achieve their highest level of success.
2019 Hats Off Nonprofit Awards Nominees
Nonprofit of the Year – Small – (Operating budget less than $500,000)
Chasin A Dream Foundation
Eat Better Live Better
Encore Palm Beach County
Florida Fishing Academy
Forgotten Soldiers Outreach
Friends of Palm Beach
Funding Working Families
Holy Ground Shelter of Palm Beach County
Ladies of Futurity
Piper’s Angels Foundation
Princesses Against Cancer
Restoration Bridge International
Sea Turtle Adventures
The Reef Institute
WiseTribe.Us
Nonprofit of the Year – Medium – (Operating budget $500,001-$2.49 million)
Busch Wildlife Sanctuary
Christians Reaching Out to Society (CROS Ministries)
Coalition for Independent Living Options
Compass LGBTQ Community Center
First Serve
NAMI Palm Beach County
Susan G. Komen Florida
Unicorn Children’s Foundation
Village of Hope of Palm Beach County
Nonprofit of the Year – Large – (Operating budget more than $2.5 million)
Achievement Centers for Children and Families
Big Dog Ranch Rescue
Community Partners of South Florida
Drug Abuse Foundation of Palm Beach County
Place of Hope
Redlands Christian Migrant Association
The Arc of Palm Beach County
Lifetime Achievement
Nancy G. Brinker
Jan Cairnes
Gregory Demetriades
John A. Foley
Liz Lieber
Jane Robinson
Lauree Simmons
Julie Swindler
Monique D. Brown Wellons
Dan West
Tenna Wiles
Nonprofit Executive of the Year
Sharon Alexander, Unicorn Children’s Foundation
Jervonte Edmonds, Suits for Seniors
Tracey Godin, Feeling Fine Canine and Equine Rescue
Scott Hansel, Community Partners of South Florida
Elizabeth Harrigan, The Reef Institute
Karen Hilo, Center for Family Services of Palm Beach County
Lisa Johnson, Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida
Laura Kallus, Caridad Center
Sharon L’Herrou, 211 Helpline
Coleen LaCosta, Speak Up for Kids
Lizabeth Olszewski, Horses Healing Hearts
Rhonda Rogers, Lake Worth West Resident Planning Group
Wil Romelus, Digital Vibez
Edna Runner, Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center
Colleen Smith, Ballet Palm Beach
Dr. Chase St. James, Operation Wounded Warriors
Valerie Staggs, Pandora’s Kids
Nancy Stellway, Take Stock in Children Palm Beach
Travis Suit, Piper’s Angels Foundation
Julie Swindler, Families First of Palm Beach County
Debra Tendrich, Eat Better Live Better
Chris Tress, Urban Youth Impact
Nonprofit Professional of the Year
Stephanie De La Cruz, Center for Child Counseling
Kathryn Grace, Hanley Foundation
Nickie Hennevelt, West Palm Beach Library Foundation
Josh Hirsch, Susan G. Komen Florida
Amy Mann, Unicorn Children’s Foundation
Katherine Murphy, NAMI Palm Beach County
Berthanie A. Pierre, Achievement Center for Children and Families
Kelly Powell, Community Partners of South Florida
Chloe Rits, Be Like Brit
Barbara Scarlata, Pediatric Oncology Support Team
Lauren Scirrotto, Center for Child Counseling
Carolyn Williams-Smith, YWCA of Palm Beach County
Melissa Wise, United Way of Palm Beach County
Nonprofit MVP of the Year
Tara Hails, Pathways to Prosperity
Wilbert Jean-Baptiste, Digital Vibez
Robbriannia “Annia” Johnson, YWCA of Palm Beach County
Tracy Speranza, Community Partners of South Florida
Nonprofit Volunteer of the Year
Michael T. Bayer, Redlands Christian Migrant Association
Melissa Bilodeau, Big Dog Ranch Rescue
Robert Cataldo, Big Dog Ranch Rescue
Evan C. Deoul, Philanthropy Tank
Dana Finegan, Restoration Bridge International
Angela Fisher, Unicorn Children’s Foundation
Keely Gideon-Taylor, Pace Center for Girls Palm Beach
Brian Kappen, Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League
Thomas M. Kirchhoff, Historical Society of Palm Beach County
Wayne Lefkowitz, Compass LGBT Community Center
Theresa LePore, YWCA of Palm Beach County
Bill Lynch, Center for Child Counseling
Denise Mariani, No Kid Hungry, Habitat for Humanity of Palm Beach County, Executive Women of the Palm Beaches Foundation, Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, Friends of Jupiter Beach, Leadership Palm Beach County
Fr. Seamus Murtagh, Holy Ground Shelter for Homeless
Adam Narkier, Community Partners of South Florida
Judy O’Malley, Historical Society of Palm Beach County
John Tedesco, Police Athletic League of West Palm Beach
Shaw Thomas, Speak Up for Kids of Palm Beach County
Melissa Wise, Feed the Hungry Pantry of Palm Beach County
Community Collaborators Award
Feeding 150 Children and Families Over Summer Weekends Through the Distribution of Over 1200 Bags Of Food
Achievement Centers for Children and Families, Palm Beach County Food Bank, Volunteers of the Palm Beaches, and the Polo Club of Boca Raton
Empowering Foster Care Youth in Palm Beach County to Realize and Achieve Their Dreams by Graduating from High School and Leading Successful, Productive Lives
Best Foot Forward Foundation, Inc., ChildNet, and AT&T
Engaging the Youth of Palm Beach County while out of School for the Summer, Winter, and Spring Break
Boynton Beach Police Department, Delray Beach Police Department, Stuart & Shelby Development CEO Chuck Halberg, and GBDC Entrepreneurship Institute
Delivering Medical and Behavioral Health Services to the Chronically Homeless and Other Underserved Adult Patients Across Palm Beach County
- L. Brumback Primary Care Clinics – Mobile Clinic, City of West Palm Beach, The Lord’s Place, St. Ann Place, St. George’s Center
Locally-Led Solutions for Community Wellness, Including Healthier Together Sites in Northern West Palm and Riviera Beach, Lake Worth Beach, and the Glades
Community Partners of South Florida and Palm Health Foundation
Getting Kids Moving Toward a Lifestyle That Prioritizes Health and Fitness
Edna W. Runner Tutorial Center and Palm Health Foundation
Creating Safe and Beautiful Visitation Rooms to Promote Bonding and Interactions Between Parents and Children in the Child Welfare System
Guardian ad Litem, Childnet, Children’s Home Society, Palm Beach County Youth Services, FAU, The Breakers Palm Beach and community supporters
Encouraging Children to Show Other Children Inclusiveness and Belonging While Raising Awareness About the Negative Impact of Bullying
Mental Health America of Palm Beach County and Author/Educator Loverly Sheridan
Saving the Lives Of Adoptable Animals Entering the Palm Beach County-Run Shelter
Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League and Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control
Giving Youth the Opportunity to Reach Their Full Potential as Productive, Responsible Adults Who Will Enhance the Communities Where They Reside
Student and Athlete Mentoring Program and Boys and Girls Club of Palm Beach County
Creating a Comprehensive, Integrated System of Care That Meets the Changing Needs of Persons With Special Needs/Disability Throughout Their Life Span
The Palm Beach County Special Needs Advisory Coalition
Teaching the Students of Palm Beach County to be Stewards of Our Oceans Through Research and Educational Opportunities
The Reef Institute (formerly Healthy Aquatics Institute) and the School District of Palm Beach County
Keeping Victims Of Domestic Violence and Their Children Safe With Their Non-Offending Parent and Holding Perpetrators of Domestic Violence Accountable
YWCA of Palm Beach County, Aid to Victims of Domestic Violence, DCF Circuit 15, Childnet, Children’s Home Society, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, State Attorney’s Office, Children’s Legal Services, and the Florida Department of Corrections
