Page 3 - Boca Exposure - July '19

Boca Exposure, Page 3
PROPEL Grad Guesnaisha Altena Named 2019 Kelly Strul

Emerging Scholar, Fulfilling Her Late Mother’s Dream

The 18-Year-Old Lost Her program to pursue a post-secondary academic career, literacy, embracing Owl
thanks, in part, to the tutoring, guidance and support
pride, joining student
Mother In The 2010 Haiti they received from PROPEL. But even as he hugs them organizations, becoming
Earthquake And Rebuilt Her goodbye, he’s smiling at their triumph. a mentor, becoming an
This year, graduate Guesnaisha Altena, 18, of Boca
intern, preparing for

Life In South Florida With Raton High School, makes him especially proud. She is graduation and ultimately
part of the newest class of Kelly/Strul Emerging Scholars
securing a job.
Help From Local Nonprofit program, which welcomes first-generation, local students For Altena, it is not
to attend Florida Atlantic University on full scholarship. only a dream come true for
For Gregg Francis, the end of each school year brings The program dedicates $50,000 per student, which her, but also the realization
mixed emotions. As the CEO for PROPEL, he has the breaks down to $12,500 per year for four years. It is of a wish held by her
bittersweet job of watching his seniors fulfill the mission designed to help students with each step of the college mother, who passed away
of his nonprofit organization – to leave the after-school process including mentoring, housing, achieving financial in an earthquake in Haiti.
Altena found PROPEL
through friends, after
Boca West Children’s Foundation from page 1 Palm Beach County, Junior League of Boca Raton, struggling to assimilate to Guesnaisha Altena, a member
Kelly Strul Emerging Scholars Program at FAU, KidSafe American culture on her of the 2019 class of Kelly/Strul
“We believe every child has basic rights. Children should Foundation, Nat King Cole Generation Hope, Place of own. Emerging Scholars
have food and a safe place to sleep; access to educational Hope – Dr. Leighan and David Rinker Campus, Police “I needed help with Photo by Simone, 2019
opportunities; basic dental and medical care; and to be able Athletic League, Red Apple Supplies – Education my classes and learning
to just be normal kids,” said Jennifer Bate Richy, executive Foundation of Palm Beach County, Rotary Club of Boca the language,” said Altena, who was born in Haiti
director of Boca West Children’s Foundation. Raton, SCOPE, SOS Children’s Village, Sweet Dream before coming to the United States with her father and
“Our goal is to level the playing field through efforts Makers, Unicorn Academy, Viner Community Scholars, seven sisters. Her sister, 15, also takes tutoring classes
from cradle to college,” continued Bate Richy. “Each and Youth Activity Center. at PROPEL. Altena created a video for a class project
of our partner agencies is carefully vetted and does a that detailed the agonizing loss of her mother, when on
spectacular job in their area.” Jan. 12, 2010, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake devastated
To acknowledge Boca West Children’s Foundation’s the Caribbean island nation. The quake, which was the
10th anniversary in 2020, the Board of Directors has strongest to strike the region in more than 200 years, left
created “Mission 2030” to focus on its objectives and the more than 200,000 people dead and some 895,000 Haitians
challenges to come in the next 10 years. The organization homeless.
has expanded its fundraising efforts to include a planned Following the tragedy, Altena’s family moved to South
giving program for those who wish to make helping Florida, where she had no connections and had to begin
children their legacy. again. PROPEL works with a large number of transplanted
“We have accomplished many goals in our first youth, who are simultaneously learning a new language,
decade,” said Bate Richy, “but there continue to be building a network of friends and trying to excel in school.
families in need. Boca West Children’s Foundation will PROPEL (People Reaching Out to Provide Education
be here to help those children.” & Leadership) is dedicated to helping disadvantaged youth
About Boca West Children’s Foundation from south Lantana to Boca Raton achieve academic
Boca West Children’s Foundation was initiated in 2010 success through leadership training, tutoring and life-
by members of Boca West Country Club as a not for profit skills programs. Located in east Boca Raton, PROPEL
501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to identify and successfully works with more than 100 students through its
implement project-based programming assisting at-risk after-school and weekend programs, focusing on literacy
children in Palm Beach County. For more information, enhancement, SAT/ACT prep, STEM programs, healthy
please visit bocawestfoundation.org, call (561) 488-6980 living initiatives and post- secondary career planning.
or email foundation@bocawestcc.org. Altena embodies the hope of Kelly/Strul Emerging
The 25 charity partners are: American Association Scholars program cofounder Aubrey Strul of Boca Raton
of Caregiving Youth, Boca Helping Hands, Boca Raton Lisa McDulin, director of advancement at Place of Hope; – a first-generation student/now influential, local business
Children’s Museum, Bound for College, Boys & Girls Chuck Isroff, Boca West Children’s Foundation Board owner, who spearheaded the program in 2017. Strul wants
Clubs, Caridad Center, FAU Band Camp, Florence member; Jennifer Bate Richy, Boca West Children’s to underwrite more students to attend Florida Atlantic
Fuller Child Development Centers, Gift of Life, JAFCO Foundation executive director; Charles Bender, CEO of University because he cannot fathom smart, ambitious
and JAFCO Ability Center, Jewish Federation of South Place of Hope students walking away from school due to lack of money.
“This is what I’ve always wanted to do – earn my
degree, take care of my family and make my parents
proud,” Altena said.
To learn more about PROPEL, visit www.
propelyourfuture.org or call (561) 955-8553. PROPEL
is a 501(c)(3) organization, founded in 2004, to serve
General Dentistry the youth of south Palm Beach County with a range of
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