Page 3 - Talk of Tequesta- March '20

The Talk Of Tequesta, Page 3

TequesTa profile from page 1

Northrops

came dressed as their favorite sports fan/figure (real or
from the movies) or team fan. From the topical (Robert
Kraft) to the creative (Arnold Palmer) to the religious
(rainbow-haired guy holding sign saying “John: 3:16”) Jamie and Mike Average Joes
to the obscure (comedian Bob Nelson’s Eppy Epperman),
everyone got into the game. They danced and played on the on the campus of the Els Center of Excellence. As the MVP of extended family and friends).
16-person giant LED foosball table, Pop-A-Shots basketball the night, she welcomed guests with high 5s before calling it an To learn more about Aicardi Syndrome or Ava Shaye
games, Skee-Ball and even classic arcade video games with the early evening. Gumson or the other Aicardi girls, log on to www.
fervor of athletes gunning for the win. What started as a small party with friends and family held aicardisyndromefoundation.org and/or www.ouraicardilife.org
Flint Technologies donated a cool laptop computer, and raffle at the Gumsons’ home for the first 10 years has blossomed into or contact Jupiter Law Center at (561) 744-4600 if you have
items provided by the Miami Heat, Miami Dolphins, Florida a major annual event held at the Tequesta Country Club. In its any other questions about Aicardi Syndrome or about how you
Panthers and local sports venues All Sports Grill and Brass fourth year of hosting this party, Tequesta Country Club brought can help support the Aicardi Syndrome Foundation.
Ring Pub ensured that spirits were high and contributions kept its “A” game, serving a host of stadium-type food (pizza, ribs,
coming as everyone tried their luck in the evening’s games of sliders, hot dogs, tacos and shrimp kabobs, to name a few of the
chance. delectable treats) and beer and other libations. If only watching
Over $40,000 was raised for the Aicardi Syndrome sports at home was this much fun! ChariTy evenT from page 1
Foundation at the party and in the ensuing weeks/months through The $420,000 raised since 2006 thus far helps the foundation
the end of 2019. The event is a passion project for Adam and to fund research grants at both Baylor University and the
Lissa Gumson, whose oldest daughter, Ava Shaye Gumson, was University of California at San Francisco, underwrites the cost of
diagnosed as a baby with Aicardi Syndrome, a rare congenital wheelchairs and equipment that otherwise may not be obtainable
neurological seizure disorder which inhibits the normal for some families and aids families in attending the biannual
development of motor skills, sight and speech, causing mild to Family Conference where Aicardi families from all over the
profound developmental delays. When she was diagnosed, the world gather to exchange information. This, in turn, enhances
Gumsons were informed that Ava’s life expectancy was no more each family’s ability to care for their own Aicardi child. Since
than two years. Ava is now 15, in 10th grade, and although she only 1,000 girls worldwide are afflicted with the syndrome, there
is nonverbal, severely delayed and has multiple daily seizures, is very little money for research and the foundation is made up
she is a happy, happy girl who attends the Learning Academy entirely of volunteers (mostly the affected families and their

West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James and volunteers at
Ibis food drive

More than 24,000 pounds of food was collected last
year which means there was a 15 percent increase in
2020. This year, Ibis’ food drive benefited the Palm Beach
County Food Bank and Grove Park Elementary School in
Palm Beach Gardens.
“The Palm Beach County Food Bank feeds 250,000 people
a week, which is amazing,” said Richard Zodikoff, an Ibis
resident who is the chairperson for the Food Drive.
“We’re thrilled to set a record this year. Like any charity,
it’s very difficult to top what you have done the previous year.
In past years we have given out two bags per household. This
year we decided to give out three.”
Zodikoff said the food bank decides where most of the
food will go, but some of it will be directed to Grove Park
Elementary School, which is just off Northlake on Military
Trail, where 90 percent of the kids are at or below the
poverty line.
“The sad part is our school systems provide breakfast
and lunch, but not on weekends,” Zodikoff said. “Come the
weekends, the kids have nothing.”
Ibis relies on supervisors and volunteers from each of its
33 communities to support the Food Drive. There are more
than 125 volunteers, and Ibis’ employees also help by sorting
the donated foods.
The nearby Publix also helps by highlighting “buy one,
get one free” promotions to help increase what’s donated.
About The Club At Ibis
Ibis is a secure, gated collection of 33 distinctly different
neighborhoods, located on the quiet edge of northern West
Palm Beach and just minutes from the heart of the city. It is
adjacent to the pristine Grassy Waters Nature Preserve, a
12,000-acre, state-protected preserve, with wildlife, birds,
and tropical vegetation. The clubhouse recently completed
a major enhancement and expansion to include three new
dining venues and banquet accommodations. A new sports
village opened in 2014 to include fitness facilities, pools, a
4,200-square-foot spa, and a yoga wall. The 16-court tennis
center holds friendly tournaments and weekly group play. Golf
is center stage and offers 54 holes on three Nicklaus family-
designed championship golf courses. Top golf instruction is
headed by Martin Hall, ranked by Golf Digest as one of the
game’s Top 50 instructors. For more information, call (561)
625-8500 or visit www.clubatibis.com.