Page 2 - Palm City Spotlight - July '20

Page 2, Palm City Spotlight DOUBLE SPACE

2020 Bigs And Littles from page 1
Good Works
• Little Sister: Cynteria
• Teen Big of the Year: Emily
Osborn
• Little Sister: Janiya United Way Of Martin
• Volunteer of the Year: John
Sedwitz County Needs Help To
• Little Brother: Erick Ensure Students Have Tools
Although they weren’t
the national awardees, the For Success
life-changing effects these
Bigs have on the lives of their Planning is under way for the new school year, and
Littles make them winners in while schools and education may look different in the
anybody’s book! Jessica Grassi with Cynteria wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the need for school
Lawrence Howell, a Big supplies, and the expense that comes along with it,
Brother, has been matched with Little Brother Zakai since never goes away.
2017. In 2019, he was also matched with Zakai’s brother, Zamir. To alleviate the financial burden on families and
Lawrence has his own young children, but an important part of educators, United Way of Martin County, Publix Super
his life is spent with the brothers, fishing and going to church Markets and a collaborative of community partners Volunteers Leslie Judd and Evan McCarthy sort supplies
together on Sundays. started the Tools for Success program last year. The during last year’s Tools for Success program.
Jessica Grassi is a Big Sister and has been matched with program provided 8,836 students with 190,005 school
her Little Sister Cynteria since 2017. Jessica and Cynteria have supplies saving Martin County families $54,692 in Way of Martin County President and CEO Carol G.
volunteered at the Taste of Martin County. The duo is always school supply costs. Houwaart-Diez said.
doing something fun around town. This year, due to the uncertainty surrounding school United Way of Martin County is looking to the
The Teen Big of the Year, Emily Osborn, is at the Pinewood openings, the goal is to provide basic supply kits community for both donations of school supplies and
Elementary School-based mentoring program. She has been a for each student in elementary school. If traditional monetary support. Suggested supplies include pencils,
Big for almost three years, starting her mentoring in 2017 with classroom learning resumes in the fall, the kits will erasers, glue sticks and gallon-sized zipper bags. For
her first Little, Amiyah. After Amiyah graduated, Emily was be waiting for each student in their classroom. If more information, including an Amazon wish list, visit
matched with a new Little, Amiyah’s younger sister, Janiya and alternate plans are implemented, each child will be www.UnitedWayMartin.org/ToolsForSuccess.
continues to mentor her today. issued supply kits to assist with virtual learning. The About United Way
Volunteer of the Year John Sedwitz, a retiree, is a Big kits will include grade-appropriate items such as glue United Way of Martin County’s mission is to improve
Brother in the school-based mentoring program at Hobe Sound sticks, pencil sharpeners, paper, notebooks, crayons, lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community.
Elementary and has been matched with Little Brother Erick since pencils, colored pencils and markers. Since 1972, the United Way has been working to create
2019. John was there for his Little during some difficult family “Students’ lives have been dramatically disrupted long-term social change and provide support to Martin
times and has tried activities from model dinosaurs to painting due to the coronavirus outbreak and, while there is County residents by investing in programs that strive
to Legos to help Erick to open up. still considerable uncertainty about how learning to: enhance healthy living, improve education and
Worldwide, the mentoring program has been in effect for will resume in the fall, one thing we know for sure is support financial stability.
110-plus years, creating and supporting one-to-one mentoring that the needs will be greater than ever,” said United
relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. BBBS
has been serving Martin County youth since 1986 and since 2010
in Palm Beach.
Littles are aged six through high school age and need a Big
to spend quality, one-on-one time with them; someone to have Advertise in This Newspaper! Call 561-746-3244
fun with, someone they can confide in.
Matches are made by utilizing a questionnaire with children,
parents and mentors that includes considerations such as location,
interests, skills, hobbies and other information key to selecting
the best matches.
Contact Kristine Gunn at (561) 727-3450 for information on
becoming a “Big” or “Little.”
For more information, visit www.mentorbig.org.

John Sedwitz with Erick

Emily Osborn with Janiya

Photos provided by BBBS of Palm Beach and Martin
Counties

Captain’s was established in 1980 servicing
Palm Beach County and is a privately
owned and managed company.
Captain’s is committed to providing
dependable, reliable and professional
ground transportation to and from all
South Florida Airports and Seaports. PBCVH212
To reserve your vehicle:
561-798-2180 or 800-634-7890 www.captainsairport.com