Page 1 - Palm City Spolight - December '20

VOL. 22 NO. 12 www.seabreezepublications.com DECEMBER 2020

Elev8Hope’s Gift Of Thanksgiving

By Jackie Holfelder From the first Thanksgiving
Elev8Hope has grown to serve the community in dinner distribution that took place
ways no one could have imagined when students Trevor in 2012, this year’s outpouring of
Shpiruk, Devon Shpiruk, Mitchell Shpiruk and Myah community support grew to help
Shpiruk founded it in 2012. many impacted by the devastating
The program is run through Martin County school effects of COVID-19 on their
clubs, churches, homeschools and preschools, giving household income.
youth a platform to lead and make positive changes in Rina Shpiruk, CEO of
their hometown. Elev8Hope, shared some impressive
Elev8hope instills youth engagement and empowerment. numbers. “We distributed 1,054
Students are aware of the issues the community is facing turkeys and 2,500 baskets. Of
and get involved in finding solutions. those, 715 baskets were contributed
The boots-on-the-ground nonprofit’s Thanksgiving by youth and businesses from
Sharing Event is but one example of what happens when outside of Martin County because
students, families, businesses, other nonprofits, civic they wanted to join the ‘Wave of
organizations and religious entities pitch in together – the Compassion in Action.’
guiding vision of the young Shpiruks when they were
envisioning their concept. Elev8Hope’s Gift on page 4 Redeemer Lutheran Church and School students
Little Smiles Expands Holiday Toy Drive

To Help More Local Children Than Ever Before

For The First Time Little Smiles

Toy Drive Will Benefit Local

Children In Need Year-Round

Little Smiles plans to bring big smiles to more children
than ever before this holiday season and beyond. For
the first time this year, to meet the rising demand, Little
Smiles plans to use donations from its annual toy drive
to help local children all year long!
“Our role in the community is more important now than
ever before,” said Nicole Mercado, executive director
of Little Smiles. “With the global health crisis and kids
quarantined for months, we saw a huge increase in the

Little Smiles on page 2
Shoot For The Moon Raises Funds For SHARE Foundation

By Jackie Holfelder The scholarships go to individuals working to get their
On Friday, Oct. 9, the Mark Garwood SHARE Foundation lives back on track, actively involved in structured recovery
hosted its fourth annual Shoot for the Moon Sporting Clays programs and wanting to initiate or resume their education.
Competition at the South Florida Shooting Club in Palm City. For the second year, Shoot for The Moon was presented
The event raises funds for the foundation’s Phoenix and sponsored by Audi Stuart, Infiniti Stuart, Maserati of Stuart
Scholarship program, which over the past six years has and Alfa Romeo Stuart.
awarded more than $185,000 in educational grants to 32 A total of more than 175 attendees, including 124
local men and women who are battling back from the effects participants in the shoot, enjoyed one of the first nonvirtual
of substance use disorder. fundraising events since the onset of the pandemic.
U.S. Representative
Brian Mast, Martin County
Commissioner Ed Ciampi,
State Representative
Toby Oberdorf, State
Representative-elect
John Snyder, Stuart
2021 scholarship winners: Kathryn Hovey, Dominique Bartko,
Shoot For The Moon Lorraine DeAmicis, Niki Tartal, Karen Reese, Amber Scott and
on page 3 Russell Wetjen, Erica Garwood. Photo by Melissa Fuller