Page 1 - Martin Downs Bulletin - April '21

VOL. 23 NO. 4 www.seabreezepublications.com APRIL 2021

Casino Night Benefits Elev8Hope Bow-Wow-Meow

By Jackie Holfelder Luau Raises Funds
Fun and games abounded
on March 12 at Rockin’ For Shelter Pets
H Ranch in Palm City at
Casino Night to benefit
Elev8Hope, the all- Leis, straw skirts
volunteer, all-student-run and Polynesian dancers
nonprofit that benefits played into the theme
families with children. of this year ’s Paws
But the big news of the and Claws gala, which
evening was that the 501(c) benefited the shelter
(3) will be establishing animals at the Humane
“Mrs. Rina’s House of Society of the Treasure
Blessings,” a transitional Coast (HSTC). Held at
hospitality house to benefit the Marriott Hutchinson
homeless students in Martin Island Beach Resort, the
County. Elev8hope Board President Peter DelToro and Board members Kathy Carroll, Meghan Bow-Wow-Meow Luau
The sold-out event Vaughn, Elev8Hope CEO Rinamarie Shpiruk, Jaclyn Uhl and Director of Community was the perfect theme for
included “gambling,” Vegas Outreach Tom Lowell the event, which was held entirely outdoors due to the
casino games like roulette, pandemic. By night’s end, the event raised more than
craps, Texas hold ‘em and $205,000 with more donations coming in post-event.
blackjack. WPTV and Fox 29 anchor and reporter Jay Cashmere
Heavy hors d’oeuvres, emceed the event and auctioneer extraordinaire Elliot
open bar and a silent auction Paul conducted a live auction. Guests were then treated
kept the good times rolling.
Some of the monies
raised at Casino Night
will be used to jumpstart a
capital campaign to finance
the purchase, renovation
and ongoing maintenance
at Mrs. Rina’s House of
Blessings.
Generous sponsors and
supporters of Elev8Hope
donated a total of
$370,000 which – although
Elev8Hope student leaders Braydin Samuels, Augie Lovelace, co-founder Mitchell Shpiruk, Bow-Wow-Meow Luau on page 5
Casino Night on page 4 Ryan Davis, DJ Leigh and Stephen Oro
House Of Hope Put The FUN In Raising Funds During

Their First Annual Hunt For Hope Scavenger Hunt

An enthusiastic and diverse group of more than 40 for Hope scavenger hunt presented by Crary Buchanan “Hunt for Hope was designed to incorporate COVID-19
participants scattered across Martin County on a sunny Attorneys at Law. On Feb. 27, teams used House of Hope’s safety protocols while engaging participants in a fun, team-
Saturday as part of House of Hope’s first annual Hunt customized app to compete for unique prizes by completing based scavenger hunt. We weren’t sure what to expect with
various challenges and missions at local landmarks, Hunt for Hope being a brand-new event, but the feedback
businesses, and attractions in Stuart, Indiantown, Palm
City, Hobe Sound, and Jensen Beach. The scavenger hunt
was a clever new way for the organization to raise funds
to support its critical programs.
Scavenger hunt challenges included problem-solving,
performances, gathering items, taking videos or selfies, and
other hilarious or thought-provoking tasks closely related to
the House of Hope’s mission. Some of the group’s favorite
tasks were performing a catwalk at the House of Hope Stuart
Thrift Store in their best-thrifted outfit, packing food for
distribution at House of Hope’s largest pantry in Stuart, making
First place winners, Team Nozzle Nolen. Pictured from left: smoothies on the manpowered “smoothie bike” machine
Glenda Vander Wilt, Shaun Jones, Mark Davis, and Kevin Eaton in the East Stuart Nutrition Garden, and learning about
the history of the Golden
Gate Center for Enrichment
and the New Monrovia One-
Room Schoolhouse. Children
enjoyed showing off their best
T-Rex dinosaur impressions, Second place winners, the Super Scavengers. Pictured from
having karaoke showdowns left: Brigite Babine, Tom and Sue Whittington, Lexington
against their teammates, and and Farrah Taylor
reenacting scenes as National
Geographic explorers. House Of Hope on page 3