Page 9 - Palm City Spotlight - June '21

DOUBLE SPACE
iN your commuNity
Root Family Foundation Puts
Down Roots In Martin County
Through United Way
Representing the Root Family Foundation, John Root
recently presented the United Way of Martin County with a
$10,000 gift to its Community Impact Fund.
For generations, the Root Family Foundation has been
supporting their communities through United Way because
the foundation’s focus on critical needs aligns with United
Way’s focus areas of health, education and financial stability.
“Since the turn of the 20th century, The Root Family John Root of the Root Family Foundation presented a
Foundation has been focused on improving the quality of life
for those in need,” Root said. “Even without the pandemic,
there are people in need in our community.” Way of Martin County; John Root, Root Family Foundation;
The family’s original business, Root Glass Company, Elisabeth Glynn, director of philanthropy, United Way of
designed the first Coca-Cola™ bottle in 1916 and made Martin County
Palm City Spotlight, Page 9
canning jars. After the glass company was sold to the Mason
Co. in the 1930s, the family operated a Coca-Cola bottling
business until 1985 and then invested in such diverse fields
as hospitality, aviation and citrus.
Today, several generations of Root family members
are directly involved with the charities that the foundation
supports. John and his wife Judy raised their four children
with the philanthropic mindset.
“United Way provides us with a meaningful way for our
family members to give back to the communities in which
we live,” Root said. For more information about United Way,
visit www.UnitedWayMartin.org.
About United Way Of Martin County
$10,000 check to United Way of Martin County. Pictured left United Way of Martin County’s mission is to lift the
to right: Carol G. Houwaart-Diez, president/CEO, United community and change lives together through the collective
power of advancing the common good. Since 1972, the
United Way has been working to create long-term social
change and provide support to Martin County residents by
investing in programs that strive to: enhance healthy living,
improve education, and support financial stability. For more
information about United Way of Martin County visit www.
unitedwaymartin.org.
Elev8Hope To Build Transition
House For Homeless Students
By Jackie Holfelder
Elev8Hope began in 2012, the dream of the Shpiruk
siblings, four youngsters with a yearning to help those who
needed a hand up.
Through the intervening years, the all-volunteer, student-
run nonprofit, has changed too many lives in Martin County
to begin to count as its partnerships, outreach and fundraising
abilities blossomed.
The program is run through the county’s school clubs,
churches, homeschools and preschools, giving youth
a platform to lead and make positive changes in their
hometown.
Along the way, the sad reality of homelessness among
Martin County students became apparent to Rina Shpiruk,
Elev8Hope CEO.
On March 12, they revealed at Elev8Hope’s Casino Night
fundraiser that the organization had signed a contract on an
almost $1 million property in Stuart to be repurposed as
“Rina’s House of Blessings.”
The transitional hospitality house will welcome students
who are living in cars, tents, hotels or couch-surfing until
permanent living arrangements for them are secured by
Elev8Hope.
The turnkey homes have 14 bedrooms, eight bathrooms,
six kitchens, two acres of buildable land and a large storage
facility on premises.
Elev8Hope will be initiating a capital campaign to secure
funding for the purchase and any needed renovations and
buildouts.
Any time is the right time to find out more about Rina’s
House of Blessings and plan your contribution.
Learn more about the 501(c)(3) and/or donate at www.
elev8hope.org.
Photo by Elev8Hope
Rina’s House of Blessings will be a transitional hospitality
house for homeless Martin County students.
See answer in this paper.