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Great Charity Challenge Leads The Way In Equestrian Philanthropy

Great Charity Challenge Leads The  Way In Equestrian Philanthropy

Wellington’s equestrian community has long been a leader in local philanthropy, and that tendency toward charitable giving has been magnified over the past nine years thanks to the Great Charity Challenge, presented by Fidelity Investments, held each February at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.

The Great Charity Challenge is a special event where equestrians — amateurs, juniors and professionals — are paired with local charities for a high-energy show jumping competition. The charities receive donations based upon how their team ranks, with each receiving a sizable minimum donation.

The competition is the brainchild of co-founders Mark Bellissimo and his daughter, Paige. The event runs like clockwork thanks to the hard work of Executive Director Anne Caroline Valtin.

Valtin first experienced the Great Charity Challenge, or GCC for short, during its first year and knew she had to become involved. “I instantly fell in love with the concept,” she said. “I’m a true humanitarian at heart and passionate about equestrian sports. The event was a fairytale come true.”

The evening allows passionate equestrians to foster change in the community. A lottery picks each year’s participating charities, and Mark Bellissimo’s company Equestrian Sport Productions covers all of the costs associated with the event, which allows all of the money raised to go directly back into the community.

Currently, the GCC aims to distribute $1.5 million each year to dozens of Palm Beach County nonprofits. In 2017, the event surpassed the $10 million mark in total giving. Sponsors, and volunteers, are integral to the success of the event.

“We are extremely lucky and grateful to have long-time sponsors by our side. They believe in making Palm Beach County a better place, and are eager to support the event and the many wonderful causes represented every year,” Valtin said. “I believe that the way the GCC is set up makes it easier for individuals, families and businesses to give back. It can be very challenging to pick just one organization to help while not being sure which one is best.”

The competition wouldn’t be possible without the horses and riders that fly through the relay course. Amateur and junior riders are teamed up with world-class riders to form the three-person teams.

For the amateur and junior riders, the opportunity to ride on a team with some of the world’s best equestrians, learning from them, is an experience to remember.

“Just like in every other sport, these Olympic riders are role models. We admire them for their dedication to the sport and their talent in the ring,” Valtin said. “Getting the opportunity to share the ring with them is something you dream of. You could compare it to boys getting the opportunity to play with their favorite football player.”

For those top professionals, riding for a charity event — risking themselves and their horses — shows their amazing character, Valtin said, noting that they take the competition seriously.

“One of my favorite memories of the event was during the fifth edition where 10-time Olympian Ian Millar captained the winning team with riders Kelly Soleau and Emily Kinch,” Valtin said.

During a press interview, she recalled that he said, “It was a great pleasure to do it, and when we finished our round, I can’t tell you the pleasure I had. It is a very enjoyable and rewarding class just because of the situation. I mean, winning a grand prix is great, but this is different. This is special.”

Competing at the GCC allows the elite riders, as well as up-and-coming riders, to make a difference in the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals, Valtin said, stressing that the event is unlike other equestrian competitions.

“It’s a unifying competition where everyone genuinely puts their interests aside and focuses on giving a leg up to others,” she said.

After the event each year, Valtin takes the time to share on the GCC web site and social media how the competition impacts the many organizations involved. This lets sponsors and the community know where the money is going. She has also had the opportunity to visit many of the organizations helped by the Great Charity Challenge.

“The impact can be as simple as updating all of the windows in a homeless shelter, purchasing a new fridge/freezer for a food pantry, being able to assist an extra 100 students with tutoring, or even laying the foundation for a foster home,” Valtin said.

In addition to helping many local nonprofits, the GCC created a permanent partnership with the 12 public schools in Wellington. The schools are the only group that automatically participates in the GCC each year.

“We were surprised to realize that schools depend immensely on donations and external funding to cover basics, such as providing after-school tutoring, running special programs or even purchasing new lunchroom tables,” Valtin said. “Creating a partnership with them was a natural fit. The Winter Equestrian Festival is their backyard, and we wanted them to gain access to it.”

Each school is also invited during the winter season to showcase their talents and perform the national anthem for the crowd during grand prix competition evenings.

“It is remarkable to meet so many wonderful and gifted students, along with the dedicated staff and parents,” Valtin said. “We will be once again inviting them out for a chalk art contest, on the night of the GCC, where each school will be given the opportunity to share what it means to them to give back. All schools are guaranteed a minimum of $1,000 for participating and will receive up to $2,500, based on a judging panel’s final results.”

Equestrian Sport Productions promotes the Great Charity Challenge and offers free general admission during the Winter Equestrian Festival. During the GCC, there is free admission and parking.

“The event is a community celebration,” Valtin said. “We want to make sure that everyone and anyone who wishes to come can be there to witness the generosity of the sponsors, passion of the riders and the dedication of so many local nonprofit organizations.  We believe that the world needs more feel-good stories — and the GCC is definitely one of them.”

Next year’s Great Charity Challenge will take place Saturday, Feb. 10. The theme will be “Hollywood Feature Films: A Night Where Everyone is a Star.” Previous themes have ranged from superheroes to animated characters.

“Riders have showcased amazing costumes in the last few years,” Valtin said. “We look forward to seeing what they come up with for the 2018 edition. We invite everyone to join us ‘red carpet ready.’ Gates will open at 6 p.m., with competition set for 6:30 p.m.”

For sponsorship information, contact Valtin at (727) 678-8677 or acv@greatcharitychallenge.com. For additional information about the charities, application process and event details, visit www.greatcharitychallenge.com and www.facebook.com/greatcharitychallenge.

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Feature Stories

Equestrian Aid Foundation Stands Ready To Help Equestrians In Need

Equestrian Aid Foundation Stands Ready To
Help Equestrians In Need

Wellington is the winter equestrian capital of the world, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that among the area’s unique philanthropic endeavors is the Equestrian Aid Foundation, which raises money that is then given as grants to members of the equestrian community in their time of need.

In the horse industry, a catastrophic injury can occur in the blink of an eye. The aftermath of that injury, or a catastrophic illness, can be devastating — never being able to walk again, never being able to ride again, not being able to put food on the table, and, in essence, losing your identity.

“Horses are beloved, yet unpredictable animals. Things can happen or change within an instant,” Equestrian Aid Foundation Executive Director Louise Smith said. “It could happen to pretty much anybody.”

However, since 1996, the Equestrian Aid Foundation has been there to help those in the equestrian industry as they go through such difficult times, helping to rebuild their lives.

The EAF was founded as the Equestrian AIDS Foundation to help those battling that deadly illness. Its mission has since expanded to help all equestrians in need and has provided grants of more than $2.7 million, assisting equestrians in 30 states. “We help with things that insurance won’t cover,” Smith explained.

The EAF is a kind hand, extending hope and support when someone in the industry — riders, grooms, barn managers, trainers, farriers and more — is facing the inability to conduct life as they know it. After all, many equestrians eat, drink, work and sleep barn life. If that is taken away from them, it is devastating.

Smith was drawn to the organization when she learned about what EAF is and how it helps. She discovered that the EAF could have helped a friend of hers, but they didn’t know about it at the time. Therefore, raising awareness is an important goal for Smith, and other EAF leaders.

“The mission of the Equestrian Aid Foundation is to provide emergency grant-based financial support to horse men and women who are coping with catastrophic injury and illness,” Board President Stephanie Riggio Bulger said. “It started as the Equestrian AIDS Foundation, and the mission was to assist horse men and women who were living with HIV and AIDS.”

Approximately 10 years after its inception, the “S” was dropped.

“It became Aid instead of AIDS, and we started helping any injury, illness, you name it, as long as it was catastrophic enough to prevent the person from being able to work, and it caused a loss of income,” Riggio Bulger said.

Based in Wellington, the EAF has impacted equestrians across the country. Many fundraisers, such as local events with stores such as On Course Consignment, BurgerFi, Charming Charlie and Consign & Design, where retailers have held activities, promotions or shopping days, and then donated revenue to the EAF, have a large impact.

“A diverse group of companies have lent their support to the organization,” Smith said. “That’s really amazing, and that really speaks to the generosity of people, not only in Wellington, who support the foundation, sponsor us, participate in our events and activities — they make an impact all across the country.”

The EAF also holds an annual fundraiser, such as last season’s Althea, an equestrian show featuring former Cavalia artists. A newer program with the EAF is the second annual Jump for Charity, taking place at the Hampton Classic Horse Show. Riders are paired with charities and special caps are made, and sold, with proceeds benefiting the charities. Georgina Bloomberg will be riding for the EAF this year.

“It was such a fortuitous pick because she’s an old friend of the foundation,” Riggio Bulger said. “She was a board member for many years, and she’s a dear friend of mine. It was extra special for us that Georgina got picked to be our rider.”

At other competitions, horse show managers are able to support the EAF through its Show You Care program, where a class can be designated as a Show You Care class, where anywhere from five to 50 percent of the entry fee is donated to the EAF. Competitors receive a green lapel ribbon to wear during the show.

Utilizing social media helps raise awareness for the organization, which recently received gold star status from GuideStar, which rates nonprofit organizations. Only a small fraction of the 1.8 million organizations listed in GuideStar achieve gold status.

“It reinforces the work we’re doing and our stature in the community. It’s a gold star on our foundation,” Riggio Bulger said. “It shows we’re doing good work and high-quality work.”

Through EAF grants, individuals who thought they never would be able to walk again are able to receive physical therapy and other medical assistance that is able to make a difference in their mobility and ability to regain their lives.

“When you’re told you’ll never ride again, when you’re told you’ll never have your job again, when you’re told you’ll never walk again, it makes such a difference to get some help,” Smith said. “In the horse world, there’s so many times your life revolves around your barn and your colleagues. And when you’re injured, oftentimes it’s a very lonely experience.”

Whether it is recovering from cancer, complications during back surgery or a debilitating injury, the EAF is there to provide hope, support and funds. Having money is one part of the battle, but knowing there is an organization of people offering support is one of the things that makes the EAF special.

“It’s such a feel-good organization, to hear that all the work we’re doing saves people’s lives, it saves people’s houses, it saves people’s horses, it allows them to keep food on the table while they’re recovering,” Riggio Bulger added. “Sometimes small gestures can have a huge impact.”

For more info., call (800) 792-6068 or visit www.equestrianaidfoundation.org.

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Feature Stories

Panther Ridge Nonprofit Aims To Save Big Cats From Extinction

Panther Ridge Nonprofit Aims To  Save Big Cats From Extinction

The Panther Ridge Conservation Center, located in the Palm Beach Point community, is a special place — and also one of Wellington’s most unique nonprofit organizations.

Panther Ridge, founded in 1999 by Judy Berens, is a place where you can come face-to-face with a black leopard or a clouded leopard, or perhaps a jaguar or cougar.

The common thread between these animals is that they are all exotic cats with dwindling numbers in the wild.

“We have eight species, and certainly two of them will be gone from the wild in 20 years, it’s predicted,” Berens said.

Originally, she founded Panther Ridge as a rescue facility for exotic large cats in need.

“But now, it has evolved to become an education mission to help people understand the threats against wildlife that exist in the world today — and the fact that many of the species that are housed at Panther Ridge will be extinct within their range habitats within the next 20 years, if not sooner,” Berens said.

It costs approximately $150,000 a year to care for the animals, and the costs quickly add up, between food, vitamins, medicines, habitats and, of course, enrichment and toys.

“We depend on the generosity of individuals and corporations,” Berens said.

To help support the animals, Berens offers several types of tours of the facility.

A tour at Panther Ridge is a unique, intimate experience. Visitors have the opportunity to learn about the cats, their stories, their species and how they live.

If you listen carefully, it’s possible to hear the purr of Charlie, a cheetah. When the sun beams at just the right angle, you can see the spots on Amos, a black leopard who has been at Panther Ridge since he was a week old.

Last year, Mateo, a jaguar, and Meeka, a cougar, joined the Panther Ridge family as cubs. Over the last few months, they’ve grown up immensely, continuously changing.

Berens and her team have strong bonds with the feline residents of Panther Ridge and enjoy sharing their knowledge of these very rare cats.

With rapidly dwindling numbers in the wild, and only some species having enough genetic diversity for captive breeding, Panther Ridge offers an exquisite glimpse into the lives of majestic creatures that may not exist in the wild for much longer. Captive breeding might be the only way to save them.

“In the last 20 years, I have seen such a paradigm shift in the situation for animals in the wild. I am not only considering, but embracing the concept of captive breeding for some of these species that will surely be extinct in the wild very shortly,” Berens said.

As the situation for the animals has changed, she has adjusted the mission of Panther Ridge.

“As the world has evolved, we have evolved. Now we are trying to put our efforts where they will be more impactful,” Berens said. “The concept of returning animals to the wild, although it is beautifully idealistic, where is that wild to put them back into, after the forest has been cut down and the jungle has been cut down? The wild will not exist.”

With their natural habitat dwindling, there is only so much people can do. Berens suggests becoming involved in worldwide conservation efforts and finding good quality, local projects to support.

“That will be making a difference in the everyday lives and survival of these animals,” Berens explained. “The impact of man on the environment is what’s causing the rest of them to go over the edge.”

At Panther Ridge, Berens and her team work with conservation centers around the world, gathering information about the cats and their behavior. Sharing information about the animals, their medical histories and their behaviors is crucial for efforts to help them survive.

School groups visit Panther Ridge and are able to observe and learn about the cats in an up-close-and-personal atmosphere that is unique to Panther Ridge.

There are many ways the local community can choose to support Panther Ridge. The nonprofit conservation center offers tours by appointment only, either with Berens herself or with her team. During a tour, guests learn about the residents and conservation efforts.

Sponsorship adoptions are available for the cats that go toward their care and needs. Donations are also helpful. On the Panther Ridge web site is a wish list of items such as a GoPro camera, playground mulch, cleaner, bleach, lumber and metal leaf rakes that are used to care for the cats and their habitats.

Panther Ridge also hosts several fundraising events each year, and it is possible to make Panther Ridge the recipient of a school or organization fundraiser. Fascinated by big cats and looking to help out? Panther Ridge also accepts volunteers.

For more information, call the Panther Ridge Conservation Center at (561) 795-8914 or visit www.pantherridge.org.

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Feature Stories

Wycliffe Charities Foundation Community Raises Money For Many Great Causes

Wycliffe Charities Foundation Community Raises Money For Many Great Causes

The Wycliffe Charities Foundation has been a fixture for more than 20 years, putting one community’s philanthropic efforts to work for nonprofit organizations across the western communities and beyond.

“The people of Wycliffe are very generous. They sponsor a number of events that we hold during the year,” Wycliffe Charities Foundation President Gerry Ranzal said. “It’s all very exciting. If you go to the different charities we sponsor, and you talk to the people that they help, and the love and respect and gratitude that they convey to you, it is a wonderful feeling.”

Today, the Wycliffe Charities Foundation continues to honor the goals of supporting community nonprofits serving central Palm Beach County. The foundation has signature annual events it continues to hold in order to raise money for the long list of charities it donates to every year.

“That’s an ongoing thing all year, so even though the golf tournament is in March and the shredding is in April, and we have raffles in January, the tributes are collected all year,” Treasurer Harriet Ross said. “That’s how I started out on the board, just doing the tributes for about three or four years, and then I elevated to the treasury.”

This year, the charity broke its record for annual money raised — $158,500.

Sue Webber, past president of the organization, said the foundation has donated about $1.8 million over the past 20 years to the nonprofit organizations it supports.

“We embrace the charities, and they embrace us,” Vice President Gail Horowitz said.

The foundation’s annual golf tournament continues to be its largest event of the year. The tournament hosts approximately 300 people who support the foundation’s mission.

“It takes all of us,” Horowitz said. “It’s not one person. It’s not two people. It’s the whole community that does it, coming together and being able to pull it off… every year, and saying, ‘Are we going to be able to do it?’ ‘Can we do it?’ ‘Is it going to be ok?’ And, every year, it gets bigger and better.”

The Wycliffe Charities Foundation has the world “charity” in it, but it’s the word “foundation” that speaks more to its mission.

“We’re really not a charity. We are a foundation,” Webber said. “Again, making us unique, because it’s the community, and I have to say that the Wycliffe staff who work here are the most generous people. So, this is truly a whole community, the employees, the staff at the country club and the residents who live here [who make it happen]. It’s amazing how really generous and supportive they are.”

When the foundation is not fundraising through its major golf tournament, shredding and bike/walk events, it has an active tribute program that allows people to raise money individually for the foundation.

“People in Wycliffe typically will donate money in memory of or in honor of someone, or celebrating a birthday,” Horowitz said.

There is a strict foundation policy for a nonprofit to be considered eligible to receive donations from the Wycliffe Charities Foundation. All of the money raised is donated to local health-related, educational and children’s organizations in Palm Beach County, as written in the foundation’s mission statement.

“Every charity has to write a grant request. The board of governors then goes through all the grant requests, and we decide which charities to give to,” Webber said. “Usually, by the time the golf tournament is over, we’ve raised all the money for the year, and we need to decide how we are going to divide it. We’re very strict about what we do.”

Another way the charity makes money is participating in community events, and this year it won additional money through the Great Charity Challenge by placing eighth in the equestrian competition. That money helped the foundation break its annual donation record.

“We go out and visit the charities that we give money to, and they come here,” Horowtiz said. “They come and they participate in the bike/walks and the golf tournament. So, they become an integral part of who and what we are.”

This year, the foundation donated money to 25 charities. This was up from the 18 charities it usually makes donations to each year, due to the extra money.

The 2017 grant recipients were: Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse, the Alpert Jewish Family and Children’s Service, the Caridad Center, the Center for Child Counseling, the Center for Trauma Counseling, the Children’s Home Society of Florida, Clinics Can Help, Faith-Hope-Love-Charity Inc., Families First of Palm Beach County, Grandma’s Place, Home Safe, Horses Healing Hearts, the Hospice of Palm Beach County Foundation, the Kids Cancer Foundation, KidSafe, the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County, the Mental Health Association of Palm Beach County, the Palm Beach Habilitation Center, the Palm Beach School for Autism, Paws 4 Liberty, Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue, the Quantum House, the Sari Center, Speak Up for Kids and the West Palm Beach Library Foundation.

The main operations of the foundation are between December and April, Ranzal said. After the shredding event in April, there are meetings and preparations for the next year.

“It was a wonderful year. I really enjoy raising money for these charities,” Ranzal said. “It’s always a challenge, and everything happens at the last minute, but we all work through it, and the people who are involved work hard and get everything done on time.”

To learn more about the Wycliffe Charities Foundation, visit www.wycliffecharities.com. To contact the foundation, call (561) 434-2918 or e-mail wycliffecharities@hotmail.com.

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Wellington Health

Veterinarian Dr. Christina Herejk Brings An Integrated Approach To Helping Local Animals

Veterinarian Dr. Christina Herejk Brings An Integrated Approach To Helping Local Animals

Sometimes human medicine’s loss is veterinary medicine’s gain. Such is the case with local veterinarian Dr. Christina Herejk of the Royal Palm Veterinary Center.

“As is the case with many veterinarians, I was completely in awe of animals and nature as a child,” Herejk recalled. “My mother was a nurse, so I grew up hearing great stories about medicine. I was considering working with humans, but my mother suggested that I might be better off going into animal medicine.”

It has been a passion she has followed ever since.

“Once I had my first dog, I fell in love with the profession,” Herejk said. “I loved the fact that I could work with both animals and people, the animals’ owners.”

She attended the University of Florida in Gainesville for both her undergraduate and veterinary degrees, graduating in 2005. She worked with Dr. Richard Ringler, who established the Royal Palm Animal Hospital more than 25 years ago, taking over his practice in 2013.

At the Royal Palm Veterinary Center, Herejk is continuing Ringler’s mission to help animals in the community.

“We are all about providing good care to our patients and clients, taking the reins from the late Dr. Ringler to continue his life’s work,” Herejk said.

Dogs and cats continue to be the center’s primary focus.

“In addition to annual wellness examinations and vaccinations, we treat a variety of problems,” Herejk said. “We deal with a number of geriatric problems, such as osteoarthritis and kidney disease, as well as skin problems. I love dermatology, and I have started to venture into integrated medicine — cold laser therapy, veterinary acupuncture.”

Integrated medicine is an alternative approach to treating the patient, taught at the Chi Institute just outside Gainesville, which specializes in traditional Chinese veterinary medicine.

“We’re taking what we’ve been trained to do in school and combining it with other modalities for the most optimal results for our patients’ health,” Herejk explained. “Sometimes western medicine is great, but it doesn’t hit it on the head. Being able to have another tool in my pocket is fantastic.”

And what advice would she give to other pet lovers considering life as a veterinarian?

“I would say, ‘Follow your dreams, follow your heart,’ because it is a lot of work,” Herejk said. “‘Study hard, do good in school and don’t be discouraged.”

She added that the cost of veterinary school is an obstacle that keeps many from following their dreams of becoming veterinarians.

“It’s a big topic being tackled by the American Veterinary Medical Association right now. Debt could be a deterrent,” she explained. “But if you want to make a difference in animals’ lives and their owners’ lives, just go for it.”

The Royal Palm Veterinary Center is located at 610 Royal Palm Beach Blvd. For more information, call (561) 793-7000 or visit www.royalpalmvc.com.

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Feature Stories

PMI Remodeling & Repairs A One-Stop Shop For All Projects, Big And Small

PMI Remodeling & Repairs A One-Stop Shop For All Projects, Big And Small

At PMI Remodeling & Repairs, “one call repairs it all.” The family business has been based in Wellington since it was founded by Paul Tonks in 1987.

After working at the old Wellington Club, Paul struck out his own when he saw the need for a remodeling and repair company in the growing community. He currently runs the business with his son, Phil, and the rest of their family.

“We’ve come from being a one-man company to now being a lot bigger than we were,” said Paul, who is originally from England.

Starting in Paul’s garage many moons ago, they have since moved to several different buildings in Wellington’s industrial centers, bringing them to the current office, where they have a showroom full of supplies and mock-ups for clients to come and pick out anything they want, ranging from kitchens and bathrooms to whole house renovations and repairs.

“I came to the business when fax machines and computers started coming onto the scene, so I brought those kinds of technology in, and built the software to run the company,” said Phil, who is destined to one day take over the business.

Though Paul said he is looking to retire soon, Phil pointed out that he has been saying that for the last five years.

Phil is ready and able to take over for his father. He has had his state building contractor’s license for more than 20 years and is devoted to the company.

PMI services include remodeling, commercial services, roofing, gutters, siding, windows, plumbing, electrical, heating, air conditioning, irrigation and painting. Their approach is different from other companies.

“We go out to their place, and we’re a little different because there’s no pressure,” Phil said. “We’ll go out and meet with the husband only, or the wife only, and go through their ideas, come back with a preliminary estimate, send it to them, and if it’s something they like, in the ballpark of what they’re thinking, they’ll come in here to the showroom.”

The showroom, which is more like a designer selection area, allows customers to peruse tiles, flooring, cabinets and other items, which, since PMI will already have the project’s measurements, allows clients to see what fits into their budget.

In addition to four different cabinet companies, with cabinetry at different price points, PMI also has a custom cabinet shop, giving them the ability to not only build custom cabinets for a project, but also the ability to modify cabinets to meet the needs of various projects.

Often people will come in asking for advice. On occasion, they’ll come in with their own decorators and already know what they want. All they need is an estimate from PMI and they’re ready.

Because PMI is able to do all of the work in-house, with electricians, plumbers, tile people, materials and labor, when clients get an estimate from them, it is complete, Paul said, explaining how that is something unique PMI offers clients.

“You can come in here, pick out everything you want, and we’ll make sure it works. That’s the beauty of working with PMI,” Paul said. “We’re not going to ask them to go out and find another company. We’d rather they didn’t; we’d rather use our own people.”

Because of how they work, Phil added, PMI has extensive resources and is able to quickly and efficiently work on a project. For example, where some companies might run into roadblocks that delay a project, PMI has contractors ready to take care of anything, which means the project isn’t delayed.

PMI has the ability to work with anything from appliance repair companies, cleaning companies, window cleaning, pressure cleaning, plumbers, electricians, roofers, and grout cleaning and staining.

PMI works with an architect who draws up plans, Paul added. “It’s a one-stop-shop. It can all be done in-house,” he said.

The entire team works together to accomplish a project that makes PMI proud and customers happy. “It’s important that our subcontractors care about the customers like we do,” Phil said. “We answer the phone every day — it doesn’t go to voicemail. We have an emergency phone after hours that goes to me. We’re here every day from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. We hold a customer’s hand through the project. Also, we decided about 10 years ago to start doing big remodeling projects through the summer months when many customers aren’t here.”

During the summer, they’ll send photo updates, and when the client comes back for the season, the job is done, the house is clean, and they can move right in.

For those looking to take on a remodeling project, Paul suggests that people know what they want and do their homework. “Start early, when you know what you want to do. Get your prices together and work with a company you want to work with,” he suggested. “People try to control the job; it’s very difficult. You have to really let it go to a contractor who can take it, run with it and do it.”

PMI Remodeling & Repairs is located at 3340 Fairlane Farms Road, Suite 6, in Wellington. For more
information, call (561) 798-5722 or visit www.pmi1call.com.

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Wellington Home

Renovation Brings An Open, Airy Feel To Village Walk Home

Renovation Brings An Open, Airy Feel To Village Walk Home

One of Wellington’s more established neighborhoods, Village Walk has become more desirable than ever thanks to beautiful renovations and interior design upgrades occurring under the homeowners’ direction. A perfect example is this home, where a bank of kitchen cabinets was removed to add to the open, airy feel to an interior that already featured dramatic 12-foot ceilings — standard fare when the home was built. The popular gated community is known for its walking bridges over waterways and inter-connected finger lakes, offering nearly every home a water view

 

Dining Area: Diners seated at the formal dining table, as well as casual brunchers at the island bar, all enjoy the view. The classic look of crown molding and a statement chandelier from Restoration Hardware define the space as both elegant and modern.

 

Kitchen: A ceiling that seems to float above the kitchen offers acoustical quiet to this well-appointed workspace, complete with new stainless steel appliances and the same polished travertine marble flooring that extends through all the high-traffic areas of the home.

 

Kitchen Detail: Light kitchens never go out of style. Here, granite countertops and a backsplash of white subway tile join forces to provide a sanitary food prep area with easy cleanup.

 

Great Room: Walls of sliding glass and the calm of a Sherwin-Williams paint color called Krypton work together to enhance this open great room, usually buzzing with activity. Frosted sliders let the sun shine in, but also provide convenient access to the side yard, while two sets of triple doors provide access to the back.

 

Master Bedroom: The newly carpeted master bedroom, located at the back of the home, offers another double-door entrance,

as well as a set of sliders allowing easy access to the outdoors. Inside, a central vacuum system makes morning chores a breeze.

 

Front Elevation: A coveted side entry from the windowed two-car garage sets this home’s design apart. Also featured are Spanish barrel tile, new carriage lights, a pristine paver driveway, butter yellow exterior and lush tropical landscaping.

 

Back Patio: With its overhead fan, rattan look sectional sofa, Pottery Barn drapes and defining area rug, the homeowners have everything they need to comfortably enjoy this back patio area. Off camera, a bar and television have been added to the space, and all the home’s lights are now on dimmers.

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Wellington Real Estate

Linda And Harold Wellman Bring Unique Skills And Years Of Experience

Linda And Harold Wellman Bring Unique Skills
And Years Of Experience

Linda and Harold Wellman of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty didn’t start out as Floridians, but they both knew they would eventually settle here and begin their careers in real estate.

A New Jersey native, Linda majored in fashion design at Manhattan’s Fashion Institute of Technology while pursuing a career with United Airlines.

“Since I frequently traveled to Florida, I decided that’s where I wanted to make my roots,” she said. “In 1984, I took a buyout from United and moved to Boca Raton.”

Harold grew up in Michigan and got his degree in secondary education.

“My family spent all holiday vacations in Palm Beach County since 1968,” he recalled. “I was very honored to have met John D. McArthur, one of the largest land holders in Palm Beach County, which from a young age sparked my interest in real estate. I always knew that after I graduated from college, I would make Florida my home. So, I moved to Broward County in 1980 and through the years worked my way north, eventually settling in Wellington.”

The Wellmans married in 1986, the same year they both decided to get their real estate licenses. Their motto soon became “the husband and wife team that works for you.” The couple, who now have two college-age children, moved to Wellington in 2003.

“For the past 15 years, we have focused primarily on Wellington, selling family, active adult and luxury real estate, and Boynton Beach selling family and active adult,” Linda said. “There are so many choices in the adult market, and we are truly experts in that field. Our experience and knowledge is priceless, and we pride ourselves on always educating our buyers and sellers, and our video reviews speak for themselves.”

Their partnership not only highlights their individual strengths, but allows Linda and Harold to blend those strengths to provide the ultimate real estate experience.

“Linda and I have a fantastic working relationship,” Harold said. “She handles the marketing and customer relations, while I focus on contracts, appraisal issues, inspections and maintaining timelines. We are very easy-going and pride ourselves on maintaining a lasting relationship with our buyers and sellers.”

Linda’s background in fashion design has found its way into her real estate career. “There is a huge difference in listing a home and marketing a home, something that a majority of sellers don’t realize,” she said. “We truly offer the highest level of marketing out there and have no competition at our level. I am trained in feng shui and staging, so as an added benefit to our sellers, we offer complimentary staging. It is crucial when a buyer walks up to a home that their first impression is good.”

For Harold, the keys to continuing success lie in never resting on his laurels and a no-nonsense approach when it comes to getting the job done.

“I pride myself in continuing with education and always staying on top of local real estate trends,” he said. “Our efficiency makes all the difference when working on a real estate transaction. It is very important to both Linda and I that we maintain a professional image in this industry.”

For more info., call Harold Wellman at (561) 389-8356 or Linda Wellman at (561) 676-8886, or visit www.thewellmanteam.com.

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Feature Stories

Female Wrestler Hosanna Kropp Breaks Down Barriers At Wellington High School

Female Wrestler Hosanna Kropp Breaks Down Barriers At Wellington High School

Hosanna Kropp has come a long way in a short time. Two years ago, the Wellington High School wrestler could barely lift the 45-pound weightlifting bar and was unable to do one pull-up. Now the junior regularly benches 140 pounds with ease and does five pull-ups while wearing a 25-pound steel chain.

“Hosanna’s work ethic is really unmatched,” wrestling coach Travis Gray said. “I have been coaching for 15 years, and I have never coached someone as committed and determined as her. If she can find somewhere to work out seven days a week, she will do it. All summer long, she has been attending camps, competing in tournaments and training in the weight room.”

Kropp gained great experience by competing in several major tournaments over the summer, including the U.S. Marine Corps Junior and Cadet Nationals in Fargo, N.D., held July 15-22. She finished 2-2 in the individuals, highlighted by her second match, where she trailed 8-0 before rallying for a 15-14 victory.

“I wrestle all year long so colleges can look at me,” said Kropp, who was homeschooled before arriving at WHS as a freshman. “Eventually, I want to win an Olympic title — that’s my ultimate dream.”

The high school wrestling season begins in early November and ends with the state tournament in early March.

During the high school season, Kropp usually gets a run in before school and lifts four days a week through her wrestling class. Wrestling practice lasts between an hour and 90 minutes. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, she is an assistant coach at a youth wrestling class, and then wrestles in another practice from 6:30 to 8 p.m. After practice on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, she trains at PAL boxing.

During the summer, Kropp lifts six days a week and wrestles six or seven days a week. She participates in high-level camps to improve her wrestling and train freestyle for national tournaments.

“I’d say I work way harder during the summer due to all the amazing national women wrestling opportunities that there are,” Kropp explained.

Kropp competed in other sports before focusing on wrestling. She was a competitive figure skater, a pole vaulter and boxed at the PAL, which was where she learned about the Wellington wrestling program.

“As a middle schooler, I was not very strong,” said Kropp, who turns 17 in November. “I wanted to learn how to fight so that I could get in shape and protect myself. I didn’t really know what wrestling was, but I really loved boxing and thought wrestling might be able to help me.”

When she arrived at WHS, she headed to a wrestling meeting to find a room full of boys staring right at her.

“Travis Gray asked me if I wanted to be a stat girl, I said, ‘No, I want to wrestle!’ It felt a little awkward that day being the only girl, but now my teammates are as close to me as family,” Kropp said.

The Wolverines have won the last four district championships and the last two county championships, and expect to have new wrestlers at eight of the 14 weight classes. Their top returnees are seniors Jared Abramson (126 pounds) and Eric Saber (170 pounds), along with Chris Difiore (106 pounds) and Cameryn Townsend (138 pounds).

“I know one of Hosanna’s biggest goals is to make our varsity lineup, and it has been and will continue to be difficult, because she is at the weight classes where we have our best wrestlers,” Gray said. “Right now, we are just focused on getting her better every day.”

Kropp wrestled at 126 pounds last season and is planning to compete for a varsity spot at 120 pounds. Whatever happens, she knows that the team fully supports her.

“We have a great group of kids at Wellington, and they really received her well from the beginning,” Gray said. “I know her father was very concerned about her wrestling with boys — and just wrestling in general. I had a long talk with her father before she began, and I actually thought that I may have unintentionally talked her dad out of letting her come out for the team by telling him that we haven’t had any other girls stay with the program. I recommended that maybe she could have a friend come out for the team with her so she felt more comfortable. She proved me wrong. Ever since her first day, she has fit in with the team, and she really has earned the respect of her coaches and teammates through all of her hard work.”

Kropp said she is known at school as “the girl wrestler” and wears it as a badge of honor. Wrestling has helped her develop character, which helps her in her everyday life.

“To be a quality wrestler, I have learned I must show excellence in not only wrestling, but everything I do,” Kropp said. “Whether it’s my grades, or taking out the trash, I always make sure I do the job to the best of my ability. Doing these things will all fall back to wrestling and give you good habits. I’ve also learned that nothing is ever given; you must work hard for everything you have. There is no luck in wrestling; you must earn every point you get.”

Kropp understands that she is a role model and encourages other young women to pursue wrestling.

“This sport requires physical strength, but the majority of it is mental,” she said. “When you’re out there on the mat, it’s a battle where you must exhibit 100 percent of your physical, mental and emotional strength. It seems nerve-wrecking, but I love the thrill of competition. As a girl, many see me as having a disadvantage on the mat, but I don’t see it this way. It’s not always the strongest or fastest opponent who wins, it’s the opponent who is mentally tougher and perseveres through the last second of the match.”

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Wellington Table - Signature Dish

Unique Home-Style Dishes And More At Aroma Indian Cuisine

Unique Home-Style Dishes And More At Aroma Indian Cuisine

Aroma Indian Cuisine opened in February of this year on Village Blvd. in West Palm Beach. Executive Chef Clarence “Rence” Xavier is the creative mind and part owner of the new restaurant. His goal is to serve Indian cuisine that is also influenced by his culinary experience throughout his career as a professional chef.

Managing the new restaurant is a chance for Xavier to introduce something original to every plate that graces the tables at Aroma, and it is a chance for him to learn the flavors that people in the area enjoy.

“If you look at my menu, you’ll see many home-style dishes, and a lot of things that we are offering you may not see in any other restaurants here,” Xavier said. “Most of these things, which I introduced, normally we cook only at home. That is the difference between us and other places around the area.”

Xavier grinds and roasts all the spices that are used in the dishes on the Aroma menu. “I personally don’t like to use any of the powdered spices,” he said. “So, that makes a lot of difference. When you eat the food, then you understand that.”

This doesn’t mean that classic Indian dishes won’t show up on the Aroma menu.

“We do offer the popular dishes,” Xavier said. “At the same time, we have our specialty. That is the home style. That is what I believe will allow our business to stand out.”

A signature treat that Xavier offers under appetizers on the menu is a popular dish found in homes of people from Gujarat, a state in western India. It is called Farali Pattice — made of an outer layer of coconut, and mashed potatoes seasoned with fresh coriander, roasted cashew, cumin and black salt, with a dash of lime juice.

“This particular appetizer, it is made in people’s homes,” he said. “It has a bit of a spice and aroma. It has a very nutty flavor [from] the fresh coriander and the coconut. It has a light sweetness with a sour and tangy finish.”

The finished product comes out light and crispy because of the flash-fry technique Xavier uses with an Indian wok called a karahi.

“With a very high temperature oil, you just put it in and take it out,” Xavier said. “It won’t stay in the oil for too much time. It’s a matter of seconds.”

Unique items such as Farali Pattice are the center of the home-style dishes that Xavier likes to make for his customers. He is conscious of the ingredients and the cooking processes he uses to make the food at Aroma.

“Personally, I don’t like to use the deep-fryer,” Xavier said. “The first thing is that it is unhealthy, and normally the people don’t want it in the oil.”

The black salt that helps season the Farali Pattice is important to the flavor of the dish. “It is a rock salt, which gives it the pungent taste,” Xavier said.

Each fritter is accompanied with a fresh-made garlic chutney, which is seasoned with roasted cumin and coriander. “I borrowed the recipe from a customer who came here the second week when we opened this place,” Xavier said.

Xavier had been using his own kind of chutney, but this customer was from Gujarat and offered a recipe that is commonly paired with Farali Pattice.

Xavier began a catering business in 2008, implementing a fusion of different cultural cuisines in his food, adding Thai, Italian, Greek and Mexican elements to Indian cuisine.

Xavier was greatly influenced by his grandmother, who seemed to know that he would find a way in this world as a professional chef.

“She can make anything,” Xavier said. “She used to tell my mother, ‘You know what? You don’t need to worry about him. He’s going to become a cook. Don’t worry.’ She said that when I was young.”

Xavier became a professional chef at the age of 24. He went to school in India and earned a degree in food and hotel management. He worked in the kitchen for a large hotel chain in Southeast Asia. Then, he took his skills to Royal Caribbean, the Miami-based cruise line. From there he moved to Fairfield, Conn., where he managed several restaurants that were either Indian or Thai cuisine.

He embarked on his current endeavor to lead the kitchen at Aroma last year when his friends and co-owners of the restaurant presented him with the idea and the opportunity.

Xavier believes in combining the passion he feels for food into the food he serves every day.

“I love what I do, and I enjoy every moment, even when I cook,” Xavier said. “It is very important to have a happy heart, especially when you are cooking for somebody else. Whatever you do, there is an energy. If you have a happy heart, then that energy is going to the food as well.”

Aroma Indian Cuisine is located at 771 Village Blvd., Suite 110-111, in West Palm Beach. For more info., call (561) 619-6437 or visit www.aromawestpalmbeach.com.

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