It’s All About Teamwork Western Communities Football League Has Been Providing High-Quality Programs For 30 Years

By Mike May

The Western Communities Football League has been providing quality sports programs to residents of the Wellington area since 1992. Youngsters ages 4 to 15 play football and participate in a cheerleading program at the football fields at Village Park in Wellington.

Because of COVID-19, it was all quiet last fall on the gridirons at Village Park, but now tackle football and cheerleading are back, and athletic life on Village Park’s football fields is returning to normal.

Whether it’s tackle football or cheerleading, the WCFL’s goal is to teach each participant about the importance of teamwork, good sportsmanship, self-esteem and trust while promoting healthy minds and healthy bodies, making friends, demonstrating self-control and learning to follow directions while having fun.

According to WCFL President KC Jones, the mission is to promote the enjoyment and involvement of football for players, coaches, cheerleaders and parents.

There are five tackle football age divisions within the WCFL. The youngest group is Ultimate, which is for ages 5 to 7. The per person weight limit is 85.9 pounds. The next group is Prep, which is for ages 8 and 9, with a per person weight limit of 110.9 pounds. The third group is Varsity, which is for ages 11 and 12, with a per person weight limit of 125.9 pounds. The fourth group is Pro, which is for ages 12 and 13, with a per person weight limit of 145.9 pounds, but participants can play while weighing as much as 165 pounds. The oldest age group is High School Prep, which is for ages 14 and 15. There is no weight limit in that division.

WCFL practices are always held on the Village Park football fields. To get involved, the per person registration cost is $299.99.

In addition to being assigned to a team, each football player is provided a game and practice jersey, game pants with integrated pads, socks and a video of all the games.

Safety is a top priority for the league. The WCFL is a certified USA Football Heads Up league. USA Football is the national governing body for amateur American football. USA Football has worked with leaders in both medicine and sport across the country to create a full-featured program that any league or school can use to address key safety issues and ensure that every coach understands and knows how to implement each component of the program.

Last spring, the league offered a girls flag football program for the first time.

All football and cheerleading coaches undergo a background check before taking the field with a team or a squad. Coaches, WCFL board members and team parents are all volunteers.

When it comes to cheerleading, the WCFL is focused on participation. The program promotes healthy minds and healthy bodies, making friends, demonstrating self-control, learning to follow directions and, most importantly, to have fun. Regardless of age and ability, the WCFL has a cheer squad for everyone.

The WCFL cheer program does not hold tryouts; space on the squads is on a first-come, first-served basis, and is limited by the number of volunteer coaches. Cheerleaders are taught the fundamentals of cheerleading and some advanced skills. All levels of experience are welcome, from beginner to elite. The program allows youngsters to meet new people, make new friends, gain self-confidence and increase their self-esteem in a friendly environment.

Visit www.wcflfootball.com to learn more about the Western Communities Football League.

Chasing Hoop Dreams At Village Park Wellington Wolves Organization Offers Players Basketball And So Much More

By Mike May

Since 2002, young area basketball players have had the good fortune to access one of the most well-organized youth travel basketball programs in the country. It’s the Wellington Wolves Youth Basketball organization based at Village Park.

Under the leadership of Chris Fratalia, the Wellington Wolves president for the last 12 years, the league currently has 17 different youth basketball teams serving both boys and girls. The youngest players are in the third grade, and the oldest players are in the 11th grade. Each team has an average roster size of 11 players, which means the Wolves have nearly 200 players under their supervision on an annual basis.

Aside from local travel, some Wellington Wolves teams will travel across the United States to compete. For instance, earlier this summer, the Eighth Grade Boys Gold team played in a showcase event in Las Vegas. That team placed eighth out of 97 teams.

Playing for the Wolves can be an avenue for taking your game to a higher level. For instance, two of the more well-known graduates of the Wellington Wolves are current University of Illinois senior point guard Trent Frazier and current NBA superstar John Collins with the Atlanta Hawks. According to Fratalia, four eighth-grade girls playing in the league — Jade Jones, Sophia Kateris, Aubrey Beckham and Janiah Suprius — have already been offered scholarships, upon graduation from high school, to Florida Atlantic University.

The Wolves also host one of the more popular travel basketball tournaments in the country.

The event is called March Madness and is planned for the second weekend of March next year. For this event, teams come from all over the state and nation. According to Fratalia, he and his staff have been recognized for conducting one of the best-run tournaments in the country. This tournament is so well known that a girls basketball team from Maine made the trek to Wellington to compete.

The traditional basketball seasons for the Wolves are the end of November until early June for third through eighth graders. For high-school-age players, the season runs from early March until the end of July.

One of more dynamic aspects of the Wellington Wolves is its Council of Dads program, under the tutelage of John Sitomer. The program started about two years ago before being put on hold during the pandemic. According to Sitomer, he hopes the Council of Dads program will be reinstated this fall.

The Council of Dads is a hands-on, in-person, one-on-one academic program that provides academic assistance, guidance and tutoring to athletes who play for the Wolves and need some assistance in the classroom with their studies. “With the Council of Dads, we sharpen the academic skills of our players, while the coaches help sharpen their basketball skills,” Sitomer said. “We want our players to be known as true student-athletes and not just as basketball players.”

Sitomer and his board members on the Council of Dads have been working with students from the King’s Academy, who provide the one-on-one academic assistance.

“We have a tremendous arrangement with TKA,” Sitomer said. “During pre-COVID times, the students, mostly juniors and seniors from TKA, met twice a week with many of our players. Our athletes have become better students, and the TKA students get community service hours. It’s a win-win.”

Last season, the student instructors from TKA used online resources to connect with the athletes from the Wellington Wolves.

“A Zoom connection is helpful, but there’s nothing like a personal presence for a tutor,” Sitomer said. “We hope to return to in-person learning this fall.”

Visit www.wellingtonwolves.com to learn more about the Wellington Wolves.

Taking Soccer To The Next Level Wellington Wave Program Offers Training And Tournaments For Competitive Players

By Mike May

If you have a goal of playing soccer at a high level, then Wellington has an outlet for you to reach your goal. It’s the Wellington Soccer Club, the Village of Wellington’s recognized provider for travel soccer.

The WSC is dedicated to technical and tactical player development, united team dynamics and teaching the solid game fundamentals necessary for every player to reach his or her greatest potential. All teams are trained by appropriately licensed, professional club coaches to properly adapt the training program provided to them by Director of Coaching Patrick Zoete.

The teams practice and play home games at Wellington’s Village Park.

“The Wellington youth program must be synonymous with attractive, inspired, intelligent and daring soccer,” Zoete said.

According to Zoete, excellence on the soccer field is the direct result of player development during practice and training sessions.

Throughout the year, Zoete and his coaching staff focus on improving the technical and tactical abilities of every player, individual player development in a team concept, encouraging the specific talent and creativity of each player, and enhancing the individual ability of players in a game and team setting.

As players move up from one age group to another, the coaching philosophy of every level has a written curriculum that is specific to the development of the player. Every coach’s long-term goal is to prepare the player to successfully recognize and solve the challenges of the game of soccer on his or her own.

The WSC, whose teams are known as the Wellington Wave, cater to children from age groups Under 8 to Under 19. The travel/competitive soccer season starts on Aug. 1 every year and concludes on May 31 of the following year.

In addition to the coaching that players receive in a team setting, individual coaching sessions can be arranged with two of the league’s licensed coaches, Zoete and Marcone Oliveira. These private coaching sessions can be booked at doc@wellingtonsoccer.com.

The expert coaching staff can also provide specific training on how to be an outstanding goalkeeper.

While player and skill development are at the core of the league’s overall mission, this organization also places player safety on the same level. In today’s COVID-19 world, the club has drafted a list of safety guidelines that it expects its coaches, players and parents to follow. At the top of the list is the mandatory requirement that coaches wear masks during all practices and games, since it is their responsibility to ensure the health and safety of players in attendance.

As for players who enjoy group celebrations, hugs, high fives and handshakes, for now, are a thing of the past. Players are told to not share equipment, water or snacks, and they are instructed to place their kits bags and equipment at least six feet apart.

Learn more about many programs of the Wellington Soccer Club, at www.wellingtonsoccer.com.

WRHA Rules The Rink In Wellington Wellington Roller Hockey Association’s Fall Season Gets Underway This Month

By Mike May

The Wellington Roller Hockey Association, an official Village of Wellington sports provider, is gearing up for its 27th season.

Typically, the players are 5 to 18 years old and are divided into three programs: Prep for ages 6 to 13, Juniors for ages 13 to 18 and Learn to Skate for beginner skaters of all ages. The league year typically starts in September/October and runs through early March. Registration for the fall program will begin on Sept. 12.

According to WRHA Vice President Stuart Warszycki, the group provides a great and affordable athletic opportunity for local children.

“With weekly practices and 15 to 20 games per season, we pride ourselves on being the best deal in town at $150 per skater or $125 with a sibling discount,” Warszycki said. “We have playoffs and a prep skills competition late in the year. Our league plays out of Village Park. Some players in our league also play ice hockey at Skate Zone, with several advanced skaters playing on the travel team.”

According to Warszycki, the league has been averaging 80 to 90 players over the last five years, but the league saw a dip last year due to the pandemic. However, the registration numbers so far this year are ahead of last year’s pace.

Having a good attitude is the foundation for success with the WRHA. Sportsmanship is a key theme, and all players, parents and coaches sign a code of ethics at the start of each season. A few tenets from the player covenant include promises to participate with good sportsmanship at every practice and game, working hard to do well in school, and remembering that lose or win, it’s about how they play that matters.

In support of the importance of good sportsmanship, one individual on each team is recognized with a sportsmanship trophy at the end of the season. According to Warszycki, the recipient of this award is typically not the most advanced skater, but the one who shows up for all practices, doesn’t complain and is a good teammate.

The WRHA, a nonprofit organization, is strongly committed to supporting the residents of Wellington.

“Although COVID-19 disrupted us a bit last year, the league historically has done several Wellington street cleanups each season,” Warszycki said. “Our rink concession stand also offers an opportunity for middle school and high school kids to get volunteer hours.”

One of the biggest supporters of the WRHA is part-time Wellington resident Jeremy Jacobs, the owner of the National Hockey League’s Boston Bruins. Jacobs has, in the past, provided jerseys as well as financial support for the WRHA. In addition, the WRHA receives sponsorships from local businesses which, in exchange for an advertising fee, receive a full-season advertisement on the boards around the rink.

The WRHA does sponsor a travel team, known as the Wellington Prowlers. “The Prowlers have proudly represented us at several national-level hockey tournaments,” WRHA President Ruben Arteaga said. “Right now, we are looking for a coach who can dedicate time for the travel team.”

Learn more about the league at www.wellingtonrollerhockey.com.

Generations Continue Sporting Legacy A Deep Passion For Sports Runs In The Blood Of The Griesemer Coaching Family

By Louis Hillary Park

This is the story of the Griesemer family that put Pennsylvania in the rearview mirror in the “I Like Ike” days of the 1950s and put down new roots in Palm Beach County.

It’s the story of loving sports the way only a bench-warmer can, and of passing on that love and hall-of-fame legacy to sons and now grandsons, who have charted their own way over the high school hardwood and Virginia Tech’s turf.

It’s the story of sweaty football jerseys and melting ice cream cones… Of the whole Griesemer family — ball-game-loving wives included — breaking down Wellington High School basketball games over ribs and beans at Park Avenue BBQ, not much more than a long pass and a dribble away… Of long, boisterous rides on yellow buses after a big win, and even longer rides in sober silence after a loss… Of thousands of pages turned and perused and studied in hundreds of scorebooks across more than 50 years.

It’s also the story of a water bucket.

Long before Leonard Griesemer was recognized in 2008 as a Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame youth league coach, his deep love of sports, especially basketball, was evident. Unfortunately, his talent did not equal his passion.

“I sat on the end of the bench closest to the cheerleaders, if you know what I mean,” Leonard Griesemer recalled with an easy chuckle about his own limitations as a basketball player.

But those limitations did not stop him from wanting to help others excel in the skills that alluded him. So, even as a teen, he began coaching Itty-Bitty Basketball at the local Jewish Community Center, where giving back in some way was a requirement for participation. But for Leonard Griesemer, it was more than fulfilling a duty, it was balm for a son’s heart bruised by a construction worker father who never came to see him play.

“It’s one of the reasons I took to helping kids,” he said, even now at 88 the sting of his father’s absence sharp in his voice. “This was just after [World War II], and a lot of kids were without a parent. A lot of guys didn’t make it back, and the kids needed a bit of a father figure. I always tried to get the families involved.”

From the start of his 70-year marriage to his high school sweetheart June, to becoming a union carpenter like his father, to starting LEG Construction in the early 1970s, family life always revolved around sports. “My wife has more bleacher time than any woman in history, I believe,” he said.

From a young age, the Griesemers’ three sons — Lee, Lonnie and Larry — scampered around their mom in the bleachers; and when they got old enough, they helped their father under the wooden rafters of the old Central Gym on Okeechobee Blvd., where the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts sits today atop the hill; and there they were on the sidelines at Palm Beach Elementary School, where Gra-Y League football games were played.

Back then, not every football team had its own jerseys, recalled Larry Griesemer, the only one of the boys who went into coaching as a profession. One Gra-Y team would take off their sweaty, dirty jerseys and hang them on the fence to dry for a while, then the next team would suit up in them, he explained.

“My dad bought jerseys for his team… Columbia blue. Where he got the money, I don’t know. But it was a big deal,” Larry said. “After games, we’d stop at an ice cream stand on Dixie [Highway]. Everyone got an ice cream cone, and the guy who played best that day got a milkshake… Dad wasn’t just showing kids how to win games. He was showing them how to treat people.”

Sometimes Leonard Griesemer had to show adults the way, too. In the early 1960s, West Palm Beach was still very much a southern city. He was the first to have Black players on the Gra-Y Belvedere Bees football team that centered around Belvedere Elementary School.

“Yes, I got some pushback,” he remembered. “Things were said.”

Later on, when more Black youngsters came into the league, there still were vestiges of segregation. “Most teams had two water buckets — one for the white kids, one for the colored kids,” he said. “We only had one bucket.”

Larry Griesemer took those sorts of water-bucket life lessons with him into his own football career leading a group of meaty linemen at Forest Hill High School. They became known as “Griesemer’s Grunts.”

After college, he took another cue from his father and married a woman who loves sports as much as he does — supporting Larry in his coaching ambitions and raising two sons, Eric and Brett, to the sound of rubber soles scuffing maple and timed to the rhythm of basketball’s scoreboard clocks.

Today, after 40 years of marriage, Janice Griesemer easily rattles off her husband’s stats.

In 15 seasons of coaching, he combined for 258 wins with the Forest Hill High School boys and later the Wellington High School girls, she said. The Wolverine girls won four district titles, five Palm Beach Athletic Conference championships and reached Florida’s Sweet 16 six times.

Despite retirement, relocation from their longtime home and being slowed by a stroke, at age 70, Larry Griesemer continues to be involved as a consultant for several high school teams near Waynesville, N.C., where “gyms are like cathedrals.”

Meanwhile, his sons are finding their own and different ways of continuing their passion for sports after both graduating from Wellington High School.

Brett Griesemer, 32, put his talents to athletic training while getting his bachelor’s degree at the University of Florida and a master’s degree at Virginia Tech, where he has risen quickly through the ranks of the school’s training staff.

While serving as senior director of sports medicine-football, Brett Griesemer was heavily involved with the football helmet safety research program at Virginia Tech, considered a leader in the field by the NCAA. He recently was named head athletic trainer for the Hokies football team, a traditional power in the Atlantic Coast Conference and a name frequently seen in the Top 25.

“Brett has added a whole new level of professionalism and work ethic to our staff, and I have no doubt it will make our football student-athletes better because of his increased role and responsibilities,” Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine Mike Goforth said.

The opportunity is “a dream come true” for Brett, who has a wife much like the one who married dear old dad, and granddad. The former Megan Burker is “super into sports.”

“She understands about me waking up early and coming home late,” he said.

As well she should. Megan lived that life for years as an All-American lacrosse player at Stanford University and then as head coach of the Virginia Tech women’s team. Today, Megan Griesemer serves in the school’s athletic department as assistant director of compliance while mothering their two sons — Max, 3, and Cohen, 1.

Though too young to absorb a lot of Xs and Os of Wellington High School basketball discussed in play-by-play, press-or-not-to-press detail over post-game meals, Brett said he absorbed things more important while listening to his parents and grandparents dissect a game.

“I think about the work ethic and the commitment to the team,” he said. “I think about the long process. The stick-to-it-iveness it takes. Not only in terms of creating wins and losses. But in commitment to family. To creating better husbands and fathers, and just decent people.”

Eric Griesemer, now 37, echoes his brother’s thoughts.

“Wins were a big part of it… [but] they taught about so much more than sports. They taught us about leadership,” he said. “It was about the commitment to everyone getting better. About helping to make a better student, and better young adult. How do we give that player the confidence to take the shot?”

Eric is following in his grandfather’s footsteps — creating a separate career, his in information systems technology — while becoming heavily involved in youth sports, something his wife Zara enthusiastically supports. Though oldest son Gavin is only 5, the Wellington resident already has coached him in flag football, tee-ball, basketball and soccer.

That’s not a surprise after growing up in the Griesemer family. “It’s just in my blood to be involved,” Eric said.

Empowering Children To Succeed Wellington’s Great Charity Challenge Helps Opportunity Early Childhood Education & Family Center Raise Crucial Funds

By Mike May

Thanks to the generosity of those in equestrian and bicycling circles, 2021 has been a banner year for the Opportunity Early Childhood Education & Family Center.

This Palm Beach County nonprofit works to improve early childhood education. Through the Opportunity Early Childhood Education & Family Center, children of working families are empowered to achieve academic and life success through educational programs and family programming that embrace the whole child.

Opportunity has been serving children and their families in the Palm Beaches since 1939. Earlier this year, the nonprofit was awarded $18,000 from the Wellington-based Great Charity Challenge, presented by Fidelity Investments. And this summer, a group of four cyclists, known as the Opportunists, participated in a cross-country bicycle race to raise money for Opportunity.

This was the first time that Opportunity had applied to be part of the GCC program, which has been distributing money to Palm Beach County nonprofit groups since 2009. To date, $15.9 million has been awarded.

According to GCC Executive Director Anne Caroline Valtin, Opportunity applied to be part of the GCC program, and its application was approved. There is always a vetting process for the charities.

“We request for all benefitting nonprofits to provide us with an ‘intended fund use’ prior to receiving funding, along with quarterly updates for a full calendar year,” Valtin said.

Being approved to participate in the GCC doesn’t mean that a nonprofit will always get funding. There is also a bit of luck involved.

Following the vetting process, all qualified applicants are assigned balls in a lottery drum. The balls are then randomly pulled from the drum to see which nonprofits will receive funding through the GCC. On Dec. 14, 2020, Palm Beach County Commissioner Maria Marino pulled Opportunity’s ball from the lottery drum. It was the luck of the draw, as they say. For transparency purposes, all drawings are shared live via social media.

Once Opportunity’s ball was selected, it was time to align it with an equestrian funding partner, along with riders, who rode for Opportunity at the 2021 Great Charity Challenge, held Saturday, Feb. 6.

“As the event is a relay-style show jumping competition, each randomly selected nonprofit is paired with a team and corporate sponsor,” Valtin explained. “Team sponsors assign three riders, who compete on behalf of their assigned nonprofit with a chance of winning anywhere between $15,000 and up to $100,000, depending on their performance. Opportunity was assigned to one of our new team sponsors, the Eppinger Family, along with Starwyn Farms, a longtime corporate sponsor. These sponsors are what make the event possible through their generous donations. The Eppinger Family’s team of riders competed representing Opportunity and earned them $18,000.”

According to Opportunity’s Executive Director Ali Eger, the $18,000 GCC grant was much appreciated.

“The $18,000 was used to support our early childhood education program and to provide scholarship assistance to families struggling with the challenges presented by the pandemic,” Eger said.

According to Valtin, the $18,000 awarded to Opportunity was part of an overall $1.1 million allotment of funding, which was distributed in various amounts to 49 Palm Beach County nonprofit organizations in 2021, thanks to the generous support of 64 sponsors, donors and partners.

Since Opportunity was able to put this year’s GCC grant to good use, the nonprofit is already preparing to apply to take part in next year’s GCC. With a bit of luck, perhaps they’ll come away with the top prize. Learn more about the GCC program at www.greatcharitychallenge.com.

The equestrian program was not the only big win for Opportunity this year. The cross-country fundraising effort by four cyclists generated $100,000.

In mid-June, four local bicyclists participated in the 39th Race Across America (RAAM) in support of Opportunity. The race is 3,069 miles long and is often used by participants to raise money for charities throughout the United States. The Opportunists also rode in the race in support of Opportunity in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

On Saturday, June 19, the four cyclists — Kathy Petrillo, Matt Shippee, Chris Huffman and Michel Chabot — left Oceanside, California, and headed east for Annapolis, Maryland. Two members of the support crew were Chris Benkley of Royal Palm Beach and Theresa Goulet from The Acreage. Along the way, they traveled through 12 states — California, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

While the squad featured four bicyclists, only one rode at any given time. In essence, it was a team relay race.

“We had three race vans and one RV,” Huffman explained. “So, with four people, the racers split into pairs. Two racers were on for 12 hours and the other two racers rested.”

By working in two-person teams, the Opportunists covered more mileage in less time.

“The way the two-racer shift worked is that we went faster by being on the bike for half an hour at a time, and then we switched with the other racer who would race for a half hour,” Huffman said. “So, during a 12-hour shift, each racer did a dozen 30-minute shifts for a total of six hours on the bike.”

For the journey, their overall average speed was 19.26 miles per hour. On average, the Opportunists covered 462 miles each day.

Throughout the trip, the four cyclists dressed and worked as teammates.

“We had custom jerseys and bibs with our sponsor logos, team name and, of course, Opportunity printed on them,” Huffman said.

Throughout the race, the Opportunists were in touch with their nonprofit beneficiary.

“We sent videos during the race and did some Facebook Live and FaceTime with the kids,” Huffman recalled. “They followed us along the route, and they were our biggest cheerleaders.”

Although this was the team’s fourth year making the coast-to-coast journey, Petrillo, an experienced competitive cyclist, was the first woman to join the team. The foursome set a goal to finish the race in six days, 18 hours, a full day less than the previous trips.

When the Opportunists finished the race on the morning of June 26, they all experienced a combined feeling of relief and fatigue. Yet there was also a joint feeling of accomplishment. The team’s financial goal was to raise $100,000 to help Opportunity continue to provide educational programs, daily meals, diapers, books and clothing for the children.

“We were successful in achieving both goals,” Huffman said. “We broke the old record of seven days, 53 minutes by setting a new record of six days, 13 hours and 46 minutes!”

In addition to being physically present for the cross-country race, Petrillo was emotionally connected to the entire experience.

“As an educator and mother, I understand the importance of early childhood education,” Petrillo said. “I am also honored to be able to share the importance of setting goals with the kids at the Opportunity Early Childhood Education & Family Center. I want them to know they can do anything!”

Huffman shared similar sentiments.

“To give is to invest yourself in the life of someone else,” Huffman said. “In the Race Across America, racers and crew faced 3,069 miles of adversity and opportunity over seven days. At Opportunity Early Childhood Education & Family Center, the kids have the ‘opportunity’ to learn the life skills that will help them for a lifetime to overcome adversities.”

After returning home, the cyclists met with the children and staff at Opportunity.

“The $100,000 raised from the RAAM were used to cover the race expenses and to support our early childhood education program, which primarily targets our health and fitness curriculum,” Eger said. “All donated net-event proceeds are applied to our programs directly benefitting the children.”

After the successful race this summer, plans are already in the works for next year’s race.

“With one more year, we should be able to raise enough for our five-year total to exceed $500,000,” Huffman said. “We are thinking of doing an eight-person team for 2022. After all, we are all getting older, and with an eight-person team instead of a four-person team, we do not each ride as many hours, plus we can increase our donation base.”

Learn more about the Opportunity Early Childhood Education & Family Center at www.opportunitypbc.org.

New Boosters Group Raises $5,000 Wellington Football Foundation Created To Support The Sport In The Community

A new organization has been created to support football programs serving the Wellington community.

The Wellington Football Foundation was recently formed as an independent Florida nonprofit corporation to promote and support recreational and scholastic football programs for children of all ages and genders in the Wellington community. The foundation has filed an application with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service seeking to be recognized as a charitable and tax-exempt entity.

The WFF is led by a board of directors made up of dedicated community residents, including Sam Logan, Bryan Raymond, Andrew Mack, Angela Logan, Ted Miloch and Brittany Russell. There are no paid positions at the all-volunteer organization.

In addition to financial support of football programs, the foundation believes strongly in the value of community service. The Wellington Football Foundation will promote and provide opportunities for players and interested community members to give back to the Wellington community through volunteerism.

The WFF’s goals for the remainder of 2021 include raising funds to replace aging and out-of-date equipment for Wellington High School’s football programs and renovate sports-related equipment rooms.

Looking toward 2022 and beyond, the foundation will provide scholarships for players in both school and recreational programs to assist families who may have difficulty in paying participation fees. This will help make sure that no child is prevented from participating in the sport of football due to an inability to pay participation fees.

The Wellington Football Foundation’s first project was the renovation of the Wellington High School concession stand. The concession stand now sports a fresh coat of paint on the floors and tables, has been decluttered and is ready for the 2021 season.

The WFF’s first major fundraiser was held on Saturday, July 31 at the Madison Green Country Club, when 54 golfers participated in the Wellington Football Foundation’s inaugural golf classic. Several sponsors supported the tournament and together raised $5,000. This money will be donated to the WHS football program weightlifting room renovation project.

The title sponsor for the tournament was the Blue Team, a commercial property service company. Other sponsors included Luxe Custom Airbrush Tanning, Express Seamless Gutters, Bryan M. Raymond Esq., Palm Beach Sports, Beauty on the Spot, the Romano Law Group and Peter Arianas for Congress.

The group also thanks Scott Stowell, the golf director at Madison Green, and WFF Board Member Bryan Raymond for working tirelessly to make the tournament happen with little notice. Board members Andrew Mack, Sam Logan, Brittany Russell and Angela Logan were on hand to make sure everything ran smoothly. Liz Wilson, Jacob Logan, Eva Mack and Jadyn Mack volunteered to work at the tournament, and everyone’s contribution made the event a resounding success.

The group’s next event will be a poker tournament, and there are more ideas to involve the community in future projects and fundraisers.

For more information about the Wellington Football Foundation, visit www.wellingtonfootballfoundation.com. You can also find the organization on Instagram and Facebook  @wellingtonfootballfoundation.

Creativity Abounds Among Area Artists Wellington Art Society Brings The Work Of Local And World-Renowned Artists To The Community

By M. Dennis Taylor

Many have noticed the ever-changing art displays installed at the Wellington Community Center and the Wellington Municipal Complex but may not have thought about where this unique artwork comes from. It is all due to the coordination of efforts between the Village of Wellington and the Wellington Art Society, which brings the works of local and world-renowned artists to the community for everyone to enjoy.

With the simple-sounding objective of bringing art and community together, the Wellington Art Society is celebrating 40 years of doing just that, merging creative excellence and community inspiration with the Wellington spirit of premium quality. “The society is a very social group with a warm, friendly feel. It is for people who like art,” said Laura Jaffe, the current president of the Wellington Art Society.

In normal years, the group meets monthly, and also hosts art receptions and shows. “For over a year, all the meetings have been virtual, but we still made it happen,” Jaffe said.

That includes continuing the rotating exhibits at the Wellington Town Center buildings.

Jaffe, with a long background in local real estate, is also a full-time artist. “I do acrylic abstract art live on Facebook. It is collaborative art,” explained Jaffe, who said that the events take the theme and emotion from the co-creators online. “Everyone can watch the process as it comes together, live on canvas.”

Jaffe is just one of the dozens of talented artists that make up the Wellington Art Society. Past President Leslie Pfeiffer has been involved for many years and currently serves as second vice president. “I think of her as our historian because she has so much knowledge of the group, passion for art and has been involved in the society for so long,” Jaffe said of Pfeiffer.

Pfeiffer is proud of all the work the group does to bring the beauty of art, across so many media, here to Wellington.

“The Wellington Art Society is an active, vibrant visual arts group that enriches the lives and culture of the residents of the western communities, Palm Beach County and visitors from around the world,” she said. “It encourages originality and productivity among its members and provides a place where emerging and professional artists meet, exchange ideas and advance the appreciation of art through community outreach programs. Our membership includes everyone from art lovers to internationally recognized professional artists.”

In all, the Wellington Art Society has more than 80 artists as members, including painters, sculptors, gallery owners, potters, photographers, fine crafters, jewelry makers, graphic designers, students, teachers and art enthusiasts.

“Our members are passionate about art and the creative process, and they are committed to encouraging and supporting each other to realize their full artistic potential,” Pfeiffer said.

With the goals to encourage artists to pursue their art careers and provide programming that expands art in public places, the Wellington Art Society strives to make art accessible and affordable for everyone on a daily basis. The organization first came into being four decades ago when the Wellington community was young, long before its incorporation, organized by Johanna Secor, a world-renowned artist from Connecticut.

With renewed excitement for showcasing area artists’ work in 2005, promoting art appreciation and art education among members as well as local art students, the Wellington Art Society was incorporated and gained its nonprofit organization status. Meetings, held monthly September through May, feature programs including demonstrations, guest speakers, networking, marketing and professional artist development. Through the years, the organization has initiated many events for area artists.

Artist Susan Mosely serves as exhibitions and programs chair, along with the role of first vice president, she is a retired elementary school teacher and cultural arts director.

“We have the goal of exhibiting seven shows per year, plus the meetings, programs and events,” Mosely said, pointing to the ongoing exhibits at the Wellington buildings. “These two venues are perfect settings to appreciate the artwork with family and friends.”

Mosely explained that there are many opportunities for art displays coming up, tempered by the ongoing battle against the pandemic.

Jaffe said that the group will begin meeting in September to plan out where they will be going and what artwork can be presented.

In the planning stages are two proposed shows and receptions with the appropriate names of “Resurgence” and “Rekindle.”

“Artists have produced some very nice work during the COVID-19 shutdown, and a lot of it,” Mosely said.

The exhibitions are a great way for residents and visitors to see and buy this original artwork.

“There are large and small pieces, many 2-D works and some free-standing pieces, such as bronze horse statues,” Mosely said, describing abstracts and some realism, along with photos and paintings. “They come from professional artists, some who teach, and even a young, talented student.”

Jaffe said the group may find they can continue pre-pandemic exhibitions, such as pop-up galleries and other community displays, as well as the pandemic staple of online showings.

“Each year, more than 300 pieces of original artwork can be seen in the community,” Pfeiffer said. “Fun, engaging, educational with receptions that offer a great opportunity to meet the artists and learn about their creative process, techniques and mediums. The artwork is for sale, and a portion of each sale benefits our scholarship fund and outreach programs.”

New members are welcome. Plans are also underway for other events, such as professional artist workshops, art and culture field trips, a holiday bazaar and docent tours for groups.

Visit www.wellingtonartsociety.org to learn more about the Wellington Art Society.

A Playground For Dogs Wellington Dog Park Offers A Gathering Spot For Canine Residents And Their Human Companions

By M. Dennis Taylor

With a strong focus on recreation, the Village of Wellington is home to many parks. Some parks are designed for organized sports, some for more passive activities. Most of them are designed for Wellington’s human residents. That is, except the Wellington Dog Park.

The Wellington Dog Park, located in Greenbriar Park at 2975 Greenbriar Blvd., near the intersection of Greenbriar Blvd. and Aero Club Drive, is a place where canine friends and their human companions come together for some much-needed recreation and socialization.

“Wellington has always recognized the importance of our dogs,” Parks & Recreation Director Eric Juckett explained. “Our facility is divided into three sizes for large dogs, medium dogs and small dogs.”

This division makes sure that little ones aren’t endangered by their rambunctious big cousins, who may outweigh them exponentially.

Since the facility opened more than 15 years ago, Dr. Marc Pinkwasser of the Courtyard Animal Hospital has been a key sponsor of the park, supporting both special events at the park and items needed for its general maintenance.

Juckett noted that Pinkwasser sponsors the pit crew items that allow visitors to pick up all of their pet’s waste materials. Failure to “scoop the poop” is strictly forbidden. In fact, the park’s community of users work hard to self-police this policy and others that make the whole concept work.

Pinkwasser tells patients of the importance of exercise for every stage of the dogs’ life and knows the value of getting out in an open space for that exercise. He practices what he preaches with his two golden retrievers named Ella “Fly Me to the Moon” Fitzgerald and Satchmo “High Society” Armstrong.

“Dr. Pinkwasser gives us a donation every year to help out,” Juckett said, adding that a team of dedicated maintenance staff cleans the facility daily to the highest premium condition residents would expect and utilizes regular pest control maintenance procedures. “We have a dedicated day each week on Thursdays when the park is closed in the morning until 3 p.m. to allow for a more extensive cleanup.”

While the park is not a fully staffed recreation location, Wellington crews keep a close eye on the facility.

“It is not supervised, but our staff checks in on the facility during the course of the day,” Juckett said.

Proud of the 6.5 acres reserved for canine residents, Juckett said the village receives many compliments from its users. Prime time for the Wellington Dog Park crowd is between 4 and 6 p.m. daily.

“That’s when people are getting home from work and when we have the largest number of people throughout the day,” he said.

Juckett added that the facility is popular with seasonal visitors. “Equestrian and polo season from October to April is when we get the most use,” he explained.

Open from dawn to dusk, for an early morning stretch of the legs to a final run at the end of the day, the facility requires visitors to follow current Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) guidelines and village protocols.

All three sections of the Wellington Dog Park feature a large fenced-in, off-leash area with pet wash and waste disposal stations located throughout the facility. There are water fountains for dogs and people, and restrooms for the pet’s parents are on site. In addition, there are walking paths and pavilions for shade. People accompanying a dog must have a hand leash with them and be at least 16 years old.

The rules are common sense and fair. Only dogs and people are allowed, no other animals and no personal items or toys are permitted to avoid jealousy. There is, of course, a risk any time a pet owner allows their dog to come into contact with another dog, and the village is not liable for any incidents, but aggressive or excessively barking dogs are not allowed, and any dog displaying aggressive behavior is required to be immediately removed.

Problematic incidents at the dog park are rare, and a trip to the Wellington Dog Park is sure to be your best friend’s favorite part of the day.

The Wellington Dog Park is part of the village’s award-winning recreation system that aims to make sure that Wellington’s recreation amenities are among the best available. Keeping them that way is a key component of Wellington’s recently approved comprehensive plan for recreational amenities for the next 10 to 20 years, which continues to put a heavy focus on high-quality park amenities.

That recreational blueprint addresses amenities for residents of all ages, in groups from children to seniors, and yes, also mentioning dogs of all shapes and sizes.

All dogs visiting the Wellington Dog Park must be legally licensed and vaccinated and wear a visible dog license. They must be at least four months of age, and female dogs in heat are not permitted. Other rules apply and can be found at www.wellingtonfl.gov.

It Takes A Village Community Partners Step Up To Deliver 2,500 New Backpacks To Wellington Students

The old adage “it takes a village” took on a whole new meaning when a wide array of community organizations joined forces to meet the 2,500 backpack challenge set by the Village of Wellington’s Community Services Department.

The demand for backpacks filled with school supplies was up sharply over previous years. “We were amazed to hear that more than 2,400 Wellington students will be receiving either free or reduced-cost lunch this school year, but we were up to the challenge,” said Tom Wenham, chair of the Wellington Community Foundation. “I have to say that seeing everyone come together made it a really overwhelming success.”

The Wellington Community Foundation, now in its fifth year of working with the village to deliver new backpacks and school uniforms to Wellington students in need, received a call that this year the number of students that needed assistance had risen to 2,500. Would the foundation be up to the challenge? Without hesitation, the foundation’s board jumped into action.

Knowing this was a huge undertaking with little time to prepare, the board members knew it would take the entire community coming together to get the goal accomplished. Although the foundation’s donors showed up with generous support last year during the WCF’s Red, White & Blue Jeans virtual fundraiser, the nonprofit would have to rally more donations and support to bring the goal of 2,500 backpacks to fruition.

Several organizations joined WCF on this mission, including the Christopher Aguirre Memorial Foundation, the Rotary Club of Wellington, Women of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, My Community Pharmacy, Premier Family Health, Prominence Health Plan, Baptist Health, the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Health Specialty Center, Clinics Can Help and the Village of Wellington.

With the assistance of Wellington’s Michelle Garvey and Paulette Edwards, goals and event dates were set. The mission was to collect as many school supplies as needed to fill backpacks at the “backpack stuffing” event that took place Monday, July 19 at the Wellington Community Center. On Saturday, July 24, the village would host three separate block parties throughout Wellington. Backpacks filled with school supplies, school uniforms and other school-related items would be distributed to families that attend. The village invited families to a day of food, beverages and games to make it a fun-filled event.

Dozens of volunteers were welcomed as they stepped up to help fill the backpacks. Community Services Director Paulette Edwards said that the village was very thankful for all the supportive community partners.

“The past year’s COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for all of us, and especially our youth. In support of our school-age youth in the community, the Village of Wellington’s Community Services Department provides a number of programs and activities designed particularly for our families most in need,” Edwards said. “Once again, we have partnered with our local nonprofits to provide back-to-school backpacks for those families hardest hit financially from the on-going pandemic. We look forward to seeing the smiles on their faces when they return back to the classroom carrying their new backpacks and supplies.”

Already on board was longtime supporter RoseAnn LaBella Voils, director of the Christopher Aguirre Memorial Foundation.

“Five years ago, the Christopher Aguirre Memorial Foundation partnered with the Village of Wellington, and we were the premier sponsor of the event. The event was held in the parking lot of New Horizons Elementary School,” she said. “Our foundation’s mission is to give back to the community through educational and athletic opportunities for children and young adults.”

Named in honor of LaBella Voils’ late son, the foundation is dedicated to making a difference in Wellington.

“We are a very small Wellington family organization,” she explained. “Our main fundraiser is our annual golf tournament, which raises money for our foundation. This event is very personal to our family. Christopher, my son, passed away in 2006. He grew up and attended schools in Wellington. We want to continue his legacy by giving back and helping as many children and young adults in the community as we can.”

LaBella Voils is proud to see how the village’s back-to-school event has grown. “We are amazed to see in five years how the event grew, with not just one but all the organizations coming together, and their donations helping so many children in the community,” she said.

The Christopher Aguirre Memorial Foundation looks forward to teaming up with the Village of Wellington again next year, and LaBella Voils hopes the planning for it gets underway much earlier. “I would like to be included in the planning stages for the event, which should start in April or May, and we should know the date of the event sooner. I was disappointed that with the generous donation that we contributed, we were not in town to assist on July 24,” she said.

The Wellington Rotary was also a key supporter of this year’s back-to-school event. Not only did club members donate thousands of dollars in school supplies, they filled backpacks and attended all three block parties.

One of the event’s biggest cheerleaders was Maggie Zeller, who is actively involved in a number of different nonprofits.

“Because of my involvement with the Rotary Club of Wellington, the Wellington Community Foundation and Back to Basics, I have become incredibly aware of the basic needs of so many children in our community,” Zeller said. “I have participated for the last few years at different back-to-school events, but this one will really reach the elementary school children right in our own neighborhoods, and the children who need school supplies, backpacks and uniforms will be provided for.”

Zeller is proud that the Wellington Rotary stepped up and purchased the needed school supplies. “The Rotarian motto ‘Service Above Self’ is evident by the response from Wellington Rotarians as volunteers from stuffing backpacks, organizing uniforms, collecting children’s books and being there at all three locations on the day of the event,” she said.

Wellington Rotary President Tom Carreras added that the backpack challenge falls well in line with the club’s mission.

“The Wellington Rotary Club raises money all year using various fundraisers for purposes like this, and we were happy that we could help,” Carreras said. “It brings all of our members joy knowing we have helped kids. We especially like to know any project we are involved with is successful, and we are happy this was, too.”

Longtime Wellington Community Foundation supporter Johnny Meier, owner of My Community Pharmacy, also stepped up to help out.

“I was asked to help, and I was honored to do so,” he said. “This is a necessary endeavor to invest in the next generation, so I didn’t hesitate to help where I could.”

With such short notice, it was difficult to jump from a need of 600 backpacks last year to 2,500 backpacks this year, but Meier didn’t hesitate. He contacted Premier Family Health, and the two businesses agreed to split the necessary donation.

“I believe the youth of our community are very important to the future of our village,” Meier said. “I know that sounds obvious, but I don’t think we do enough to foster our youth and give them the proper mentorship to be successful and productive. We need to first make sure they can succeed in the classroom. That’s what this effort helps to achieve.”

After the joy and excitement of knowing that every Wellington child needing the proper school items to succeed will get it, Meier noted that My Community Pharmacy would absolutely be on board for next year’s event.

Once Premier Family Health President Tony Nelson learned about the event, he wanted to become involved.

“Premier Family Health made a commitment years ago to serve within the community and give back, specifically to the youth, who we see as the future,” Nelson said. “Through this event, we are happy to support the local youth to make sure they have the supplies for their educational needs.”

Unlike the nonprofits, which raised donations through fundraisers, Premier Family Health donated the funds to the efforts of the Wellington Community Foundation and funded thousands of dollars in backpacks.

“It was a true privilege to be a part of this event that will have a positive impact on so many students to start school with the tools they need to have a successful school year,” Nelson said. “The realization that there remains a continuous need for support for the underserved and underprivileged youth in our community is the driving force behind our participation.”

Last year, the Wellington Community Foundation heard about the wonderful back-to-school effort organized by the Women of the Wellington Chamber and reached out to see if that organization wanted to join forces in helping with the 2,500 backpack challenge. WOW Chair Jennifer Hernandez said the group would be all in. WOW committed to filling 100 backpacks, and the group’s members went above and beyond.

“The Wellington Chamber, through the Women of Wellington, hosts an annual supply drive every year because we believe in our professional community coming together to support our village, residents and students,” Hernandez said. “We also believe in the power of collaboration, so combining the efforts of our supply drive with the Wellington Community Foundation initiative impacted our community in a very powerful way.”

Along with all the school supplies, each filled backpack received a large bottle of hand sanitizer, compliments of Clinics Can Help.

“Providing the necessary supplies and equipment to not only enhance the lives of children and adults, but to protect them, is what we do at Clinics Can Help,” CEO Owen O’Neill said. “We are honored to have been a part of the backpack project within the Wellington community. Our hope is that we play a role in reducing the spread of germs when children and staff return to school very soon.”

The Wellington Community Foundation is overwhelmed with the effort and support received for the 2,500 backpack challenge and looks forward to doing it again next school year for the community’s children, added WCF Board Member Dr. Gordon Johnson.

Wellington Village Manager Jim Barnes thanked all the community partners for making the backpack challenge a reality.

“To say that the last year and a half has been challenging may be understatement,” Barnes said. “Through it all, our community partners continue to outdo themselves with their generosity and support. We are grateful for the backpack challenge initiated by the Wellington Community Foundation, rallying other community partners for support and, in the process, making a difference for so many Wellington students.”

To learn about how you can become involved in making a difference in the Wellington community, visit www.wellingtoncommunityfoundation.org.