Neighborhood Kids Preschool Now Expanding To Serve More Families

Story By Deborah Welky  |  Photos by Abner Pedraza

Neighborhood Kids, which already operates two preschool locations in Wellington, recently announced expansion plans that will add locations in nearby Royal Palm Beach and Boynton Beach.

The preschool’s owner Frank Toral is pleased to be expanding into the neighboring community after taking over the oldest preschool locations in Wellington in 2019.

“Many of our parents used to be students themselves,” Toral explained. “It’s a real multi-generational community. The children become friends and stay lifelong friends. This faith-based preschool, once operated under another name, is the longest-running, continuously open preschool in Palm Beach County at 43 years. So many of the parents were once students themselves — their relatives and neighbors went here.”

Four decades ago, the western communities were known more as a retirement area with little available for growing families. But “family” is now the name of the game — and Neighborhood Kids aims to serve this growing market.

“We have waiting lists at both of our Wellington campuses,” Toral said. “So, our new Royal Palm Beach location, inside the longstanding Connect Church on Okeechobee Blvd., will offer additional space.”

Following the June 1 opening of Neighborhood Kids in Royal Palm Beach, Toral, together with his wife Olivia, will soon open a fourth location in Boynton Beach.

“It’s a Christian preschool that we’re continuing to expand throughout Palm Beach County,” Toral said. “We get a lot of feedback on the faith-based aspect of the school from our children’s parents. Many of their children will be going directly from our pre-kindergarten to public school, so this will be the only faith-based schooling they will get. We appreciate that the families recognize the value that our pre-K gives their kids for the short time we have them.”

Toral said that one thing that distinguishes Neighborhood Kids from other preschool and pre-K programs in the area is that it’s not attached to another elementary, middle or high school. Yet there’s the same neighborhood feeling throughout all Neighborhood Kids campuses.

“For example, we had a little girl in our three-year-old program. She comes home and tells her mom and dad about her friends, that she wants them to come to her birthday party and that she wants to go to their birthday parties. The point is, the kids form a community. And this has been happening for 40 years,” Toral said.

The two Neighborhood Kids stand-alone locations in Wellington currently serve more than 250 children combined, with 150 at the Greenbriar campus and 112 at the Wellington Trace campus. “The new Royal Palm Beach campus will be a smaller, a more intimate setting for the kids,” Toral said. “We will be able to host 83 children there.”

All the Neighborhood Kids locations will be accepting students starting at eight weeks old and continuing up to the VPK classes at age four.

Toral hopes that the waiting lists in Wellington will grow shorter with the opening of the Royal Palm Beach location. There are about 15 families whose children currently attend at a Wellington campus who are planning to transfer their children to Royal Palm Beach, which will immediately create a few openings at the original two locations.

There will also be a few spots opening up at the Greenbriar campus, as visiting equestrian families from across the United States and beyond leave for the season.

“My wife and I are Wellington residents, so we’re invested in these communities,” Toral said. “We live and work here, and we want to give families this educational and spiritual foundation for their children. It’s going to be the same uniform program throughout and the same curriculum in all four schools — the same mission and the same values.”

Some of the Neighborhood Kids teachers have been with the school for more than 20 years, teaching the internationally implemented Abeka and Creative curriculums, together with the Amazing Athletes fitness program and Go Picasso painting classes, all in a Christian, faith-based environment.

“We’ve heard from multiple parents that they get really emotional when they’re sitting at the dinner table and begin to eat, and their child tells them, ‘We need to pray before we eat dinner,’” Toral said. “We hear this over and over. We have gotten so many positive responses. It’s the joy of their hearts that their child is part of that gratitude of thanking God in a world that doesn’t always value that.”

The schools’ mission statement is to “partner with families to empower their child to discover and realize their potential in a nurturing and supportive environment.”

“To sum up what we do,” Toral said. “We provide an educational and spiritual foundation for your child’s future. In a world that values success, Neighborhood Kids distinguishes itself by teaching your child the value of character, without which, no success can be sustained. That’s the core of who we are.”

Toral also plans an active camp program for this summer.

“We’re looking forward to a robust summer ‘Fun Camp’ in June,” Toral said. “Last year, because of COVID-19, we were extremely limited in what we could offer the children. But this year, field trips are back on the schedule. We’re going to bring Lion Country Safari in. We’re going to have a lot of fun.”

The summer camp program is also open to older children. The summer camp is geared toward ages 5 to 12, Toral said. Registration is open now. For parents of older children — or those just looking to see what Neighborhood Kids has to offer — Toral recommends they contact the school or visit the web site to register. And for former Neighborhood Kids students who have graduated, it might be fun to see your former teachers in a camp setting.

Neighborhood Kids is located at 2995 Greenbriar Blvd. (561-790-0808) and 1040 Wellington Trace (561-793-5860) in Wellington. Visit www.neighborhoodkids.net for more information.

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Thanks Grand Champions Polo Club For Support

2020 was a year like no other. Life changed in an instant, leaving companies and individuals trying to plan their next steps. For nonprofits such as the Palm Beach-Treasure Coast Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), this meant pivoting to a completely virtual platform that they had never done before.

The height of the pandemic hit as LLS was starting its Man & Woman of the Year campaign. The candidates and volunteers stepped up to the plate, knowing that even though daily life may have come to a standstill, cancer wasn’t canceled. One candidate and sponsor shined more brightly and made a huge impact for local patients fighting blood cancers — Grant Ganzi and the Grand Champions Polo Club.

Ganzi rallied during the extended 16-week fundraising period to claim the title of 2020 Palm Beach-Treasure Coast Man of the Year.

His persistence and focus on the mission of LLS raised critical funds for blood cancer patients. The Lynn University senior and third-generation polo player utilized his network to support lifesaving research.

On Sunday, May 2, DeAnn Hazey, executive director of the LLS South Florida Region, presented Melissa Ganzi and Grand Champions Polo Club with an award for being the presenting sponsor of the 2020 Man & Woman of the Year campaign in the Palm Beach-Treasure Coast market.

Hazey is looking forward to a longstanding partnership between the organization and the Grand Champions Polo Club.

“Thank you so much to the Ganzi family,” Hazey said. “I know the money they raised is helping families right here, right now, and what they did is truly saving lives. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is so grateful to have such an impactful supporter within the community. The polo club’s sponsorship and support will not only allow lifesaving blood cancer research to continue but will also help patients receive access to medications and other financial needs.”

As a breast cancer survivor, Melissa Ganzi recently finished her final treatment. She is healthy and is back to playing polo. With the start of 2021, Grand Champions is bringing back a sense of normalcy to the area with its spring season in full swing.

To learn more about the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Man & Woman of the Year campaign, visit www.mwoy.org/mwoy-palm-beach-0.

Wellington To Continue Its  Decades-Long Tradition Of Holiday Fireworks On Independence Day

By M. Dennis Taylor

As this summer brings hopes of a return to something approaching normal, the Village of Wellington is planning a community celebration to make residents feel a bit like it is an Independence Day from years past. Included in the festivities will be the presentation of what is possibly the best fireworks display available in Palm Beach County.

Assistant Community Services Director Michelle Garvey is responsible for coordinating this year’s Fourth of July celebration, which will be conducted safely outside at Village Park on Pierson Road. As of May, plans were still underway, with complete details available in June. There are still sponsorships and vendor spaces available, but the biggest news is the magnitude of the Zambelli fireworks display.

Zambelli is renowned as one of the best fireworks display providers, entertaining area residents for generations. Founded in Italy in 1893, the family-owned business is now located in Pennsylvania and has provided the spectacular shows for Wellington throughout the years. These include past celebrations of Independence Day, as well as New Year’s Eve, which is also the anniversary of the incorporation of the Village of Wellington.

“Our objective is to put the most shells of anywhere in the county in the air during the 20-minute display,” Garvey said.

The celebration will be a day of family fun topped off by the impressive fireworks display. “Last year, we shot off the fireworks from two locations, but now everything will be at Village Park,” Garvey said.

The 2020 observance included fireworks but little else due to the pandemic.

This year, with restrictions eased, will be different. It will all be done safely outdoors with the restrooms sanitized frequently and sanitizing stations throughout the area. Village staff will likely be masked, but vaccinated attendees to the event are not required to wear a mask, unless regulations change.

There will be many activities that are aimed at making youngsters happy with lots of games. “There will be an obstacle course, parachute races and stilt walkers walking throughout the festivities,” Garvey said. “There will be a petting zoo with all the typical barnyard animals, plus surprises and favorites like the miniature cow.”

Food and entertainment will also be part of the experience.

“There will be lots of food trucks for a satisfying food experience, and there will be live music with the Studio 54 band,” Garvey said, adding that the entertainment will include a singing contest where winners get to sing on stage.

Wellington’s Parks & Recreation Department provides the community with exceptional parks, leisure and recreation programs that build strong, healthy lifestyles while contributing to the economic and environmental sustainability of Wellington.

Many popular activities in the usually busy department are returning to the schedule as the summer approaches. Parks & Recreation Director Eric Juckett noted that the village’s new Parks & Recreation Department newsletter has just published its first issue now that activities are gearing back up. It is frequently updated and lists the most current information on recreational activities.

“We are extremely excited to be once again offering so many programs to the residents of our community,” Juckett said. “Tell the community we are back, and we are super excited.”

The food trucks have returned to the Wellington Amphitheater on Thursday nights, along with concerts and movies on Friday and Saturday nights. Free tickets to the concerts are available on Eventbrite.

“The Wellington Community Center has opened back up, and programs and rentals have resumed,” Juckett said. “Swimming lessons in two-week classes will be taking place at the pool, tennis lessons are in the mornings, the all-day summer camps and academies have returned, and registration and availabilities are all in the newsletter on the village’s web site.

Visit www.wellingtonfl.gov/july4th for updates on the Independence Day celebration. For the latest on upcoming community events, visit www.wellingtonfl.gov/events.

Wellington Garden Club Helps Make The Community A More Beautiful Place

“Gardening Makes a World of Difference” is the motto of the Wellington Garden Club, which has been helping to make the community a more beautiful place for nearly four decades.

Founded in October 1981 by a few local women who held meetings in one another’s living rooms, the club began with lots of good ideas and a few bylaws. Yet the women had the foresight to become part of something bigger, joining the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs just a few months later.

Founding members of the club included President Mary Clark, Vice President Mary Rowe, Treasurer Inge Parrish, Recording Secretary Paula Giambrone, Corresponding Secretary Judy Frank, and members Melinda Beasley, Connie Diforio, Marilyn Elliot, Mary Giovanetti, Phyllis Greenberg, Isabel Johnson, Grace Rocket, Alberta Weldon and Lily Wiggan.

“The club’s original scrapbook is interesting to look through,” said Jan Seagrave, the group’s current president. “The women used to do a bazaar; did landscaping for Habitat for Humanity homes; created little handmade programs; and typed up pages for a yearbook that we have professionally printed today. They did a lot of flower-arranging classes where now we have flower show judges and master gardeners as members, and the judges sometimes do arrangement classes.”

Over the past 40 years, the club has grown quite a bit, and with that growth came changes.

“We have added to what our mission statement and motto are, we’ve added activities, and we meet at the Wellington Community Center now,” Seagrave said. “There’s so much to what we do. The club has evolved over the years from that group of wonderful ladies who got it started to a club with more of a sense of community than we had before.”

Some of its original charter members remain on the roster, linking the past to the present. “It’s about how far we’ve come with the club and what we’ve learned in the past to bring forth to give to the community,” Seagrave explained.

The group continues to invite informative guest speakers to its meetings and hosts a biannual Garden Walk tour of members’ gardens, but it also established a butterfly garden at the Wellington Dog Park, currently maintained by the Boy Scouts; sends kids to ecology camp; offers scholarships to high school students interested in the earth sciences; and even honors the military.

This upcoming Memorial Day, the Wellington Garden Club will unveil a Gold Star plaque at the Wellington Veterans Memorial to honor family members of servicemen who died in the line of duty. This marker joins the Blue Star marker currently in place at the memorial, also donated by the Wellington Garden Club. The Blue Star marker was the result of a club fundraising effort, while the Gold Star marker was underwritten by a club member and her veteran husband.

“The markers are part of a national initiative,” Seagrave said. “We also partnered with the Village of Wellington. They gave us a place to put the marker, they allow us to have our ceremony there and they maintain it — and the beautiful landscaping around it.”

It was incoming President Maria Wolfe who led the marker charge.

“Being the daughter of a World War II and Korean War veteran, and spouse of a Vietnam veteran, honoring our servicemembers is very important to me,” she said. “When I found out that the National Garden Clubs had this program and the village didn’t have even one marker, I took it upon myself to do it. The Blue Star marker was dedicated on Veterans Day 2019.”

Wolfe spoke at the ceremony when the marker was unveiled. “We had 50 club members in the parade — everybody was just so excited to be a part of it and support it,” she said. “And now, as the pandemic slowly recedes, we felt like it was time to put in the Gold Star marker, and we’d like to invite all Gold Star families to attend the dedication, this time on Memorial Day.”

Twig Morris has been a member of the Wellington Garden Club for 15 years, joining just two years after she moved to Wellington.

“The club’s membership grew a lot after I joined. There were so many new communities opening up, and also the club was trying to get into as many local publications as possible,” Morris said. “We attracted new members during our garden tour and the plant sales we held at the Wellington Community Center. People bought plants and found out about the club.”

The Wellington Garden Club also began focusing more on the youth of the area, forming junior garden clubs and establishing a children’s community garden behind the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club in Wellington together with the Young Professionals of Wellington. “We meet every Tuesday at 3 p.m. with the kids,” Seagrave said. “We weed, trim, cut, plant — but mainly it’s the education, from planting the seed to reaping the harvest. A lot of these kids think that fruits and vegetables only come from Publix.”

Teaching local gardening is a key focus of the club today.

“We want our youth to learn about gardening, to love gardening and to respect the environment,” Morris said. “Our scholarship committee does a lot of fundraising. We donate $5,000 in scholarships to local students pursuing a degree in environmental sciences. We send kids to the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs’ SEEK [Save the Earth’s Environment through Knowledge] summer camp. We sponsored one young man for two years, and he was so inspired by the program that he went on to Duke University to study environmental law. That makes us proud.”

The club also provides enough funding to send seven to nine campers to Wekiva Youth Camp, a sleepaway camp near Apopka that is sponsored by the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs and is certified by the American Camping Association.

And although club bylaws prohibit political activity, e-mail blasts do go out informing members about meetings they may choose to attend as interested citizens. A recent Village of Wellington meeting where the future of a wetlands preserve was on the agenda was one such example.

“We are about education in the environmental and ecological areas,” Seagrave said. “As president, I want to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the club in 2021 and then, in 2022, the 40th anniversary of our joining the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs.”

People and plants — both are important to Wellington Garden Club members. “A lot of club presidents aren’t as lucky as I am,” Wolfe said. “They have so much paperwork to do. My therapy is to get in there and get my hands dirty — plop things in the ground and watch them grow.”

Learn more about the club at www.wellingtongardenclub.org.

Show Jumper Catherine Tyree Perseveres To Develop A Thriving New Business

From the moment her mother sat her in the saddle, Catherine Tyree knew that her love for horses was larger than life. Her early success as a junior rider and young athlete at the top of the sport would lead to milestones such as representing the United States show jumping team at just 23 years old, an accomplishment only a small handful of people have the honor of reaching in their lifetime. What she did not realize, however, is that her love of the sport would evolve into a career and business that would both challenge and fulfill her more than ever before.

Under the tutelage of John Brennan and Missy Clark of North Run as a junior, Tyree made the switch to professional status at age 26. She spent one year working at North Run in order to gain more experience in the operations and logistics of running a competitive show barn.

In November 2019, Tyree made the decision to go out on her own, creating her own business, Catherine Tyree LLC, and settled in the heart of the Wellington community.

“My parents have always been incredibly supportive of my passion and dream of being in the sport, and they were very encouraging when I started thinking about starting my own business,” Tyree recalled. “My trainers gave me a wealth of knowledge and confidence in myself, which helped me believe that I could go out on my own. Both John and Missy have given me all the tools I needed to do the job right, and they have been incredibly supportive along the way, which I am very thankful for.”

But establishing the new business would not come without its fair share of challenges.

As Tyree began work to organize the foundation of the company and tackle the common challenges that first-time business owners face, the COVID-19 pandemic put an immediate halt to horse shows around the world, instantly changing the landscape of the equestrian industry and forcing Tyree to quickly pivot her strategy.

“There are a lot of growing pains when you are first starting a business. It’s a little bit nerve-wracking to go out on your own, and COVID-19 only made things more complicated,” Tyree explained. “In some ways, it was perfect timing, because we were able to stay in Wellington for longer than usual. I was able to refine things and really get a hold on what I wanted to do and how I wanted things to be run. On the flip side, without showing so much, I found it to be difficult to continue to put myself out there as an athlete. Looking back on it though, it was a blessing to be able to really take the time and not feel pressured to hit the ground running.”

Through the trials and tribulations of the first year, Tyree faced adversity with grace and grit. She learned from each experience and opportunity that arose and used her growing knowledge to excel in her business. She found solace in her friends and family, and she continued to expand Catherine Tyree LLC with new staff members, while also acquiring up-and-coming horses, one of her favorite aspects of building a high-performance show jumping program.

“You need the right people around you who understand that getting started is the hardest part, with many bumps along the road,” Tyree said. “If you have people who are willing to stick by your side and help in whatever way they can, it makes it a lot easier. You also need a good support system with people you can lean on when things get tough. You need people cheering you on and reminding you that these struggles are something everyone goes through. I’ve been lucky to have the right people behind me to keep nudging me forward and giving me encouragement every step of the way.”

Now 27 years old, Tyree’s perseverance through new situations and difficulties during her first year of running a business has only made her into a better rider, businesswoman and equestrian. While her passion still lies in developing young, inexperienced horses, she is eager to expand her business model into training other athletes. Tyree looks forward to sharing her love for the horses and sport with the growing team beside her. She encourages those contemplating starting a new business to be persistent in what they want and to believe in themselves.

“Having confidence in yourself no matter the circumstance is key. It’s always hard, no matter what sector you’re in, to start your own business,” she said. “I tell myself that the people who are successful are the ones who stay dedicated to their career and never lose sight of what they really want. I think when it gets tough, you just have to hold your head down, keep going and know that you’ll come out on the other side.”

To learn more about Catherine Tyree and her equestrian business, follow her on social media or visit www.catherinetyreellc.com.

Danny & Ron’s Rescue Makes A Lasting Impact On The Community Through Efforts During The Pandemic

Danny Robertshaw and Ron Danta’s mission for their namesake dog rescue has remained steadfast since its inception: to ensure dogs in need always have a safe, loving home of their own, and those who have not received the care they deserve are given a second chance at life.

Throughout the years, the duo has become known as a beacon of hope both here in Wellington and at their other home base in Camden, South Carolina, as a shining example of humanity in their quest to better the lives of all animals they come into contact with.

Robertshaw and Danta, mainstays of the Wellington community and partners for nearly 30 years, founded Danny & Ron’s Rescue and operate the rescue out of their home in Camden. The nonprofit is foster-based in Wellington. Lifelong equestrians who have dedicated their lives to dog rescue efforts and making a positive impact on their communities, they have been traveling to Wellington for 30 years to compete at the Winter Equestrian Festival, and they made the community their home when they purchased a house in 2000. Their desire to help animals and the people who love them live the best lives they can continues to drive their philanthropic efforts every day.

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the uncertainty that gripped communities around the world was amplified for nonprofit organizations. With job loss and sickness that accompanied the pandemic, it became more and more difficult for people to provide for themselves and their four-legged family members. After first establishing health and safety protocols for their own staff members and volunteers, Robertshaw and Danta put their heads together to figure out how they could best aid those around them who needed it most.

With an average of 75 rescue dogs in “The Doghouse,” a name coined for their home from their documentary Life In The Doghouse, the team at Danny & Ron’s Rescue quickly adapted to the new safety protocols and adjusted to new methods of “meet and greets” for potential dog adopters. With supplies like toilet paper, paper towels and vital cleaning items in tight supply, it was a great challenge to find everything they needed in such large quantities to keep the operation running as normal. Nevertheless, they were able to keep their doors open for the houseful of dogs that relied on them, thanks to the help of each person who contributed to their mission, either with funds, supplies or time.

Since the onset of the pandemic, Robertshaw and Danta, with the help of their full-time rescue team as well as volunteers, have spearheaded food drive efforts to supply families and their pets in need with vital resources, allowing many to keep their animals in their homes. They have donated more than 95,000 pounds of dog food, distributed through the Feed the Hungry Pantry of Palm Beach County, since beginning their efforts last year. In addition, they have made contributions to Meals on Wheels of the Palm Beaches, local spay and neuter shelters, and Palm Beach County Animal Care & Control by pulling dogs from the shelter to find them loving homes throughout the years. Earlier this season, they received the Robb Report’s Horsepower Award for their continued philanthropic efforts in the equestrian community and beyond.

But Robertshaw and Danta have not sustained their rescue operation alone — they have depended heavily on donations from generous donors in the local community and beyond, allowing them to continue full steam ahead to make sure every dog living with them continues to receive care.

Contributions of all amounts help dogs receive a visit to the veterinarian, medication and follow-up treatment needed for routine and severe health challenges.

In the last year, 289 dogs found loving homes through Danny & Ron’s Rescue, pushing the number of dogs saved since the start of the rescue past 12,300. More than 110 dogs belonging to struggling families also received urgent and lifechanging veterinary care, and the rescue team was able to deliver vital supplies to animal rescue organizations after Hurricane Laura devastated Louisiana. Left homeless and abandoned, 17 dogs were taken to the safe haven of “The Doghouse” after the hurricane.

Robertshaw and Danta’s feature-length documentary Life in the Doghouse, from Ron Davis, the director of the award-winning film Harry & Snowman, was featured on Netflix and made major waves around the world after its release. Now available to watch on Amazon Prime Video, the film offers an inside look at the everyday operations of the dog rescue and inspires all to spread the word about their mission and make a positive impact on a local, national and global level.

To learn more about Danny & Ron’s Rescue, or to make a donation, visit www.dannyronsrescue.org.

The Mother-Daughter Duo Julie And Lillian Khanna Are Changing Lives By Changing The Odds

Being a mom is perhaps the most demanding yet rewarding job there is. But when you have the odds stacked against you, it takes a special kind of grit — and the support of community — to become the mother you yearn to be.

Wellington resident Julie Khanna knows something about that.

Raised by a hardworking single mother at a socioeconomic disadvantage here in Palm Beach County, she became a single mother herself as a teenager. Although she couldn’t finish high school with her friends, she sought a GED. And after overcoming many obstacles, Julie, a first-generation college graduate, completed her degree with young daughter Lillian at her side.

Today, as a successful entrepreneur and mother of three, Julie realizes what it took to change the odds for her own life as well as her children’s. As the recently appointed chair of the development committee at Community Partners of South Florida, she now has the chance to change the odds for others.

“I really fit the model of the teenagers that Community Partners of South Florida is trying to help,” Julie said. “They are committed to transforming the lives of children and families facing social, emotional and financial adversity. Looking back, I know if I had Community Partners in my corner, they could have been an advocate for me. Teens need someone to fight for them.”

Julie’s daughter Lillian is that someone.

As Julie’s first order of business as chair, she appointed 19-year-old Lillian to become a volunteer member. Believing in the power of youth, Julie knows that “real change happens through them.”

Lillian, like her mother, sees how she can be an advocate and a voice for change.

“I am especially grateful to have a position where I can bring the unique perspective of teenagers and share their concerns,” Lillian said. “My mom worked really hard to provide a life for me that wasn’t riddled with the same challenges she faced, but I can still be a voice for other young people in economically challenged groups and bring a realistic view of their challenges.”

Scott Hansel, CEO of Community Partners of South Florida, is thankful to have this mother-daughter team drive awareness and fundraising for the nonprofit agency.

“Julie’s lived experience as a single mother and Lillian’s advocacy for youth will benefit the parents and teens we serve tremendously,” he said. “They are deeply in touch with what it takes to help families build their own strengths and resiliency as we strive to do every day through a comprehensive system of supports, including health, housing and community.”

Julie and Lillian Khanna are no strangers to volunteerism. And they share one particular cause: youth. Julie has served the Boys & Girls Club here in Wellington for more than eight years through fundraising and supporting events, including the annual dinner-dance. She is also a board member of Prom Beach, collecting prom dresses for teenagers, a volunteer at the Soup Kitchen in Boynton Beach, and an advisory council member for Around Wellington.

Lillian, a communications major when she attended the Bak Middle School of the Arts and the Alexander W. Dreyfoos High School of the Arts, has used her voice to speak for her generation, which earned her a seat on the countywide youth council, Future Leaders United for Change, at just 16 years old.

A representative from the organization heard Lillian speak at a Wellington town hall meeting after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting about students’ concerns. That speech launched her early career as a youth advocate, eventually rising to a leadership position on the steering community for Future Leaders United for Change, a part of Palm Beach County’s Birth to 22: United for Brighter Futures Alliance that supports youth who are experiencing homelessness, in foster care or are facing other socio-economic challenges.

Lillian sees her role as a way for others to share youth voices and be heard to determine their own futures.

“We will never know a person’s full potential unless we give them an opportunity,” Lillian said. “Teenagers are more useful than anyone would ever think when you give them a position of power. Instead of being talked about, they need to be talked to. I was given that opportunity, and I’m using it to change my life and the lives of others.”

When you speak to Lillian, you can see the impact of a mother like Julie, who believes in “investing feverishly” in her children. Julie has instilled the value of volunteerism in all her children, as well as the spirit of entrepreneurship.

Lillian launched her own videography company, L Khanna Productions, at the age of 14, and today is producing videos for nonprofits and the equestrian community while a full-time student at Florida State University. Thirteen-year-old Nikhil, a communications major at Bak, started his own tech support business with the know-how to build computers piece by piece. Not to be outdone by her siblings, 12-year-old Devi owns and operates a home-ground spice business, Devi Masala, that she started at the age of eight, and counts Vanilla Ice and Sara Hopkins Ayala as customers. Her web site, www.devimasala.shop, was built by her brother.

Julie brings all her children’s businesses together to support her own, Khanna Connections, a communications firm specializing in medical and health industries that includes Wellington clients the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation/JDCHealth Specialty Center; the Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Disorders Institute of South Florida, the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club of Wellington and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County. “Our work overlaps, and we all find ways to work together professionally,” Julie said.

The Khannas also keep much of their business in Wellington, and they are grateful for the lives they have been afforded during their 11 years living in the community. “Wellington has provided a lot of opportunities for my family,” Julie said. “For us, it’s about the relationships and friends we have made and how that has translated to our community involvement and our business.”

Lillian sees her relationship with her mother and her entire family in the same way she views her role with Community Partners of South Florida and their mission to partner with families to help them succeed. “We can accomplish on our own, but together we’re unstoppable!” she said.

To learn more about Community Partners of South Florida, visit www.cp-cto.org.

Rachel Docekal Helping Local Nonprofits Adjust Their Fundraising Efforts For The Virtual Era

Since the inception of charitable giving, the mechanics have remained the same: Get a group of like-minded people together. Discuss common concerns. Seek resources for a course of action.

Then last year, people could no longer gather together. For many organizations, it was a catastrophic situation, yet others knew of Rachel Docekal’s long career helping nonprofit organizations. Her firm was able to help groups overcome lockdowns and quarantines, which often had a drastic effect on charitable giving.

After years in the in-house philanthropic and nonprofit fundraising industry, Docekal, a longtime Wellington resident, formed her own company, the Lyrae Group, to fulfill a service opportunity. Her former employer, the Hanley Foundation, became her firm’s first client.

“We are typically developing and coordinating about six major philanthropic or nonprofit events at any given time,” Docekal said. “We take an organization from the present to what is possible.”

Docekal has a doctorate in organizational management and has spent years determining what organizations need immediately, as well as developing for them a future strategic planning process. She typically works directly with the CEO or a designated point person.

Moving to Wellington from Pennsylvania with her husband in 1998, Docekal has seen the community grow up around her.

“Every year is new and exciting, it is a really great place to live,” she said, adding that it is also a great location for her firm, both with fundraising, and also firms cycling back to have her help with future strategy.

“Many philanthropic organizations use a recipe, but one size doesn’t fit all,” Docekal said, stressing that the past year has proven that adage.

March 2020 upended the entire nonprofit fundraising industry.

“It was remarkable. Gatherings came to a complete halt,” Docekal recalled. “Nonprofits provide essential services, and the audiences served by them are being provided critical services that people can’t do without.”

Those funding needs remained, even though the world had shut down. “Each organization’s needs are unique, but all require funding and resources,” she said.

The first event on her schedule after the shutdown was a golf tournament, which Docekal quickly rebranded as “Putt in Your Pajamas.”

“We were able to pivot to a different type of event overnight,” Docekal said.

With clever direct mail pieces and support collateral with a fun theme, highlighting that this was an event where you could stay home in your most comfortable attire and participate on your own schedule, the event was a success. “It turned out to have actually raised slightly more money than the previous year,” Docekal said.

Following events also went full virtual, with the same creative style of promotional pieces.

“We’ve held virtual silent and real auctions with more planned,” Docekal said.

These types of events worked so successfully that other organizations have followed in the Lyrae Group’s wake. “Others are now emulating us,” she explained.

Docekal said that the key to success during these challenging times is to work within the everyday barriers and constraints to provide innovative solutions for new opportunities. “You have to move forward and focus,” she said.

In one notable example, for what is typically a sit-down dinner for the Lifesaver Scholarship Fund, direct mail was used. A letter was sent to past contributors who have helped send people for addiction treatment.

“The theme was a bundt cake decorated like a lifesaver, and the event had a live cash call,” Docekal said. “Nowhere did we ask for a donation, we just thanked them for their previous support, and the donations beat all records.”

Docekal has also worked on organizing events not directly tied to fundraising. Some events distribute food such as rice from Florida Crystals, school supplies and clothing, or provide physicals for children requiring mobile services, as many of them or their parents did not have access to a car.

Work to support children in need is very important to her. “There are severe challenges, and the pandemic could set back children,” Docekal said.

The group also set up a walk-up center to provide appointments for the Health Care District to eliminate some of the required travel. “We provided walk-up services in the actual neighborhood,” Docekal said.

Docekal believes that as things get back to normal in the coming months, people will not return to all of their behaviors from the pre-pandemic era. “Things are changed forever,” she said.

This will likely mean that events will include both physical and virtual components.

“People are eager to get together again, so you’ll have the in-person component,” Docekal said. “Smart organizations will embrace the technology and use techniques [learned over the past year]. Participation on consulting boards is at an all-time high. It is a ‘happy accident.’ The donors have been acclimated to use these virtual events.”

This means that busy people will be able to participate in fundraising events as they see fit.

“People don’t have to travel and lose the travel time to and from a meeting or event, they just log on and participate,” Docekal said.

For more information about Rachel Docekal and the Lyrae Group, visit www.lyraegroup.com.