Twists Of Fate How Hillary Dobbs Created A Life Of Passion Outside Of The Competition Ring

By Jessica Brighenti

Hillary Dobbs is a name that most, if not all, of the Wellington equestrian community is familiar with. With an impressive junior and professional career, Dobbs was no stranger to the winner’s circle or juggling two parts of her life. Upon graduation from Harvard University and an unfortunate riding accident changing the course of her top-level journey, Dobbs found her way to new talents — coaching, being a wife and mother, and spearheading the equestrian division at Malvern Bank.

Born and raised in Sussex, New Jersey, Hillary, and her twin sister, Heather, were born into the equestrian industry. Parents Lou and Debi Dobbs both had a passion for the animal and ran an established Quarter Horse business. The twins were on horseback before they could walk, started taking lessons, riding ponies and the rest is history.

“The Quarter Horses didn’t enjoy jumping quite as much as we did,” Dobbs laughed. “So, the farm slowly transitioned to English and away from Western, and my mom would take me and my sister all over New Jersey to compete in local shows in the leadline and cross rails.”

From there, Dobbs never looked back. At the age of 15, she began training with renowned trainers, Missy Clark and John Brennan of North Run, with locations in Warren, Vermont, and here in Wellington. During her professional career, Dobbs became the youngest rider to earn more than $1 million in prize money and won 31 Grand Prix titles.

Shortly after adding her name to North Run’s long list of accomplished students, Dobbs found herself in Wellington more than at home in New Jersey or in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she studied at Harvard University.

“In the winter, I would go to class Monday through Wednesday, fly down to WEF [the Winter Equestrian Festival], show Thursday through Sunday, and fly back Sunday night,” Dobbs recalled.

It was a schedule she would repeat for the entire circuit.

“I was very fortunate to have a lot of support — from my family, from Missy and John and the North Run team, and from my friends and roommates at school,” Dobbs said.

Like all things in life, nothing is predictable, and show jumping is no exception. In 2012, Dobbs suffered a knee injury after an unexpected accident in the competition ring. Her horse slipped and fell, and Dobbs’ foot got caught in her stirrup as she tried to jump off. The injury changed the course of Dobbs’ life in terms of her professional show jumping career, but it allowed her to follow one of her additional passions instead — mentoring fellow equestrians.

“A family friend mentioned an assistant coach opening at the University of South Carolina. Honestly, I said verbatim, ‘Forty girls? No way! I don’t think I am ready for that,’” admitted Dobbs with a laugh.

After further consideration, and remembering her love for team competition in the sport, Dobbs’ final words were, “Sure, let’s give this a try,” before she completely fell in love with it.

Dubbed “mother hen” of the barn at the age of 15 by John Brennan, Dobbs effortlessly fell into her new role as a coach, mentor and confidant for the University of South Carolina Equestrian Team members. “That’s one of the reasons why I truly loved my role as coach,” Dobbs said. “The bond was special. I had a bond with the girls that changed my life. They became family.”

Dobbs now shares her motherly instincts in a different way. Wife to Christian D’Andrea and mother to Kingston, Dobbs said that she couldn’t have asked for a more perfect fairytale.

“Starting a family has been a dream come true,” she said. “I met the man of my dreams at the end of January 2020, and it was love at first sight.”

Although on a different ride, Dobbs hasn’t veered too far from the sport she loves so dearly. As vice president and director of equestrian at Malvern Bank, Dobbs helps the equestrian community in new ways and spends a large amount of her time in Wellington, expanding the business to those she knows best.

Approached by Malvern Bank President & CEO Tony Weagley in 2017, the two immediately shared the same vision — the need for a financial institution that can not only cater to but fully understand the needs of equestrians and their business.

Dobbs understands the niche equestrian community and is sympathetic to equestrians’ ever-changing schedules. Dobbs and Malvern Bank are able to provide an extra level of service by accommodating those time constraints.

“I believe I am bringing something different to the professional equestrian community,” Dobbs explained. “I am able to bridge the gap by assisting equestrian customers with their banking needs. Sometimes even while they are on a horse or between classes!”

Whether it’s experiencing Kingston’s very first haircut with her husband, returning to the magical showgrounds of WEF where she spent so much of her formative years, or assisting her former equestrian colleagues with their business banking needs, Dobbs is certain she is right where she is meant to be.

“A few twists of fate have led me to a career and life that has allowed me to be a mother, wife and a professional still very entrenched in the equestrian community that I love,” Dobbs said. “There certainly isn’t any other way I would want it. It truly is the best of both worlds.”

Expert Customization And Repairs At ESK Golf Carts, A Family Hobby Evolved Into A Successful Business

Story by Mike May |  Photos by Abner Pedraza

Francisco and Francine Orozco, along with their three sons Erick, Steven and Kevin, have always spent much of their free time working on and repairing machinery, such as golf carts. Fixing machinery has always been a family hobby. They got so good at specifically fixing and refurbishing golf carts, that it has now evolved into a successful family business, ESK Golf Carts, named in honor of the three sons.

“Before starting our business, we perfected our craft,” Francisco said.

While Francisco and his sons work on the golf carts, Francine is the one who puts the finishing touches on each job. “My wife is in charge of quality control and oversees the final details on each golf cart,” Francisco said.

The company repairs golf carts and provides fully customized golf carts to clients.

ESK Golf Carts does not sell its products to the most obvious clients, which are country clubs, golf clubs and golf courses. Instead, ESK Golf Carts focuses its sales on members of the general public, housing communities, schools, churches and municipalities.

ESK Golf Carts also buys its golf carts from the general public, which can be a somewhat unsteady supply chain. But the Orozco family makes it work.

“We buy used and second-hand golf carts from consumers,” Francisco explained. “We search online, and we get them from word-of-mouth. We work on both electric and gas-powered golf carts.”

While ESK Golf Carts does buy and sell carts produced by well-known manufacturers, such as Club Car, E-Z-Go, Yamaha and Gem, it doesn’t buy the carts directly from those manufacturers.

“Ideally, we’d like to buy new golf carts from the main plants,” Francisco said, adding that right now, that’s not possible.

Once ESK Golf Carts takes ownership of a cart, regardless of its condition, the fun begins.

“We strip each golf cart down, replace the brakes, install new bushings, insert a new battery, put a new frame on it, paint it, put in new seats and customize it according to the wishes of the client,” Francisco said.

Customers usually want a golf cart that is unique and high performing. It all starts with the battery.

“Customers prefer a lithium battery since it has a longer battery life, is maintenance-free, has a longer-lasting charge and is quicker to charge,” Francisco said.

Many clients also want a faster golf cart.

“We can engineer a golf cart to go as fast as 35 to 40 miles per hour,” he added.

After you look at each finished product, it’s clear that the Orozco family’s true talents are in the customization process.

“We can make limo golf carts that seat six people, and we produce all-terrain golf carts with special tires,” Francisco said. “We also paint the golf cart according to the wishes of the client. Right now, silver-gray is very popular. But we also paint the carts green, purple and many different shades of blue. When we produce a golf cart for an equestrian client in Wellington, the name of the farm is often placed on the outside. For private country club members, their first names are placed on the side of the golf carts. People also want golf carts with fans and USB ports, so they can charge their cell phones while out playing golf.”

Francisco noted that the golf cart business has picked up since 2020, when people started spending more time at home due to the pandemic.

Right now, most of the clients for ESK Golf Carts live in Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, the Acreage/Loxahatchee area, Delray Beach and Jupiter.

When ESK Golf Carts takes ownership of a used golf cart, which usually has a large amount of wear and tear, the company’s experts will turn it into a thing of beauty — and the process doesn’t take very long. In about two weeks, ESK Golf Carts can transform a golf cart that was considered “trash” into a treasure.

On any given day, the shop at ESK Golf Carts is filled with 12 to 15 golf carts that are being repaired, and the crew is also working on customizing roughly 20 to 30 golf carts for clients.

One of driving philosophies at ESK Golf Carts is customer service.

If you own a golf cart that needs work, ESK Golf Carts will come to your aid. “We will pick up your golf cart, bring it to our shop, fix it and return it to you,” Francisco said.

In addition to restoring carts, ESK Golf Carts provides regular repairs, if necessary.

“We provide service to address any wear and tear on a golf cart,” Francisco said.

When it comes to the bottom line, the prices of a golf cart range depending on the amount of customization and detailing involved.

According to Francisco, prices range from $3,500 to $15,000. The most common golf carts have room for two passengers or golfers.

The next larger version of golf carts has room for four people, who will use it to travel within their communities, neighborhoods and housing developments.

The limo golf carts are big enough for six people.

At ESK Golf Carts, the owners will work with your budget to provide you with the golf cart of your dreams, as the company’s goal is ultimate customer satisfaction.

ESK Golf Carts is located at 4657 Southern Blvd., Suite A, in West Palm Beach. Visit www.eskgolfcarts.com or call (561) 684-8188 to learn more about this unique family business.

Introducing The Inaugural Our Wellington Awards

The inaugural Our Wellington Awards honor members of the Wellington community who have made an award-winning difference to our village. These awards, presented here for the first time, are a unique and special way to salute members of the community who have gone above and beyond in a voluntary capacity for the betterment of all village residents.

Wellington The Magazine decided to establish these awards to pay tribute to the many incredible volunteers that our community is fortunate to have among us. In this inaugural year, the Our Wellington Awards are recognizing community leaders who have made significant voluntary contributions in the many areas of public service, such as philanthropy, community welfare, sports, culture, the arts, recreation and education.

We are acknowledging those who have made unique contributions, very often out of the public eye, although they also may be well known within their communities, where their names are synonymous with “making a difference.” Wellington The Magazine is pleased to shine the spotlight on them.

We are happy to announce this year’s Our Wellington Award recipients: entrepreneurs and philanthropists Frank and Herta Suess; equestrian leader and Great Charity Challenge Executive Director Anne Caroline Valtin; longtime Wellington High School educator Paul Gaba; Daniel, Sarah and Jonathan Clein, founders of the local nonprofit Bricks Busting Boredom; and community activists Marcia Hayden and Maggie Zeller.

Over the next few pages, you will get to put a face to the names of these community members who make Wellington more than a great hometown, but also a hometown with a heart. Learn about their background, how they became involved and what motivates them. Learn about the organizations they work with and how they decide to make a difference in the lives of others.

We hope you enjoy reading about these dynamic individuals and consider becoming involved in a worthwhile cause, benefiting and improving the lives of your neighbors as well.

This is the inaugural year of this award, and we look forward to receiving many more nominations for our upcoming 2023 award season.

Frank And Herta Suess
Entrepreneurs Frank And Herta Suess Are Big Supporters Of Their Adopted Hometown

Story by Mike May | Photo by Abner Pedraza

For longtime Wellington residents Frank and Herta Suess, the Village of Wellington is home, sweet home. It has been that way for more than 30 years for the couple, who were both born and raised in Germany.

“My wife and I moved to Wellington in 1989 from Long Island, New York,” Frank Suess said. “We had friends here at the time. We now have lots of friends in Wellington, and we enjoy it here. We always want to have a home in Wellington.”

While living in Wellington, they also raised their two sons, Oliver and Marcus. Both boys are now grown, married, have children of their own, and live in the Asheville, North Carolina, area.

Wellington and its fledgling business community benefited a great deal by having entrepreneurs and philanthropists Frank and Herta Suess living in the community. They operate their medical supply companies and several other businesses out of a location on Fairlane Farms Road.

“We were some of the first members of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce,” recalled Frank, who remains a member of the local chamber, which honored him with its Man of the Year Award in 2003.

Frank was also honored by then Wellington Mayor Tom Wenham with a certificate of appreciation for his work in support of the Village of Wellington. And in the early 2000s, the Wellington Rotary Club also recognized Frank with its coveted Gladney Award for his service to the community.

Over the last 30 years, Frank and Herta Suess have operated a number of successful businesses in Wellington, but what has made them leaders in the community was their willingness to support a wide array of nonprofit organizations across a broad spectrum of focus areas.

“Over the years, we have supported the Boys & Girls Clubs with donations, and supported Little Smiles as well,” Frank said. “We are still involved with Little Smiles, which provides day-to-day assistance to families whose children are battling cancer. We are also supporting the Wellington Community Foundation, the American Diabetes Association, the American Cancer Society, Hospice, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County, My Brothers’/Sisters’ Keeper and Doctors Without Borders.”

Herta, meanwhile, is a member of the Wellington Historical Society and has provided hands-on assistance with the Wellington-based nonprofit Back to Basics. Internationally, Frank is also working with an organization in Poland that helps Ukrainian refugees.

Originally from Bavaria in Germany, Frank’s educational background is in industrial engineering. He worked in the engineering industry in New York but became an entrepreneur when the family moved to Wellington, first focusing on respiratory supplies before moving on to diabetes equipment. Their current businesses span a number of different industries.

When Frank and Herta Suess are not working and supporting those in need, they like to take extended trips.

“I’m not a golfer or tennis player,” Frank said. “But we love to travel. We visit our sons and their families in North Carolina. We return to Europe every year in the fall, and we like to visit Asia.”

Anne Caroline Valtin Equestrian Anne Caroline Valtin Supports Wellington Through Her Great Charity Challenge Leadership

Story by Mike May  |  Photo by Lois Spatz

Nonprofit organizations in Palm Beach County are better off now than they were 13 years ago thanks to the hard work of Anne Caroline Valtin, executive director of the Wellington-based Great Charity Challenge, sponsored by Fidelity Investments.

The big-picture numbers associated with the Great Charity Challenge are eye-opening. “In 13 years, the Great Charity Challenge has distributed $17.7 million to 294 charitable organizations and nonprofit groups,” said Valtin, who is also an accomplished equestrian rider.

Every dollar raised by the Great Charity Challenge is distributed to approved Palm Beach County-based charitable organizations, due to the GCC’s support from Equestrian Sport Productions and the Global Equestrian Group covering all event expenses. “We are proud that 100 percent of the funds raised are distributed to approved causes in need,” said Valtin, who has led the Great Charity Challenge since its second year of existence. “We track how the funds are distributed and spent, and we generate a report every quarter. We are very transparent with how we distribute the funds and how that money is spent.”

The GCC’s grant application process starts each year on Oct. 31. Groups have two weeks to get their paperwork completed and submitted.

“Our application process is very fair and simple,” Valtin said. “We know that nonprofit organizations have limited time and resources to dedicate to such a task.”

Valtin makes sure that the vetting process is performed in a professional manner.

“We have a very thorough vetting process to determine the validity and impact of each group’s mission, thanks to a partnership with Bank of America and the support of GuideStar,” she said.

Once a nonprofit has been approved, its application is placed in a lottery bin. By the end of the vetting process, roughly 300 groups will have been approved. Then, just like in lottery drawings, one approved application after another is extracted from the lottery bin. An average of 50 applicants will receive funding through the process, which will next be held in January 2023.

Soon after the drawing, nonprofits will be assigned to 35 different show jumping teams for the event held in early February. At the GCC, those 35 teams will compete against one another at Wellington International, home of the Winter Equestrian Festival. The better that each team does, the more money its charitable organization will receive. The 15 charities not assigned to a show jumping team will receive funding in the form of grants, but not as much as the 35 charities involved in the Great Charity Challenge itself. The riding groups will win $15,000 to $100,000 for their nonprofits.

On the day of the GCC, everybody affiliated with the nonprofit groups is a show jumping fan.

“I am passionate about equestrian sports and philanthropy, but for this special night, I’m truly just a facilitator,” Valtin said.

And thanks to Valtin, the Great Charity Challenge will continue operating smoothly, which means that charitable organizations in Palm Beach County will continue thriving.

For information regarding the 2023 Great Charity Challenge, visit www.greatcharitychallenge.com.

Paul Gaba Educator Paul Gaba Has Led Wellington High School’s Highly Regarded Debate Program For Two Decades

Story by Mike May  |  Photo by Abner Pedraza

The role of teachers and coaches in the lives of students is difficult to fully measure, but they certainly can positively influence students in a way that will impact them for their entire lives. And when a coach gets to teach what he coaches, then the impact can be powerful and profound.

Paul Gaba, a teacher at Wellington High School, is one of those educators who coaches what he teaches. He teaches speech and debate at WHS and also coaches the school’s highly regarded speech and debate team.

“I’m now starting my 21st year as the speech and debate teacher and coach here at Wellington High School,” said Gaba, 58, a native of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, who also teaches a TV production class and two social media classes at WHS.

Gaba realizes that when students register for his speech and debate class and join the team, they will learn more than just how to speak in public.

“With each student, I focus more on success than winning a speech or debate tournament,” explained Gaba, whose speech and debate team is nicknamed the Red Dawn Debaters. “For me, success takes place when a student achieves more than they thought was possible, such as a student being afraid of public speaking and then actually doing it. Success can be measured when a student discovers a new talent and passion. I’ve had students who couldn’t talk their way out of a paper bag, and then they actually master public speaking. That’s success.”

While many students learn about teamwork, sacrifice and communication as members of any of the athletic teams at Wellington High School, those same skills and more are taught by Gaba to the members of his speech and debate team.

“As the speech and debate coach, my focus is bettering each student’s future,” added Gaba, who has personally taught and coached more than 3,500 students since he has been teaching here in Wellington.

Gaba’s speech and debate squad competes on a local, regional, state and national level — and the Red Dawn Debaters have achieved success at every level.

Gaba has been leading the debate program since 2002. He is also chair of the Florida Oceanfront National Speech & Debate Association District, vice president of the Palm Beach Catholic Forensic League, and statewide tournament coordinator for the Florida Civics & Debate Initiative. He was named Florida’s debate coach of the year in 2011-12.

Aside from his work at Wellington High School, Gaba is an active member of Wellington’s Temple Beth Torah, where he is a board member of the Temple Beth Torah Brotherhood, a service group that raises money for charitable causes.

If you’re interested in learning more about coach Gaba’s squad, follow the group on Twitter @RedDawnDebaters and visit the team’s web site www.wellingtondebate.com.

With Gaba’s teaching and coaching, the Red Dawn Debaters are sure to achieve success this year, which is the ultimate goal. And don’t be surprised if they add to Wellington High School’s impressive collection of speech and debate trophies.

The Clein Family Bricks Busting Boredom: Clein Family Brings Smiles Through Lego Bricks

Story by Mike May  |  Photo by Abner Pedraza

Creativity is essential to enriching young minds. To help build this creativity, Wellington siblings Daniel, Sarah and Jonathan Clein collect Lego bricks and distribute them to children in need.

Their nonprofit Bricks Busting Boredom has grown rapidly since Daniel started the program in 2015 after visiting his cousin in the hospital and learning of how useful Lego sets can be for young patients.

Daniel, soon joined by his sister Sarah, saw that there were very few creative outlets for children undergoing treatment. While fighting for their health, children are stuck in the hospital, sometimes for months. While hospital staffers work hard to entertain the children, they need assistance.

The Cleins realized a colorful and creative channel for these children: Lego bricks. They just needed to find a way to get them into local hospitals. So, they founded Bricks Busting Boredom, a nonprofit organization dedicated to collecting new and used Lego bricks to give to the children.

Daniel ran the organization while he was in high school. While serving as head of the organization, he expanded the donation sites to include homeless shelters and foster homes.

In 2017, when Daniel graduated, he passed the mantel as head of the organization to Sarah. She also loved meeting the children who were the recipients of the donated Lego sets. Sarah decided that, along with their donations, Bricks Busting Boredom would start throwing “Lego parties.”

“We hosted the parties for children, brought the used Legos for them to play with, and left new Lego boxes for each child to take with them,” recalled mom Deborah Clein.

At these parties, the Clein family piles the Lego bricks on tables and then encourages the children to be creative with them and have fun. After hours of playing, they each get to leave with their own Lego box.

“Along with food and games, BBB’s Lego parties give the parents of these children time to take a break and watch their children simply be kids, playing with Legos and having fun,” Deborah said.

Clearly, Bricks Busting Boredom has grown into a great family project. Deborah and her husband Kenneth have supported their children as they each contributed their own ideas to expanding this family-run organization.

After Sarah graduated from high school in 2021, the youngest Clein child, Jonathan, became the new head of Bricks Busting Boredom. Nowadays, Jonathan conducts events at the Quantum House in West Palm Beach, the Kids Cancer Foundation in Royal Palm Beach, and JAFCO, an emergency shelter in Broward County.

Since this unique, Wellington-based nonprofit was founded, the impact that the Clein family has had on the lives of local children has been significant.

“Since 2015, we have collected and delivered more than two tons of Legos,” Deborah said. “We collect new and used boxes from those who contact us. Each donation makes a huge difference in the lives of children. So, if anyone has new or used Legos that they want to donate, they should definitely contact us.”

For more information, visit www.bricksbustingboredom.org, e-mail bricksbustingboredom@gmail.com or call (954) 682-3816.

Marcia Hayden Marcia Hayden Has Dedicated 20 Years To Her Community Service In Wellington

Story by Mike May  |  Photo by Abner Pedraza

One of the reasons why Wellington is such a great place to live is because of people like Marcia Hayden. Every community needs to have more residents like Hayden, who has done more in 20 years for Wellington than most people will do in their lifetimes.

Hayden’s commitment to Wellington started in 2001 when she and her husband Frank relocated to the community.

“We moved to Wellington from Detroit, Michigan, when my husband took a job with the South Florida Water Management District,” Hayden recalled. “We chose Wellington because we wanted to live in a community with great schools.”

With her youngest son attending high school and her husband busy working, Hayden started volunteering with the School Advisory Committee beginning in 2002.

“I’ve been involved with SAC for nearly 20 years, and I was president for a number of years,” Hayden said.

Her commitment to local schools also extends to her volunteer work on Wellington’s Education Committee, which works to support and improve local schools through keeping open lines of communication and also providing direct grants to the schools.

In addition, Hayden and a number of other college-educated women recently started a local chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. “Our purpose is to be of service to mankind and to give back to the community,” Hayden said of the organization, which is also known as the Crowned Pearls of Wellington.

During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, she and her Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority members helped distribute free food to needy families who lined up at the Mall at Wellington Green. They also helped stock the pantry at Wellington Regional Medical Center with free food, snacks and drinks for hospital workers who were working extra-long hours as they tended to the needs of patients.

Another one of Hayden’s causes is Students Working to Achieve Greatness (SWAG), a public-private partnership between the Village of Wellington, local schools and local businesses. “We work with students from both high schools in Wellington,” she said. “It’s a mentoring program where we help prep students for life.”

When Hayden speaks to the students, she tells them of her immigrant roots and reminds them how fortunate they are to be living in the U.S., where opportunities abound. “I encourage students to find their passion and follow their dreams,” Hayden said.

In addition to being mentors to the students, Hayden and her SWAG colleagues have mobilized students to help with hurricane preparation in Wellington and provide internship opportunities for the students during the summer months.

Hayden is also the secretary for the Florida division of the American Civil Liberties Union. With the ALCU, one of her key initiatives is voter registration. As an immigrant, she really appreciates the power of voting. “Many people have lost their rights and don’t know that they have been restored,” she said.

With all that she does, it’s not a surprise that her husband is amazed at her commitment to Wellington. “My husband says my volunteerism is like a full-time job,” Hayden said.

Maggie Zeller Community Service And Helping Others Is A Way Of Life For Maggie Zeller

Story by Mike May

If community activist Maggie Zeller didn’t have a job, she’d spend even more time providing a helping hand. “I love giving back to the community and volunteering in Wellington,” Zeller said. “It’s my passion.”

Zeller, 70, is an independent health insurance agent. Also known as “Medicare Maggie,” she works to make sure that seniors have the right Medicare coverage.

“I want to make sure that seniors make the right decision on their Medicare policy,” Zeller said. “I’m passionate about our seniors. I’m one of them.”

When Zeller is not at work, she’s busy providing assistance to those in need.

“Growing up in Westchester County, New York, my mother was president of the Junior League,” Zeller recalled. “I remember attending meetings with her. As an adult, the first nonprofit I joined was the Junior League.”

Today, Zeller is a board member of the Wellington Rotary Club, the Wellington Community Foundation and Back to Basics. One great thing about volunteering in Wellington is that organizations often work together.

“We all work together as we help children and seniors,” Zeller said. “My role with the Wellington Rotary is to organize and coordinate all the community projects that Rotary does.”

Three of the projects that the Rotary supports and Zeller helps coordinate are the Dictionary Project, the Angel Program and the Pay It Forward program.

“With the Dictionary Project, we go to every public elementary school in Wellington and provide a free dictionary for every third-grade student,” Zeller said. “Every year, we distribute more than 2,500 dictionaries.”

The Angel Program is a holiday program through Back to Basics for underprivileged children. “We give children in need a care package that includes new socks, sneakers, underwear and school uniforms,” Zeller said. “The Rotary and the Wellington Community Foundation support this holiday program by volunteering to purchase and wrap gifts.”

The Rotary recently started a new program, Pay It Forward, which provides groceries for a number of families whose children attend the local Boys & Girls Club. “We helped more than 200 families with bags of groceries that contained rice, sugar, macaroni and cheese, pasta, sauce, canned goods and vouchers for food at Chick-fil-A,” Zeller said.

Recently, Zeller participated in the Village of Wellington’s Back-to-School event. Backpacks and school supplies were provided by the Wellington Rotary and the Wellington Community Foundation. School uniforms were purchased by the foundation through Back to Basics. Zeller coordinated volunteers to make sure that the children who attended received what they needed for school.

For Zeller, being a volunteer in Wellington is like being a part of a winning team. “I cannot do what I do without the support of the dedicated volunteers with both the Wellington Rotary and the Wellington Community Foundation,” she said.

When not working for local seniors or the local community, Zeller enjoys spending time at the beach.

“You can find me on the beach Sunday mornings, where I sit in my beach chair, read my book, and watch my two grandchildren ride the waves and play in the sand,” Zeller said.

Investing In The Community
Upcoming Wellington Capital Projects Will Keep The Village Moving Forward

By Deborah Welky

The Village of Wellington is implementing an ambitious Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) designed to keep the village moving forward across all facets of the community, from utilities and drainage to recreation and public safety.

In a municipality, the CIP outlines the structure, funding and timeline for projects that will shape the community for decades to come. Its ultimate goal is improving the quality of life for residents.

Wellington Village Manager Jim Barnes prefers to refer to his CIP as a “Community Investment Program.”

“Since Wellington was incorporated, we have been investing and re-investing in the community,” Barnes explained. “That is what increases our property values, what increases the satisfaction rating of our residents, and what keeps us a great place for people to live and raise a family.”

With a proposed capital project budget of $23.8 million for fiscal year 2023, which gets underway Oct. 1, there are numerous expenditures on the drawing board to be studied, weighed and considered by the Wellington Village Council. Many have been on the books and approved for years. Some are newer suggestions. Some projects are crucial improvements to critical services, while some are forward-thinking enhancements that many communities can only dream about.

In all, over the next year, Wellington will spend $9,985,000 on improvements to its water and wastewater utilities; $9,365,024 on one-time projects that include recreation and public safety; and $4,460,000 to sustain ongoing programs, like streetscapes, technology upgrades and existing parks.

Here, we are looking at just a few of the key capital projects residents can expect in 2023 and beyond.

Utility & Drainage Improvements

Before Wellington was incorporated in 1995, it was governed by the Acme Improvement District, which maintained the community’s drainage system, utilities, roads and parks. Those remain core functions for Wellington’s government today.

Now, with a population of more than 65,000 and a reputation as the “equestrian capital of the world” that attracts still more people during the winter months, the stresses and strains put on the drainage and utility systems are many and varied. A large part of the village’s capital budget is that unseen money that makes sure those services remain seamless for residents, businesses and visitors alike.

A $4 million expansion of Wellington’s water treatment facility and a group of projects at the water reclamation facility totaling $3.5 million are nearing completion, keeping Wellington’s municipal water supply pure and its residents safe.

Due to the sub-tropical climate of the area, there’s water, water everywhere and no-one wants to drive through it. Surface drainage is always a consideration, particularly this time of year, which is the height of hurricane season.

“We’re continuing our neighborhood pipelining project that was started several years ago,” Barnes said. “We’re sticking to the reinvesting in our infrastructure with improved flood protection and resource protection. That is how we control the quantity and the quality of stormwater.”

This project, with $510,000 budgeted next year, is focused on the older areas of the community.

“We’re starting to go into our oldest neighborhoods that are 40 to 45 years old, the ones that were part of the original development, and renewing, replacing or both to extend the life of these pipes for 30 to 50 years or longer,” Barnes said. “Some of the systems have stopped functioning as they were intended to, and we want them to function well. The evidence of our efforts is that now our neighborhoods recover from storms quickly. We have also made improvements and added efficiencies to our pump stations that handle the surface water before it moves into the regional water system.”

Improvements at Town Center

With an increased population comes the need for a central municipal area where residents can access information, speak to village representatives, gather for community functions and more. In Wellington, that “more” is so much more. In early May, the council approved a contract with Urban Design Studios to move forward with Phase Three of the Wellington Town Center project.

“We have already completed the boardwalk along Lake Wellington, and we are working on Phase Two — the expansion of the Wellington Amphitheater. Phase Three is comprised of the aquatics center and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office substation. Together with the Lake Wellington Professional Centre, we will monitor how those site plans affect Town Center and present a comprehensive plan to the council for their consideration,” Barnes said.

This is an area that has been a work-in-progress since 2008.

“In that time frame, we started the work here at the Town Center, and what was here before was the old Wellington East Club building, the pool and some tennis courts. There was a lot of vacant property around it for years,” Barnes said. “But even in 2008, when times were tough, the village started investing and reinvesting in the community with the new Village Hall, and we haven’t looked back since. We used a grant from Palm Beach County to construct the amphitheater and the Williamson family’s generous donation for the Scott’s Place barrier-free playground. The relocation of the tennis center to Lyons Road and the reconstruction of the new Wellington Community Center has made this area the place to gather and govern.”

The Future of the Aquatics Center

A new aquatics facility is high on the village’s priority list. But officials want it done right, and that takes research and time.

“The current aquatics facility was one of the original facilities we’ve had since nearly the village’s incorporation, and except for the 2009 renovations, it’s largely still the same hole in the ground it was when it was part of the Wellington East Club,” Barnes said.

The location of the new facility remains the key question to be answered.

“The big decision that the council still has to make is the site, since we do have options and the opportunity to build a new one,” Barnes said. “What I think is important is that we don’t take the existing facility out of service during the construction. It’s critical that we look at that. Construction would probably take one and a half years, and we don’t want to shut down programs that may never get their participants back.”

The village plans to use sales surtax funds to offset the estimated $4.9 million cost, $3.4 million of which is in 2023 budget, and hiring the right consultant to help choose the site is key.

“We would require the consultant to look at all existing potential areas within the village,” Assistant Planning, Zoning & Building Director Michael O’Dell said. “Village Park has some additional property near the 120th Avenue South entrance, Greenbriar has some vacant areas, and the School District of Palm Beach County has allowed us to consider a site on their property near Wellington High School. We want to look at all possible considerations.”

Public Safety Annex

Keeping Wellington safe means making sure that the PBSO has a state-of-the-art facility as its local headquarters. There is $3.9 million earmarked for this, of which $3 million is in the 2023 budget.

“Ever since our incorporation as a village, we have worked with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office to keep our residents safe,” Barnes said. “As part of our contract, we provide the space for them to operate, to support their work at the village. They used to be in a leased space at the original Wellington Mall. Then they moved into the old village administration building on Greenbriar Blvd.”

This latest effort aims to make the PBSO substation more centrally located.

“In our efforts to have a central area in which to ‘gather and govern,’ we have a desire to have them located at the Town Center site,” Barnes said. “We want a public safety complex to house everybody from the PBSO at one location, whether it’s adjacent to Village Hall or elsewhere on the Town Center property. We are working on planning, design and site selection, and the council is very committed to that, which speaks to their commitment to public safety.”

Athletics Training Facility

Although not at the top of the list, a proposed training facility for up-and-coming local athletes is garnering a lot of enthusiastic attention. At the site of what used to be the old Wellington Boys & Girls Club building on South Shore Blvd., there is talk of a 90,000-square-foot training facility for athletics built through a public-private partnership.

Outside, field space would be improved and conditioned for softball, baseball and an open sports field perfect for soccer, football and other sports. Some money for the project, which is not yet fully approved, is in the 2023 budget.

“That project, privately funded by a group named Wellington Athletics, would come in at between $33 to 36 million,” Barnes said. “The village would have to prepare the site, at a value of approximately $1.5 million, as part of the public-private partnership.”

Educating The Next Generation The Moorcroft Foundation Inspires Conservation And Preservation In Wellington And Beyond

Story By Jessica Brighenti  |  Photo by Georgie Hammond

Wellington is known for its renowned equestrians, close proximity to beaches and beautiful weather. But it is also home to some of the rarest and endangered animals in the world, serving as educational ambassadors for a foundation with a mission of conservation, preservation, inspiration and education.

The Moorcroft Conservation Foundation, founded by accomplished equestrian and trainer Charlie Moorcroft, and his personal collection of rare animals, introduces children and adults to important conservation, rescue and rehabilitation issues while inspiring them to make a difference. The foundation raises funds to support collaborative organizations around the country while also bringing awareness to the local community and beyond.

Born and raised in Connecticut, Moorcroft spent much of his time outdoors riding horses, fishing and spending time in nature. Growing up in a large family with a schoolteacher as his mother, Moorcroft learned early on the importance of giving back, communicating and educating.

Throughout his life, Moorcroft tried his hand at many different careers, but was always drawn back to what was intertwined in his DNA — equestrian sports, nature and being around animals.

He made the move down to Wellington about 17 years ago for the horses and to continue his passion for educating the sport’s youth.

Moorcroft is renowned for his exceptional ability to teach children not only how to ride and care for an animal, but how to be confident, independent and communicative in life outside of the arena.

“I tell my students, there’s always someone more experienced than you, and there’s always someone who needs to look up to you or wants to look up to you,” Moorcroft explained. “I try to impress that upon my students. We inspire kids to help kids. I want kids to know that they are role models, and they are inspiring the next group. I want the kids coming up to know that we were once them.”

Riding lessons with Moorcroft are far from conventional. He brings students out to a track around a 15-acre body of water, where riders get to learn about and see everything from alligators, to fish and birds, butterflies, turtles and snakes. “I use that as a real teaching opportunity to talk about life and nature,” Moorcroft said. “The journey it takes these riders on is fascinating to me. It leads to a lot of great conversation.”

Besides his genuine passion and appreciation for horses and teaching the younger generation, Moorcroft heads up an even bigger passion project, the Moorcroft Conservation Foundation.

Following his involvement in the United States Hunter Jumper Association Foundation, he was inspired to do something more than just house special pets. He wanted to tell an educational story. In November 2020, the Moorcroft Conservation Foundation was born.

“We started the foundation just as a way to bring awareness and real-life experiences to people within and beyond our niche community,” Moorcroft said. “Our goal is really to bridge the gap between kids and education, and also bring funds to other organizations that we trust, so that they can also provide opportunities for kids to be involved at a local, national and global level.”

On the foundation, Moorcroft is assisted by notable equestrian Geoff Teall as executive director, and a board of directors that includes Louise Serio, Holly Caristo, Abby Blakenship and Susan Gordon. They look forward to continuing to share the foundation’s passion and initiatives while inspiring others in the Wellington community and beyond.

“The Moorcroft Conservation Foundation has been instrumental in introducing many people from the Wellington area, both young and old, to the importance of conservation issues,” Teall said. “This has included members of the equestrian community, as well as many year-round Wellington residents.”

Gordon said that the foundation offers an amazing experience to the groups of school children who visit.

“Having this hands-on learning opportunity with endangered animals right here in Wellington is surely an experience they remember for years to come,” Gordon said. “What a great way to inspire the next generation of conversation ambassadors!”

Blankenship has been impressed by Moorcroft’s ability to reach students on topics as varied as equestrian training and conservation.

“Everyone in the horse community knows about Charlie’s amazing gift of teaching children to ride,” she said. “With the foundation, the opportunity is available for people outside of the horse world to also experience his gift and his knowledge of conservation. Charlie’s charismatic method of teaching inspires people to want to learn more and do more. Wellington is fortunate to have a place like the Moorcroft Conservation Foundation. It’s a big museum education in a quaint and personal setting.”

Moorcroft also feels strongly about raising money for smaller, lesser-known, organizations, and he carefully vets and researches the ones his foundation gives to.

“I have a lot of crazy friends and a lot of crazy access to amazing ‘mom and pop’ sanctuaries and rescues that do rehabilitation, and a lot of organizations all over the country and the world that give back to animals in need on a real conservation and preservation level,” he explained.

Moorcroft’s own personal collection of animals is just a small piece of the puzzle to help drive the conversation about these unique species and the importance of conservation and preservation. “The animals and the foundation are very separate to me,” Moorcroft explained. “The animals themselves are owned, supported [and] taken care of by me.”

Although not a public facility, Moorcroft encourages people to come and visit, talk about and meet the animals, and understand conservation and the importance of helping these animals.

“I really enjoy merging my worlds by having some of my dear friends and even equestrian acquaintances come over to learn more,” Moorcroft said. “We do accept donations for the foundation and other organizations that we work closely with, but whenever possible, we love having people over to meet the animals and create conversation.”

Since its inception, the Moorcroft Conservation Foundation has supported organizations such as Feline Conservation, the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation & Education Center, the Turtle & Tortoise Preservation Group and McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary, to name a few.

“I am excited to see what the future holds and what we can do for organizations around the world,” Moorcroft said.

To learn more about the Moorcroft Conservation Foundation, or to get involved, visit them on the web at www.moorcroftconservationfoundation.org.