Monthly Newsletter - December 2021

Valencia Isles Girls Bare it All...almost

Members of the Italian Club of Valencia Isles are cooking up something spicy for their annual fundraiser. And things are about to heat up!

The Club has a long-standing tradition of raising money for local charities. This year, Caridad Center will be the recipient of the proceeds generated from the sale of a fundraising calendar.

Italian Club president, Susanne Greenberg, wanted to try something unique. Something the community hasn't seen before. And this year's Calendar Girls of Valencia Isles fundraising calendar is just that!

Thirty-six of Valencia Isles' most glamorous pin-up girls pose for some very provocative photos. Now, the much-anticipated calendar is creating quite a stir.

Greenberg got the idea for the pin-up calendar after watching the 2003 British-based movie, Calendar Girls. In the film, Helen Murin, who plays Chris, wife of a terminally ill cancer patient, raised money for Leukemia by recruiting women of age to pose nude for a calendar. Now, the saucy seniors are ready to "bare" it all for a terrific cause.

Selling the idea wouldn't be easy. But with a bit of convincing and a few subtle changes to the original wardrobe, skilled photographer Jill Kershner and the girls produced an eye-popping calendar that will turn heads.

The Calendar Girls of Valencia Isles will feature twelve months of vivacious vignettes.

Richard Powers, Budget Manager at Dex Imaging, a Staples subsidiary, was the first to see the flirty photos. "The calendar will help the local community through the Caridad Center," boasted Powers. He also mentioned that Dex Imaging gives a whopping one-third of its profits to local charities. In Powers' opinion, donating the printing services to the Italian Club was an easy decision, for he is also a Caridad Center board member.

The Calendar Girls of Valencia Isles calendar will be available for purchase for $24.00 by emailing Susanna Greenberg at susygreen@aol.com.

All proceeds will be donated to the Caridad Center to further the Center's mission to upgrade the health of the uninsured and underserved in our community.

Purchase Your Calendar Now

Caridad Center Event Update

Caridad Center Will Host the Essential Call to Heart Ball

Last month we conducted a quick poll which assessed everyone's comfort level with attending our annual Call to Heart Ball. We thank everyone who provided their feedback. It was very much appreciated.

Caridad Center has decided to move forward with planning our annual ball. This year's theme will be the Essential Call to Heart Ball, held on Saturday, January 29tth, 6:00 PM at Eau Palm Beach Resort and Spa.

We hope you will please join us for an evening of generosity and festivities as we raise funds to support the clinic. Attendees will enjoy a premium cocktail reception, dinner and live entertainment. Please see below for more information or to register.

For more information and sponsorship opportunities

Visit Our Event Website

View Sponsorship Opportunities

or please call 561-632-5798 or email development@caridad.org

Spotlight Interview With Francisca Campos: Caridad Center Patient & Friend

(Top photo- from left to right- Francisca with her sons Fernando and William. & Bottom Photo- Husband, Guillermo with sons Francisco, Fernando and William.)

Tell us a little about yourself.

My husband Guillermo and I arrived in America in 2005. I am Mexican, and my husband is Guatemalan. We have Francisco, 23, William, 13, and Fernando, eight years of age.

My husband is in landscaping, and I am a stay-at-home mom. I enjoy being at home because I have the time to spend time with my younger children.

William and Fernando attend BridgePrep Academy in Delray Beach. I am very proud of William for winning both Student of the Month and Student of the Year awards.

Fernando is also an outstanding student and a budding soccer player. Both William and Fernando play competitive soccer.

Francisca is my oldest child. He works in an optician’s office.

Share something about how you learned of the Caridad Center.

A while back, I was sick; I felt tired and depressed. I was worried about going to the doctor because I knew it would be expensive. A friend referred me to the Caridad Center. I was able to receive the treatment I needed.

How has your experience with the Caridad Center changed your life?

The Caridad Center changed my life. I now feel incredibly safe because I have a place to go when I am not feeling well.

Before I found the Caridad Center, I visited another local clinic. They provided some medical care but not what the Caridad Center delivers.

I am so grateful for the Caridad Center. I have excellent doctors and staff to take care of my entire family and me. I thank God for this place. They even provided me with a free mammogram.

Caridad helps people in many different ways like providing medical care, food, and electricity, and rent assistance.

What do you enjoy most about Caridad Center?

I love the special things the Caridad Center does for my family and me. Especially during the holidays. The staff at the Caridad Center provided my family with a turkey at Thanksgiving and food when we needed it throughout the year.

We were the recipients of the Adopt a Family Program. For that, we received gift cards, bedding, and household goods.

My children participated in the Meet Santa event. They were given Visa gift cards and other presents. The people at the Caridad Center are very generous.

Do you have any final thoughts about your experience?

I am so happy I found Caridad Center. I met many good people , from the doctors to receptionist, who make me feel confident about my health. Like Georgina, the receptionist, who is always helpful and comforting.

I love the Caridad Center. I have no words to describe how my life changed because of the people I met there.

Preparing Community Health Workers For Job Success

Many people take everyday tasks like getting to a doctor’s appointment or picking up groceries for granted. But for those who are in need, Community Health Workers (CHWs) provide vital support, assistance, and resources that can improve the quality of life for those who are immobile or homebound.

Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties and Caridad Center teamed up to provide a unique career education opportunity for those interested in training to be a Community Health Worker.

Daryl Houston, Interim VP for Community Impact at Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, recognized the need for Community Health Workers in the local community and provided the strategic oversight for a grant to convert the in-person training program to online.

The Community Foundation provided Caridad Center with a $35,000 grant for the conversion of the program. Johanna Cuellar, Health Education Programs Manager, explained the training as a four-day on-campus program that focuses on basic medical terminology, social barriers to medical help, and navigating people to medical and community resources. More advanced training includes breast health and diabetes education and understanding Medicare and Medicaid insurance.

The CHW training program was initially funded by William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust whose $450,000 investment, three years ago, led to the curriculum development and subsequent approval by the FL State Certification Board.

The Community Foundation’s Community Health Worker training program grant runs from July 1, 2021, and will end on June 30, 2022. As of now, the program boasts 30 graduates. To qualify for the program, the potential student should have a high school diploma and an innate desire to help people in the community.

Upon completing the training, Cuellar explained that students who possess a high school diploma or GED could take the Florida State Community Health Worker certification test. Graduates may pursue job opportunities through Caridad Center.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for Community Health Workers is hot, with a projected 17% growth rate between 2020 and 2030. With a salary range of $37,000 - $40,000, this is a life-changing opportunity.

Certified graduates may be offered positions with Caridad Center or find employment through Florida Career Center.

Because of the success of the program, an online version will soon be available. The asynchronous program will allow working students to train at their own pace.

To learn more about certification, contact Certified Community Health Worker (CCHW) - Florida Certification Board (flcertificationboard.org)

What's Happening Around the Clinic

On December 1st, Caridad Center staff recognized World Aids Day by wearing red to spread awareness on ending the HIV epidemic. This year's theme is to "End inequalities. End Aids and End Pandemics," particularly focusing on marginalized and underserved populations.

Thank you to our community partners at the The Soup Kitchen of Boynton Beach for providing turkeys and meals to our families and staff during the week of November 22nd for its annual Thanksgiving turkey distribution. We appreciate all that you do for our community.

On November 19th, the Magnolias Women's Support Group celebrated its fourth anniversary with a beautiful reception at Benvenuto Restaurant. Many of our members met their mental health providers in-person for the first time. All of our participants were impressed and expressed sincere gratitude to the faculty and staff of Caridad Center for allowing them to meet once again in person. We appreciate everyone who has supported the Magnolias Women's Support Group.

Upcoming Events

December 4, The Wellington Group will hold its annual holiday drive through distribution event at Caridad Center.

December 11, Adopt-A-Family pickups will be held at Caridad Center. For more info on how to adopt a family, contact Ana Neira - aneira@caridad.org

December 18, in partnership with The Soup Kitchen, the annual Meet Santa event will be held for hundreds of under-resourced children to receive toys for the holidays.

Ways to Support Caridad

Celebrate holiday traditions with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra on December 17th at 7:00 PM at FLA Live Arena

This holiday season, support Caridad Center by bidding on this festive and impactful experience. This year's multi-extravaganza celebrates the 25th anniversary of the group’s landmark album Christmas Eve and Other Stories.

This package includes four in-suite seats, dinner, drinks (beer and sodas), and an executive parking pass: