Foster Family turned Forever Family!
May is Foster Care Awareness Month. The fostering journey is not easy, but it is worth it. All of our foster parents would agree, including the Stantons who just celebrated their "gotcha day" with their forever twins!

Before coming into care with the Stantons at Place of Hope in January 2021, the four-year-old brother and sister twin set lived in a shelter for 18 months. They also were placed in several non-relative homes. They came into foster care due to substance misuse and environmental hazardous conditions by their biological parents.

The Stantons recall that when the four-year-old sibling set came into their cottage on our Palm Beach Gardens Neighborhood Foster Care campus, they were not potty trained, needed speech therapy, and had behavioral and academic challenges. After some time, their case plan, determined by the state, dictated that the twins would return to non-relative care.

The twins had an older sibling who rallied for the Stanton's to consider adopting the twins so they could have a safe, loving, and forever home. Right before Christmas in 2022, the twins were placed back into the home of the Stantons and they began working the case plan for adoption.

After nearly five months, the twins are officially "Stantons!" They are overjoyed to be adopted by their "Momma and Poppa" and know they have a very extended family through Place of Hope!
Leading by Example, a Local Couples’ Significant Gift is Breaking Cycles of Homelessness and Poverty
Boca Raton residents, Michael and Amy Kazma recently made a significant generous contribution toward the expansion efforts of our Leighan and David Rinker Campus by naming an apartment in our new Schmitt Family Complex, as well as a multi-year leadership commitment towards our annual fund.

Their gift will provide transitional affordable housing for young adults who have aged out of foster care, are otherwise homeless and single mothers with dependent children. "I look at my own kids and I know at 18, they certainly weren't prepared to be self-sufficient and find their way in the world on their own,” said Amy. “That’s what these kids in foster care have to do when they age out at 18. If there aren't organizations like Place of Hope, then they're not going to have great success, I feel, because the odds are really stacked against them, especially in this area where it's an extremely expensive place to live.”
This is not the first generous gift from the Kazmas. Michael and Amy also created the Kazma Family Endowment aimed at supporting and honoring the young adults at Place of Hope who are working hard toward furthering their education by awarding them with a scholarship. Since the Education Endowment has been established, four scholarships have been awarded:

  • Brenda, a young single mom received our Outstanding Volunteer Service Scholarship from the Kazma Family Education Endowment. She is working through 1-2 classes each semester at Palm Beach State College with the desire to be an Educator.
  • Dillon received our Outstanding Youth of the Year scholarship and has recently completed his Bachelor of Science at Florida Atlantic University. He is taking classes at Palm Beach State College working toward his Master's Degree!
  • Ancy is a single mom and received our Outstanding Youth of the Year scholarship through the Kazma Family Education Endowment. She has completed her Bachelor of Science from Eastern Florida State College and will be working on her Master’s Degree in nursing at Florida Atlantic University in the fall of 2023.
  • Our fourth Kazma Family Education Endowment scholarship recipient is currently in her junior year of high school. She is thriving in the school’s rigorous program and extracurriculars. She received our High School Leadership scholarship and is eager for the future. 

The Kazmas learned about Place of Hope at The Leighan and David Rinker campus in 2018 after being invited to an Angel Moms Brunch. It did not take long for the couple to jump in with both feet. They are known in the community for their volunteerism and ability to rally other people to get behind a mission they strongly believe in. Leading by example, Amy became an Angel Mom and began spending time on the Boca campus with the residents. Since 2018 Mike and Amy have helped inspire others around them to also steward their time, talents and treasures for the youth and families in care at Place of Hope.
In their words...

“Michael and Amy Kazma are very special leaders. They have taken the gauntlet and run with it. In the community they are well known, loved and celebrated. Everybody wants to be on their team. We are so grateful to have them on our team. And we are excited to honor Amy as this year’s Angel of Hope.” Charles Bender, Place of Hope Founding CEO and Board Member 

“Amy you inspire me. You are a phenomenal role model for the rest of us. On behalf of the children, aged-out youth and homeless families we are trying to give a hand up to, we thank you.” Dr. Leighan Rinker, Board Member

“I have been inspired by her prowess in terms to fundraise, she rallies the community.” Nikki Stelzer, Angel Mom

“Amy, I have been delighted to watch you and Mike in the community and how you make distinct choices to give back.” Jeannine Morris, Board Member
“Together with The Kazmas and all our supporters, we are working diligently to end the cycles of abuse, neglect, homelessness, poverty, and human trafficking in South Florida. The best way for our community to break the insidious cycles of child abuse and neglect, homelessness, and further trauma is to guide young people toward their full potential, healing, and self-sufficiency," says Bender.

The Kazmas’ generosity makes them “Guardian Partners” in our in our “God’s Children. Our Future.” Campaign, and places them in our Solomon Society. Not only are they helping meet the need of the local housing crisis today, but also creating a legacy and transitioning "the least of these" toward success!

If you desire to help The Kazmas and other leaders build more critical housing during this affordability crisis, please contact us today about our "God's Children. Our Future." Campaign!
You are invited! Please join us Thursday, May 25 at 10:30am for our Bender Family Village and Snyder Family Complex Groundbreaking!

Bender Family Village
made possible by John & Bobbi Erbey

Snyder Family Complex
made possible by John & Bobbi Erbey

RSVP to NatalieM@placeofhope.com by Thursday, May 18. Address: 1490 SE Cove Road, Stuart, FL 34997
The property is located on the SE corner of Cove Road & Grace Lane


Thank you to the visionary leadership who have contributed to the expansion of our new Stuart Campus

John & Bobbi Erbey
Marshall E. Rinker Sr. Foundation
The Lane Family
Berlin Family Foundation
The Boswell Family
Gary & Vivienne Player Foundation
Morgridge Family Foundation
Sal & Kim Tiano
Donna Gayle Stevens
Chuck & Diane Hanlon
Smith Brothers Foundation
Cheri Martin
Andrew & Robin Hunt
Christ Memorial Chapel
D & H Enterprises of Florida
The Cannon Family
Sarah Pietkivich, PA
Charles & Trish Bender
Cathleen McFarlane Foundation
Mariner Sands Charity Week
Scott & Katherine Fay
2023 Pine Creek Members Society
Community Foundation for Palm Beach & Martin Counties
Hope in Action!
Thank you Admiral's Cove Foundation
2023 "SUMMER SPLASH" CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN!
Champion for Children is more than a title.
It is providing hope for the hopeless, a home for the homeless and healing for the hurting.

Champions for Children candidates compete to raise the most funds in honor of a local foster youth who have been victims to child abuse, neglect homelessness, exploitation and human trafficking.
 
Every dollar raised this summer helps provide hope for the hopeless, a home for the homeless, and healing for the hurting.
 
These candidates are encouraged to use their talents, contacts, and creativity to raise funds to help advance Place of Hope’s mission “placing hope in the life of a child. During the 10 week summer competition, candidates can host one or more parties with a purpose, ask for corporate support, post on social media and make direct asks. Each participant will also receive their own personal fundraising link where friends, family and colleagues can make a donation.
 
Visit placeofhope.com to learn more or contact KelbyR@placeohope.com to sign up as a Champion for Children!
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