How Season to Share Works
All Season to Share donations go to helping nominees via their nominating agencies. Once the nominees’ needs are met, the charitable agencies can use the funds to assist other needy families within their agencies. Season to Share funds are not to be used by the agencies for administrative purposes.
The reader-donated funds are managed and distributed to the agencies by the Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin counties, our area’s pillar of philanthropic leadership for more than 50 years.
This year’s nominees are:
Violet Fuchs was born with a rare genetic disorder that has left her paralyzed, blind, and unable to speak. She is among only three identified cases of the disorder in the world, leaving her family isolated when it comes to support both emotional and financial. Daily life for the family would be tremendously improved if they could replace their 2011 mini-van with one equipped with a special lift and room for the entire family and her wheelchair. Violet has grown so much recently, that her doctors have given her medication to slow her growth rate. A newer, handicap-accessible vehicle would help her family drive her to therapy 4-5 times per week, doctor’s appointments and her sisters’ rehearsals and performances.
Diana Caycedo was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis a year ago and six months later doctors found her husband Jimmy Valderrama had Stage 4 colon cancer. They both lost their jobs and the couple needs help to pay their rent and medical bills and support their three daughters, Juliethe, 18, Danna “Sofi” Sophia, 16, and Sarah, 13. Over the last year, Diana and Jimmy have maxed out their credit cards to buy groceries and cover costs and now are facing eviction from their home near Boca Raton. The family needs help paying their ongoing medical bills and welcomes donations to help them provide their daughters with a safe place to live. Gas and grocery cards will help stretch their family’s tight budget.
Elijah Myers, a 4-year-old West Palm Beach boy fighting a rare and aggressive form of cancer, has been enduring chemotherapy and radiation treatments for more than a year. His young parents, who are also raising Elijah’s three healthy brothers, ages 6 to 2, have been overwhelmed with medical and related expenses as they try to maintain some normalcy to their family life. Elijah’s new treatment is complicated by his need for blood testing, sometimes every two days, and blood transfusions up to five times per week. This involves very frequent trips to the hospital in Miami and hospitalizations that can’t always be prepared for. As his parent’s juggle and balance enormous stress, anxiety, and their children’s needs, financial assistance for absolute necessities enables Elijah’s parents to keep their focus on loving care, treatments, and emotions. The family needs abundant help with rent, utilities, car insurance, phone service, internet service, and food.
Valerie Chandler lost the use of her legs in a car crash at age 13 but is determined to live a full and successful life as she enters adulthood. Now 18 and in college, she needs a van with a wheelchair lift and hand controls on the steering wheel. Being able to drive would let her find a job, attend classes more easily and participate in more of the sorts of social activities that are important for young adults. It would also let her mother return to work, which would help the family cover the many costs associated with Valerie’s needs, including wheelchairs, special clothing and specialized equipment for their home. The family also struggles to pay for her weekly neurotherapy sessions, which are vital to maintaining her core strength and preventing infections and other health complications from lower-body paralysis.
After losing his sight in a hate-driven beating, 35-year-old Gabriel “Gabe” Pacheco is trying to reassemble his life. Getting there will require $20,000 for a pair of surgeries not covered by health insurance and $8,500 for braces to repair teeth that were damaged during his assault. He could benefit from a service dog, as well as a wearable device that could read text to him from any book or screen, recognize faces, accurately identify products and answer questions and provide data.
Grandparents Jean and Marie Major, who have scraped by working in the fields of Belle Glade, became parents again overnight. Their financial stability was further strained when they discovered 3-year-old Moreitza was suffering from an as-yet undiagnosed condition that left her malnourished and struggling to digest food. They wish to secure access to the specialized and ongoing health care for her. This one medical crisis must be addressed not only for her well-being but also to alleviate the added strain on the entire family. The Majors also need help securing better living conditions with more room for the children and furniture to accommodate the entire family. The three older children also require support with clothing and shoes, school uniforms and laptops. Reliable transportation is a critical need as well. A donated car would allow them to travel safely and provide access to essential services not covered by public transportation.
Tamas Burger has gone from guru and bookseller to the likes of John Lennon, to a retiree who couldn’t keep up with his health and hold on to his home. He lost his vision in one eye and battles a blood disorder that required surgeons remove his stomach. His advocates report that his various illnesses preclude him from living in a group setting. Burger needs to maintain his doctors and his medical protocols. He is seeking money to help secure a home and life essentials. Gas cards and grocery cards would also ease his financial strains.
Axel Bleiler is a bright-eyed, giggly 3-year-old boy with a rare cancer in his spine, which has made standing and walking difficult. The family’s income was halved when his mother quit her job to tend to his medical needs while he receives chemotherapy. The commute to treatments at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, is arduous and expensive. The Bleiler family needs money to cover growing bills. They could use gas and grocery cards and contributions to cover mortgage and utilities. Their washing machine is failing and needs to be replaced. They also need walkers to help Axel to get around easier and leg braces to train his legs to work properly.
Lillian Green, a 51-year-old West Palm Beach woman is fighting aggressive kidney cancer and renal disease while trying to care for her three sons. While housing and food costs climb higher and higher out of reach, Green needs the community’s help to pay for suitable beds for her teen sons, who have already outgrown bunk beds, rental assistance and help paying for the family’s 2017 Nissan Sentra — Green’s lifeline to accessing dialysis. Her family would also benefit from grocery and gas gift cards. Carter, in first grade, is an excellent reader who loves Spider-Man. Tyler, 17, works at McDonald’s to help support the family and Kyle, 18, has graduated from high school and would like to train for a career through Job Corps starting in January.
Leason Wallace’s world has only gotten smaller. The 46-year-old with cerebral palsy lost his mother a few years back and now he’s been cut off from friends and social activities he connected with in a program for adults with special needs. The government recently determined that his earnings from his custodial job at the Kennel Club now disqualified him from a regular check he leaned on to pay for the program. Now, Leason can’t afford the program, nor can he cover other pending costs including needed cataract surgery. Leason’s wish is for help covering the annual iCare membership — $5,300, and the surgery for his sight. His cerebral palsy makes speaking difficult, so Leason could also use an iPad to access apps to help in communicating. Gift cards to pay for personal items and transportation to Walmart would also ease his burden.
The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, in partnership with the Palm Beach Post, will discern which of the nominees is in the most need and will allocate donations accordingly.
Click here to donate where its needed most for all the nominees
All donations made to this fund will be divided equally amongst all nominees.
