Tiano Family Inspired to Make Legacy Gift
After Adopting a Local Teen
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Sal and Kim Tiano met Will at Place of Hope when Will was just 14 years old. Will came into foster care at Place of Hope due to homelessness. After meeting the teen, the Tiano Family began to mentor him and eventually felt he belonged as a part of their family. Upon turning 18 and officially aging out of the foster care system, The Tiano Family adopted from Place of Hope Will making him a part of their family forever.
“We would stay with family and friends until that was no longer an option. We then began living in abandoned houses,” recalls Will. “It is unbelievable I am where I am today, growing up at Place of Hope, now giving back and working at Place of Hope. It is ironic that the name of this organization is called “Place of Hope” because that was the one thing I was missing – hope.”
When the Tiano Family learned Place of Hope was gifted an 11-acre campus in Stuart that could serve more youth like Will, they committed to a gift that would create a legacy. The Tiano Family established The Tiano Family Endowment Fund for the Stuart Campus with a lead gift of $1 million. This gift follows an already generous history of gifts given by The Tiano Family.
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“Place of Hope has changed our family’s life dramatically. We are so grateful for Place of Hope and so very proud to support such an amazing organization. Will went from homelessness to earning his Master’s in social work and has dedicated his life to helping other foster children.” Sal states.
“A recent study shows that more than 304,200 households renting in our region are ‘severely burdened,’ spending more than half of their incomes on housing. Many of these are youth aging out of foster care and single mothers, balancing multiple jobs and family responsibilities, and they are facing imminent homelessness. The Tiano Family understands and has witnessed firsthand the critical need for affordable, transitional housing regionally for vulnerable youth and families. At Place of Hope, we are staunch advocates for more affordable, transitional housing. And we are acting today to meet the growing need,” explains Charles Bender, Place of Hope Founding CEO and Board Member.
Once built out, the Stuart Campus will serve and house up to 64 aged-out foster youth, homeless youth, single mothers with kids, families in transition, and human trafficking survivors. Statistics show that more than half of youth who age out of foster care will end up homeless, pregnant or in jail within 18 months without proper guidance and support.
The Stuart Campus presents a challenge to provide care and services to the Treasure Coast area. This opportunity requires significant improvements and infrastructure development. A handful of dedicated and faithful families said “yes” when we called and asked, will you join us in this “God’s Children. Our Future.” campaign that will ensure these children, youth, and families are properly cared for, and provided wrap-around services to transition them to healthy independence. The Tiano Family was one of those families and since has inspired tremendous momentum and an outpouring of support from so many others.
To learn more about our exciting "God's Children. Our Future. Campaign," to tour the Stuart Campus or to learn more about our expansion efforts, please contact [email protected] or [email protected].
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Our Recipe for Changing the World |
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Our commitment to the abused, neglected, abandoned, trafficked, and homeless children and families of the Palm Beaches and the Treasure Coast counties remains resolute. We aim to ensconce these precious young lives in our safe, loving, and dignity-filled proactive campuses and homes and restore their broken lives. A calling drives our mission and vision to care for those who cannot care for themselves and need a hand up. To provide for, lift up, rehabilitate, restore, guide, and be ready for greatness is our promise to every young person and family in our care.
Enrichment Programming – From wrap-around services, enrichment opportunities, and family vacations to birthday parties, educational goal-setting, and wellness instruction – these are some crucial experiences that help our clients experience a bit of normalcy. They begin to share and attain milestone moments in family life that serve as lifetime memories, confidence-builders, and building blocks for a healthy future.
At Place of Hope, we found after-school sports, participation in outings, and celebratory occasions, for example, were experiences never shared by many we serve daily. Things many take for granted become unforgettable experiences for others.
Human Trafficking Recovery – As the 2020s’ most pressing issue, proliferating abuses against society’s most vulnerable require intensive therapy, targeted case management, structure, and loving care. Healing from exploitation and trauma requires a systematic approach, often turbulent but rewarding when a victimized soul is restored to reach the person’s fullest potential. Levels of care vary; financial commitment is great. Restoration is costly but necessary as this scourge continues to escalate.
Transitional Housing – Most commonly, our clients report they need housing to bridge the gap to healthy independent living and success. From single moms with dependent children to foster children aging out of the system, our regional housing provision affords clients the opportunity to learn and save for the future, while residing in a safe, dignity-filled environment offering a continuum of services to help the process. Stair-stepping the climb to independence guards against homelessness, further despair, and the cyclical side-effect of family separation.
Innovation Center – The greatest need in social services is to maintain and replicate programming that fixes problems. Place of Hope has been at the forefront of excellence in teaching others who endeavor to serve their community this way; however, our current abilities are limited. Formalizing a teaching component to provide an educational experience is how we can farm out our successful model nationwide. Also, advancing creative approaches allows us to disseminate our best practices in “how-to” guides for implementation. Becoming the national leader in this space will create speaking opportunities to showcase our successes and spotlight our truly transformative work in Southeast Florida.
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Our kids sprang into Spring Break loaded with activities! West Boca Fam Fest was a day to remember. Thanks to Brooke Rabold-Robinson and Bar Event Group, our kids enjoyed the largest bounce house they have ever seen! They also experienced mechanical bull rides, inflatable sports games, bungee trampoline jumping, karate and self-defense lessons, and an Easter egg hunt for the first time! Our teens and young moms participated in CPR training, and the health department shared safety tips for playing outside, helping in the kitchen, and other lifesaving essentials. Our younger littles enjoyed donut decorating and making slime! What is a festival without food trucks and fair food? Thanks to Jullian's Kids, all our kids and teens attending left with full bellies and big smiles!
As if that was not enough, thanks to Jullian's Kids for providing art supplies, our KidSanctuary and Paxson Campuses got crafty for an Art & Activity Day. We are grateful for our volunteers Rachel and Bret, Joycelyn, Nicolina and Teri who all came out to spend time with our kids, making it an extra fun day for them!
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Place of Hope's 2023 Lexus Hope Bash is a wrap! We are grateful for those who chose to share this impactful evening with us, and we consider you part of Team Place of Hope! It takes the collective efforts of sponsors, co-chairs, committee members, and volunteers who invest their time, talents, and resources to make the event so hugely successful! Because of your support, we can continue caring for those in desperate need in our community, while expanding our efforts. Our Hope Bash raises critical dollars to support the programs and services of Place of Hope. Thank you Heather Atkins, Tara Dillon, Erin Elmore and Morgan McGrath Ross for co-chairing this incredible event!
Place of Hope was honored by Charity Navigator as the number-one ranked nonprofit for Youth Development, Shelter, and Crisis Services in the nation in 2022! This incredible honor is only possible because of the solid foundation and transparent operation we have created together. Place of Hope is celebrating 22 years of statistic-shattering services for foster children, homeless youth, families in transition, single mothers with dependent children, and survivors of human trafficking!
We hope that you will continue to engage with us to help our community. For information about our events, please contact Monica Speer, Regional Events Manager, at [email protected]. To tour our campuses, to become an event sponsor, or to learn how you can become more involved, please contact Jamie Bond, Director of Advancement, at [email protected]. You can reach either one at (561) 775-7195.
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Our 7th Annual Fish for Hope KDW Fishing Tournament is back on the water, June 2-3, 2023!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Friday, June 2
Captain's Bucket Pick Up & Rules Reading from 4:30PM - 7:30PM at Tiki 52 with rules readings at 5:30PM, 6:30PM and 7:30PM.
Saturday, June 3
Lines in 6:30AM / Lines out 2:30PM (25 Nautical miles from weigh-in)
Weigh-in from 12PM - 3:30PM with three locations from which to choose:
- Tiki 52
- Palm Beach Shores
- Port Salerno
Awards Dinner, auction, raffle at Harbourside Place, Jupiter from 6PM-9PM! Enjoy a great buffet dinner from Tommy Bahama, live entertainment, an auction, raffle and more! This is family friendly so bring the fam and your friends! You do not have to be in the tournament to attend the awards dinner or to participate in the auction!
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