Set Sail for Caregiving Youth on the Love Boat

BOCA RATON, Fla. - Jan. 24, 2014 - PRLog -- Honorary Chairpersons Dr. Fernando and Mrs. Recio of Boca Raton and the American Association of Caregiving Youth will walk the red carpet gangplank as they set sail on the Love Boat at the organization’s fourth annual Hearts and “Soles” benefit dinner and auction on Friday, February 28, 2014 at Boca Country Club.

According to Mark Hansen, Chair of the Board of the AACY, “We have created a very special time to honor those children who are filling big shoes. Our organization serves and brings increased recognition of the challenging responsibilities youth caregivers face.  Today, AACY, through its local Caregiving Youth Project, provides assistance, support, respite and education to over 550 students and their family members throughout Palm Beach County as well as providing information and resources to thousands of others.  Based upon the escalating increase in requests for assistance directly from caregiving youth within middle and high schools, the need is much greater.”

“Often, caregiving youth are sacrificing their education and childhood for years when it comes to providing care for ill, injured, elderly or disabled family members,” says Frank A. Barbieri, Jr., Esq who is Vice Chair of The School Board of Palm Beach County.  The first Caregiving Youth Project began at Boca Raton Community Middle School in Barbieri’s 5^th District. He has seen the needs and progress of the students since 2006. “They are on the frontline every day; school closes but their work at home continues.  It’s our responsibility as the greater community to unite in recognition of their efforts and to provide the support they need, here in Palm Beach County, in FL and in the US.”

Barbieri and community leader extraordinaire Helen Babione will be honored at AACY’s 4th annual benefit dinner, scheduled for February 28, 2014 at Boca Country Club. The name Hearts and “Soles” promotes awareness of caregiving children who must walk in big shoes. This year’s theme is the Love Boat.  The $150 event ticket includes champagne, open bar, dinner, music, wine wall, silent and live auctions including a blimp ride and keynote speaker, Coach for Life, Dr. Matthew Anderson. Video clips of AACY’s caregiving youth from the CNN Heroes tribute and ABC’s Diane Sawyer’s “Person of the Week” will be featured.

A wide range of sponsorship opportunities for the event is available. No gift is considered too small and donated items would be greatly appreciated and formally recognized.

4^th Annual AACY Hearts and “Soles” Fundraising Event
Friday, February 28, 2014
Boarding the Red Carpet Gangplank is at 7 pm
Boca Country Club, 17751 Boca Club Blvd., Boca Raton, FL 33487
To Donate or to Attend, contact: Gerry Fallon (gerry@aacy.org), 561-391-7401

For Information About AACY:
Dr. Connie Siskowski (connie@aacy.org)
American Association of Caregiving Youth (www.aacy.org)
561-391-7401

About AACY:The American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY) is a Florida based 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporations that began serving the greater Boca Raton community in 1998. AACY is the only organization of its kind in the United States for caregiving youth, a vulnerable and hidden population conservatively estimated to exceed 1.4 million kids ages 8-18 years.