Former Educator and Mayor To Be Honored

BOCA RATON, Fla. - July 21, 2014 - PRLog -- What do you get when you combine the American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY) with Allegiance Home Health and Rehab companies?  You get an incredible synergistic partnership for the Boca Raton Chamber’s Boca Festival Days!

Elected officials, business, healthcare, education and religious leaders will join together in a fast-moving, early morning program designed to celebrate the opening of school in Palm Beach County,one of the featured events of Boca Festival Days and the one community constituents won’t want to miss!

The program will be highlighted by a special award to Susan Whelchel. As a former teacher, Mrs. Whelchel has understood from day one the importance of the work of AACY in reducing barriers to children’s ability to learn.  A member of the City Council since 1995 prior to her two terms as Mayor, she understood the role of government in supporting this population.  She met with and hosted “young carers” from the UK and supported their attempt to gain national support for AACY with a follow up letter to Mrs. Obama when the young carers received no reply to their plea to President Obama. They left “feeling sorry” for their peers in the US; the UK has 350 projects to support their caregiving youth.

In addition to her understanding as an educator and her own family being touched by health issues, the former Mayor of the City of Boca Raton has supported AACY by attending many of its programs through her years in office, including offering proclamations on behalf of caregiving youth.  She has been an advocate for partnerships that provide opportunities for students, especially related to their education in her championship of the needs of students who also are family caregivers.

WHEN:         Thursday, August 21

         7:30 am – 9:00 am

WHERE:       Boca Raton Resort & Club

         501 E. Camino Real

         Boca Raton, Florida 33432

WHY:          Proceeds of the breakfast will benefit the Caregiving Youth Project, a program of AACY that offers services to more than 550 middle and high school children in Palm Beach County who care for family members who are ill, injured, elderly or disabled.

Breakfast tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door.  Please contact (561) 391-7401, to purchase a ticket or for more information.

Allegiance Home Health and Rehab is a Medicare certified home health agency.  It provides skilled and non-skilled services in the comfort of your home.  Services provided include Skilled Nursing, Physical, Speech and Occupational Therapies along with Social Services.  Allegiance also specializes in Private Duty and Companion Services.  Clients are able to remain at home where they want to be with the help of Certified Nursing Assistants and Home Health Aides who assist with daily living activities such as bathing, toileting, meal preparation, light housekeeping, medication management, grocery shopping and transportation. Allegiance is an award winning home health agency, having been named HomeCare Elite and a Top 500 Agency since it's eligibility in 2009.  Rosie Inguanzo-Martin is the President and CEO.

The American Association of Caregiving Youth® (AACY) is a Florida based 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation that has served the greater Boca Raton community since1998. Today AACY is the only organization in the USA that addresses the issues surrounding the silent, vulnerable and hidden population, conservatively estimated to exceed 1.4 million children, who provide care for ill, injured, elderly or disabled family members.  Its mission is – to increase awareness about youth caregiving and foster the replication of the Caregiving Youth Project (CYP) model within Florida and the US; to provide direct and indirect support services for youth caregivers and their families; and, to establish the Caregiving Youth Institute.  The CYP works in partnership with The School District of Palm Beach County.  Dr. Connie Siskowski, the organization’s founder was a 2012 CNN Top Ten Hero.

For more information visit www.aacy.org, contact Dr. Siskowski at 561.3961.7401 or email connie@aacy.org.