Giving is like yawning; both require a big stretch of oneself, and they are super contagious. It’s impressive for a place like the Treasure Coast, which is known for its seasonal residents, transplants and vacationers, to also be hugely dedicated to the local community. Martin and St. Lucie counties are widely known and revered for the generosity of their residents. Whether through volunteer hours or fiscal resources, one of the greatest gifts of the area is the spirit of its people. And though there are thousands of stories of giving to share, the following three reflect the creativity and capacity for caring and giving that makes the area legendary.
Frustrated by working in a clinical setting and finding it nearly impossible to reach the teenage boys he’d been tasked with serving, psychotherapist and substance-abuse expert Bob Zaccheo used his imagination to find a way to break through and gain trust. Realizing motors and engines intrigue most teenage boys, Zaccheo arranged therapy sessions under the hoods of cars. Within seconds of popping a hood, formerly silent and sullen youths were not only talking but also sharing. Zaccheo knew it was the start of something big. Something he would call Project LIFT.
Founded in 2010, the program helps youth—95 percent of which are court-ordered—leave the program with solid counseling, a marketable skill and an education.
Project LIFT helps at-risk youths build vocational skills by learning auto-mechanics, carpentry and more.
Skills learned at Project LIFT help members create self esteem and learn about potential career paths.
In 2009, Cheryl Jarvis penned “The Necklace,” a book about 13 women in California who shared ownership of one expensive and special necklace that changed their perspectives, their values and their lives. Just a few short years later, their story and another necklace are inspiring an entire community and helping save lives in St. Lucie County.
When Wendy Dwyer had the idea to apply this concept locally, she first told Sydney Liebman, who was at the time the development director for HANDS of St. Lucie County, a Volunteers in Medicine clinic serving those who cannot access health insurance or Medicaid. Once she had an organization to support, she set out to find a jeweler. This was easier than she imagined as Greg Childress, the owner of G. Alan’s Fine Jewelry & Coin, loved the idea and created and donated a spectacular diamond necklace valued at $12,500. He also insured the pricey piece that would be shared by a dozen women and offered his shop as a meeting space for the group to make the monthly necklace exchange and share the progress made by each of its wearers.
A dozen women agreed to raise $1,000 each during their month-long experience with the necklace, as well as awareness about the plight of more than 65,000 individuals in St. Lucie County who are uninsured.
Thousands of community members who were friends, family and acquaintances to each of the women became aware of the life-changing health services available to residents who work hard, but simply do not have access to affordable health care. The phones at the HANDS clinic began to ring, nutrition education classes got funding, the dental and vision portions of the clinic began to increase their services, and referrals were made to mental and obstetric health services for needy individuals.
The first year alone, the 12 women raised about $300,000 between fundraisers and grants. “At one point we were told that the first $217,000 raised helped provide $21 million in services, which would mean that every dollar raised was worth $100 in provided services,” Dwyer says of the added value of their volunteer work and the awareness they spread.
Along the way, G. Alan’s Fine Jewelry & Coin added a pair of earrings to the necklace that had become a community celebrity. As Jewelia begins her fourth year in circulation with a new group of caring women, the shared necklace has raised more than $650,000 in funds to benefit St. Lucie County residents.
The people behind these three organizations have reached beyond themselves to become volunteers, donors or supporters of community non-profits. With thousands of non-profit organizations on our stretch of paradise, there is no limit of good that can be done to help change and improve the lives of children, seniors, animals, students, the environment, and indeed, the entire Treasure Coast community.