VOL. 27 NO. 4
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APRIL 2026
Community Delivers Almost $300,000 For Shelter Animals At Paws And Claws Gala The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast raised more than $290,000 at its annual Paws and Claws Gala, its highest grossing event and most attended since COVID-19. Presented by the Catsman Foundation, 216 guests attended the gala, themed “Kool Cats & Diggin’ Dogs,” which was held at the Willoughby Golf Club in Stuart. Six Misty’s Pals Teams, consisting of a trained pet therapy dog and its owner, greeted guests as they arrived. Volunteers Diane Coakley and Allola McGraw cochaired the gala. Their volunteer committee members were Carol Dippy, Debbie Hansen, Shaun Kelly, Michele McCambridge, Sarah Ralicki, Wendy Talbot, Melony Zaravelis and Kay Ziegler.
Misty’s Pals teams - Fred Theye and Kobe, Lauren Aloia and Molly, Bobbie Moran and Keylee, Lexi McIntyre and Bailey (photo by Doreen Poreba)
Event Cochairs Allola McGraw and Diane Coakley (photo by Doreen Poreba)
Glenn Dempsy, Eilleen Dempsy (center) and Tom Garring (photo by Doreen Poreba)
In addition to specialty cocktails and flavorful fare, event highlights included a silent auction with 129 packages featuring everything from art, jewelry and dining excursions to spa escapes, vacations and unique experiences. Auctioneer Michael Izzolo conducted the live auction and cash shout-out, and The Catsman Foundation offered a $75,000 matching gift. The Legendary “Diana Ross,” aka Goddess Smith, emceed the event, right in tune with the band, The Essence of Motown, which kept people dancing all night long! Guests also had the opportunity to enter a raffle in hopes of winning one of three seats on the “American Bandstand” Rate a Record judges’ panel. Jessica VanValkenburgh, Tamar Quantz and Anita Misantone won this raffle and rated two surprise songs performed by The Essence of Motown.
Amanda and Mark Mosely with (center) Frank Valente, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast (photo by Liz McKinley)
VanValkenburgh won a private dinner cruise for four people on the luxurious Food Yacht in Jupiter and the other two judges won a $50 restaurant gift card. The Humane Society extends its heartfelt thanks to the presenting sponsor, the Catsman Foundation, along with major sponsors Apex Pavers & Pools, Acentria Insurance, Integrity Garage Door Services, Stuart Magazine, TC Palm, The Saelzer Atlas Wealth Management Group of Raymond James, JetLoan Capital, Team Parks, Transmarine Chartering and the Eberst Law Firm. Follow the HSTC on Facebook at https://www.facebook. com/humanesocietyTC and Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/ hstc1. For more information, visit https://www.hstc1.org or call (772) 223-8822.
West Palm Beach Teen Donates Liver To Save Brother’s Life Family Hopes That Story Inspires Others To Become Living Donors Most 18-year-olds spend the summer after graduation celebrating with friends or preparing for college. Jackson Taylor spent his saving his brother’s life. In June 2025, the West Palm Beach resident donated twothirds of his liver to his 23-year-old brother, Dakota, in a complex living-donor transplant surgery at Tampa General Hospital. Transplant surgeons Dr. Kiran Dhanireddy and Dr. Ashish Singhal led the simultaneous, seven-hour operations. Jackson ranks among the youngest living liver donors in the history of the hospital’s transplant program, which was established in 1974. After years of frustration with other hospitals, the family was referred to Tampa General’s nationally recognized Transplant Institute. Among the largest and most experienced programs in the country, it has performed more than 15,000 transplants and offers all five major organ transplants for adults. Backed by academic medicine and a multidisciplinary team, Tampa
General delivers comprehensive care before, during and long after transplant. Since establishing a network of specialists in South Florida, physicians can easily refer patients in Palm Beach and Martin counties to the hospital’s expert transplant team. Dakota has battled serious illness his entire life. As a child, he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and later primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a progressive liver disease that damages bile ducts and can lead to liver failure. “He doesn’t remember not being sick,” said their father, David Taylor. By 23, Dakota’s condition had worsened. His failing liver caused hepatic encephalopathy, a severe brain fog that forced him to leave classes and his IT job at Palm Beach State College. “I would forget what I was saying mid-sentence,” Dakota said. “It felt like my life was on hold.” Once at Tampa General, the transplant team quickly evaluated Dakota, placed him on the transplant list and recommended pursuing a living donor, which is often the fastest path to transplant. For Jackson, the decision was simple. “I always figured I would donate once I turned 18 if Dakota still needed one,” he said. On his 18th birthday, Jackson contacted the transplant team to begin testing. Within weeks, he learned he was a match. “We’re true blood brothers,” he said. Only 30 to 40 percent of
evaluated living donors ultimately qualify. The surgeries were successful. Jackson was discharged after five days; Dakota followed weeks l a t e r. O n e o f David Taylor ’s most cherished memories came the day after surgery. “They were sitting next Dakota and Jackson Taylor to each other in recliners, tubes everywhere, just holding hands.” Now home in West Palm Beach, both brothers are regaining strength and rebuilding their lives. “We’ve been through a lot,” Dakota said. “Together, we’re getting our lives back on track.” The Taylors hope their story inspires others to consider living donation. More than 100,000 Americans are waiting for an organ transplant, and thousands die each year. “When you donate part of your liver, it grows back,” Jackson said. “You’re not just saving a life—you’re giving someone their future.” The liver is the only organ that regenerates itself. For more information about the Tampa General Transplant Institute and transplant care available to residents of Palm Beach and Martin counties, call (561) 739-4TGH.