VOL. 25 NO. 12
www.seabreezepublications.com
DECEMBER 2024
Education Foundation Of Martin County Announces Teacher Of The Year Award Winners Tonight, the Education Foundation of Martin County announced its Teacher of the Year winners during a special celebration at the MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Event Center. Vanessa Molina-Council of Citrus Grove Elementary School took top honors and was named the 2024-2025 Martin County Teacher of the Year. She will go on to represent Martin County in the state competition to become the Florida Department of Education’s Teacher of the Year. Devin Carlson, partner and general manager of Audi Stuart, Infiniti Stuart and Alfa Romeo Stuart, the event sponsor, presented Molina-Council with the award. The Education Foundation also recognized Alicia Carter of Hidden Oaks, who won the middle school category, and Samantha Pankhurst of Jensen Beach High, the high school category winner. There were a total of 23 nominees competing for the top spots. In addition, Felix A. Williams Elementary School won the Spirit Award, which was based on its theme, costumes, props and enthusiasm. Molina-Council’s students inspire her to be a classroom teacher. She grew up in lowincome housing with non-English speaking parents and a sibling who had a disability. They both attended inner city public schools in rough neighborhoods, but her teachers made them feel valued and respected and provided their parents with guidance and resources. This experience inspired her to pursue the teaching profession. Education Foundation on page 3
Felix A. Williams Elementary won the School Spirit Award, sponsored by the Education Foundation of Martin County. (Photo by Paul Careccia)
Hanley Foundation And Mark United Way Of Martin Garwood Foundation Raise County Celebrates $120,000 For Education Community Leaders Scholarships At Eighth Annual Shoot For The Moon The Hanley Foundation and the Mark Garwood Foundation raised $120,000 during the Eighth Annual Shoot for the Moon on Friday, November 1, at the South Florida Shooting Club in Palm City. This year’s event marked a milestone as the Hanley Foundation officially partnered with the Mark Garwood Foundation to continue to provide education scholarships for individuals in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD). After a warm welcome from the Garwood family and a safety briefing, more than 188 shooters took the field for the friendly competition. Participants and guests enjoyed Shoot For The Moon on page 4
Erica Garwood, State Rep. John Snyder, John Garwood
United Way of Martin County kicked off its annual campaign with the Community Leaders’ Celebration luncheon at Sailfish Point Country Club on October 28. Nearly 200 people from this fine community came together to honor and celebrate their outstanding achievements from the past year while looking towards an even brighter future. At the luncheon, United Way thanked the many generous organizations and dedicated individuals The Live United Award was presented to Zweben Law Group w h o r a i s e m i l l i o n s for their decade-long commitment to supporting United Way of dollars every year through their annual Bike Drive. (Tara and Gene Zweben, to ensure that Martin Carol G. Houwaart-Diez, Derek Lowe) County residents are able to provide basic needs for themselves and their families. Derek Lowe, coordinator of Public Information and Community Relations for the Martin County School District, served as event emcee. “I understand that this year has not been an easy one, especially after the destruction caused by Hurricane Milton,” Lowe pointed out. “Which is why I wanted to thank United United Way on page 8