Community engagement is a guiding principle of Leadership Palm Beach County.
Engage Forward, formerly called Civic Engagement Projects, empowers class members from the Engage program to take active roles in the community through this partnership with local nonprofit agencies. Engage Forward connects your nonprofit organization with this year’s Engage Program class members to actively collaborate on finding solutions to issues facing your organization or the community you serve. Your organization (and those you serve) will be the beneficiary of this infusion of manpower, creativity, connections, and effort. These projects will be highlighted in communications and events to our alumni throughout the year. The impact of these class projects has historically been significant and of lasting benefit to the participating organizations.
To be the first to know when the Engage Forward RFP goes live for the 2023-2024 class, sign up for our newsletter here.
Special thank you to James Garvin (’18) and Josh Hirsch (’17) for all your hard work on this rebranding.
Thank you, Audra Grigaliunas ('18) of Matyk Media, for creating the launch video, and to the countless alumni who stepped up to be a part of it.
Class of 2022 Projects
The Pink Queen Foundation
Mission: Connect families to cancer resources
Project: Help grow their support program for underserved families impacted by cancer
Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation
Mission: Prevent skin cancer
Project: Create a youth-centered educational presentation on the prevention of skin cancer
Vita Nova
Mission: Eliminate youth homelessness
Project: Establish an entrepreneurship program for teens exiting foster care or homelessness
Wellington Cares
Mission: Support seniors who wish to age in place
Project: Modernize operations, processes, and policies to prepare them for future growth
Palm Beach County Ethics Awards - FAU LeRoy Collins Public Ethics Academy
This collaboration with FAU and the Ethics Coalition will define and create processes for annual awards for ethics in Palm Beach County.
Red Apple Supply Online - Education Foundation of Palm Beach County
The class will create an online ordering system and update warehouse organization, policies, and procedures to better serve the neediest schools in our community.
Veteran Ambassadors - Wounded Veterans Relief Fund
The class will develop a program and manual to place volunteer ambassadors in the community to connect veterans with the help they need.
Bicycling for Health - Jack the Bike Man
The class will design the program, process, partnerships, and promotional opportunities to help distribute bicycles to those needing them as therapy for chronic and mental health issues.
Students Speak Up for Kids - Speak up for Kids
Children in and exiting the foster care system often need the support of peers and the community. The class will create materials to promote advocacy amongst supporters for these youth.
Take Stock in Children
The class will help the organization refine and create best practices for mentor recruitment, retainment, and recognition.
Path to College
The class will help create a program to place their low-income, high-achieving students in internships with local business partners.
Habitat for Humanity
After a fire destroyed the organization's furniture thrift store, "ReStore," they needed help. The class will help to redesign the store, plan a marketing campaign and grand opening celebration.
Els for Autism
With adult clients capable of working in our community, the class will help kickstart an employment recruitment program to place them with jobs.
Barky Pines Animal Rescue & Sanctuary
One of the county’s largest no kill animal shelters needs help building community and awareness, so the class will create a 5K run.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Palm Beach and Martin Counties
The waitlist and demand for mentors at an all-time high, yet there is a lack of willing mentors. The class created a “Big for a Day” program to pair volunteers with kids for one day of interactive mentorship experiences.
Families First of Palm Beach County
Many relatives are being forced back into parenting their loved ones children, due to incarceration or personal struggles. The class created a “Kin Support Kit” to empower these second time parents with the knowledge of resources available to help them.
Meals on Wheels of the Palm Beaches
The elderly population MOWPB services is often neglected, isolated and food insecure. The class helped bring awareness to this organization and the seniors that they help through a marketing initiative.
Opportunity Early Childhood Education & Family Center
The LPBC class of 2004 planted a community garden for this organization and their students. With a move to a new facility, the class of 2019 created a new garden to continue the legacy of healthy eating and healthy minds.
Unicorn Children’s Foundation
This organization helps to give mentally disadvantaged children the real world skills needed to feel empowered and contribute to society. The class chose to help commemorate the work this organization has done over the past 25 years of their existence.
