In the News

Helping People Succeed is celebrating its second annual April Showers program to benefit the children and families served by the local non-profit organization in Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee communities.

From developmental toys and games, diapers and wipes, books, rattles and baby clothing, April Showers calls upon a variety of community organizations, including non-profits and area churches, to support the month-long campaign. The donations will provide early infant needs and equipment in those early years to assist young families.

As Helping People Succeed completes its 50th anniversary year, two of its long-time staff members celebrate their own anniversaries with the non-profit organization – 40 years for President/CEO Suzy Hutcheson and 30 years for Kathy Derringer, Vice President of Successful Families.

Hutcheson, in the president’s position since January 1977, joined Helping People Succeed in 1975 as its Executive Secretary. She began work as the President/CEO when the Helping People Succeed was known as Tri-County Rehabilitation Center.

Helping People Succeed celebrated its 50th Anniversary in an evening of fine wine and art at its special Pinot & Picasso event held at an exclusive private country club in Palm City.

More than 170 guests enjoyed the wine tasting and meeting the 14 artists featured in the 2015 Art for Living Calendar presented by Helping People Succeed each year. The artists featured in the calendar are: Kevin Hutchinson, Jackie Brice, Susan Roberts, Sue Winocur, Lois Sommers, Dan Mackin, Jane Blatt, Nanette Carton, Pam Patterson, Julia Kelly, Curt Whiticar, Valerie Lally, and Stacy Ranieri. Fourteen year old Brad King is a special featured artist for the first time in the calendar.

Treasure Coast Music Teachers Association presented a check for $4,000 to Helping People Succeed, its selected charity to benefit from the 2014 Music-Thon at Treasure Coast Square Mall in Jensen Beach.

Each year, the music teachers select a local non-profit organization to support for its programs and services in the community. Cindy Kessler, head of the regional music organization and head of Stuart School of Music, said the funds are raised by the music teachers, students who participate in the Music-Thon, and guests attending the event.

More than $5,000 was raised during the 2014 “Music-Thon” with $4,000 to benefit programs and services at Helping People Succeed, celebrating its 50th anniversary. The non-profit organization serves more than 4,500 families in Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee counties.

Helping People Succeed families are the recipients of approximately 250 pairs of shoes from dress, sport, casual and comfortable styles, thanks to a donation from the Village Bootery in Cedar Pointe Plaza in Stuart.

Tim O’Brien, general manager of the Stuart shop, said this has been a project of Village Bootery for 33 years, dating back to its Lake Park founding store and a store in Palm Beach Gardens. The Village Bootery and Helping People Succeed are both celebrating 50-year anniversaries.

The halls of the Treasure Coast Square Mall in Jensen Beach were ringing with music on Saturday, December 6th as the Treasure Coast Music Teachers Association presented its annual Music-Thon with 150 students in concert.

Students performed on piano and flute, vocals and in a choir throughout the day as family, friends, and mall shoppers were entertained and applauded the varied talents of the young musicians. The Music-Thon was presented at the entrance to Macy’s at the north end of the mall.