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Debbie Newman Bernstein Contributes $1 Million to Boc a Regional’s Keeping the Promise Capital Campaign

Inspired by the commitment and care provided by the hospital’s nurses, Debbie Newman Bernstein has made a $1 million gift to Keeping the Promise…The Campaign for Boca Raton Regional Hospital.

“My father was in Boca Regional in August of 2017, August of 2018 and then returned again in 2019,” said Ms. Bernstein. “Each time, the nurses delivered exceptional care, and made us feel comfortable and safe. I fell in love with this hospital’s nurses, then, and will be forever grateful for their care of my father.”

Ms. Bernstein’s gift, officially made through her parents’ William and Anita Newman Foundation, brings the total of seven- and eight-figure donors to the campaign to 45. It is Ms. Bernstein’s second gift to the campaign. Her first occurred last fall with a generous contribution to the Ron and Kathy Assaf Center for Excellence in Nursing. The Keeping the Promise capital campaign has already raised more than $230 million toward its goal of $250 million.

“When a donor makes two significant gifts in less than a year with the same intentions, it’s truly a measure of their passion,” said Lincoln Mendez, CEO of Boca Raton Regional Hospital. “Ms. Bernstein is grateful for our nursing care, and we are equally gratified for her generosity and her wish to honor them.”

Three of Ms. Bernstein’s immediate family members were cared for in hospital intensive care units including her father, William Newman, who was last in Boca Regional two-and-a-half years ago. Her gift will be celebrated by recognizing her parents’ memory, her own commitment to Boca Regional and the community, and her appreciation of nurses supporting critical-care patients. The William and Anita Newman Foundation Nurses Station, in the Medical Stepdown unit of the new Gloria Drummond Patient Tower, is both a functional and symbolic cornerstone to Keeping the Promise.

“I would not be in this position if it were not for my parents,” added Ms. Bernstein. “Their foundation – The William and Anita Newman Foundation – is the greatest legacy they could have left me.”

“The impression our nurses made on Ms. Bernstein is the sort of hallmark this hospital has featured for much of our 60-year history,” said Stan Barry, co-chair of Keeping the Promise. “We are pleased they made an impact, and commend them, as well as Ms. Bernstein, for their efforts to further our mission of care here. The new facilities, technology and equipment are all key ingredients to the future of healthcare, but it is, after all, the people who care and give that really make the difference.”

The $250 million Keeping the Promise Campaign is the largest fund-raising initiative in Boca Regional’s history and is supporting its most ambitious period of growth and expansion. The campus redevelopment plans include at the centerpiece the new Gloria Drummond Patient Tower. The new tower features all new surgical suites and all private patient rooms exceeding the latest safety standards for patient care. In the current hospital building, all existing rooms will be converted to private in a comprehensive renovation of all patient units including maternity, oncology, and orthopedics. An expansion of the Marcus Neuroscience In-

stitute is well underway with emphasis on neurovascular/stroke, central nervous system tumors, spine, and epilepsy/seizure disorders. The 972-car Schmidt Family Parking Facility will be connected to the Marcus Neuroscience Institute once the new tower construction is complete.

Ms. Bernstein’s gift, officially made through her parents’ William and Anita Newman Foundation, brings the total of seven- and eightfigure donors to the campaign to 45.

FAU’s Maria De Los Angeles Or tega To Lead Nursing Clinic al Care Join Hooters Girls and Give a Hoot for Self-Help International

Florida Atlantic University’s María de los Ángeles Ortega Hernández, DNP, APRN, GNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, CDP, FAANP, FAAN, is at the forefront of clinical care for the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing . Since 2014, she has served as director of the FAU Louis and Anne Green Memory and Wellness Center, which provides a comprehensive array of personalized services and programs of care, support, research, education and community outreach.

Ortega’s newest role as associate dean of clinical practice now places her at the helm of clinical care for both the Green Memory and Wellness Center and the FAU and Northwest Community Health Allia n c e ’s C o m munity Health Center (FAU/NCHA CHC), operated by the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing. She w i l l c o l l a b o r a t e with FAU/NCHA C H C e xe c u t i ve director Karethy Edwards, Dr.PH, APRN, professor and associate dean for academic programs; and clinical director Desiree’ T. Weems, APRN, a certified nurse practitioner.

At the Green Memory and Wellness Center, Ortega oversees programs in memory, wellness, cognitive and neuropsychological testing, driving evaluations, caregiver programs and support, behavioral health (mental health, counseling, and psychiatry), and an adult day program for persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). In addition to the services provided, the center conducts research on best practices in care for individuals with ADRD as well as family caregiver support.

During the pandemic, the program successfully transitioned almost all services offered pre-COVID-19 to virtual telehealth and telemedicine-based platforms and telesocial work services. In addition, the program opened access to include out-of-state and out-of-country participants. In the last two years, the program has expanded to include behavioral and mental health services for patients and caregivers, integrating psychiatry and psychotherapy consultations and treatment. The project also has expanded to meet the needs of individuals who are unable to come to the facilities and those who are uninsured.

At the FAU/NCHA CHC, advanced practice nurses in collaboration with other health care providers offer an array of pediatric, adult and geriatric services. FAU was the first university in Florida to be designated by the United States Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), as a “Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Look-Alike.” An FQHC is a clinic that provides comprehensive primary, behavioral health and preventive care to patients of all ages in underserved and rural areas. The purpose of FQHCs is to serve communities that may have financial disadvantages, language barriers, geographic barriers, or other specific needs.

Among the FAU/NCHA CHC services include mental health assessments, medication management, and behavioral interventions focused on restoration of function and quality of life; pediatric services, immunizations, and screenings; and adolescent services including physical exams, screenings, and education regarding highrisk behaviors. The center also provides gynecological prenatal and obstetric services. Other services include geriatric care as well as routine sick and health maintenance, preventive care and chronic disease management for adults 18 and older. As an American Diabetes Ass o c i a t i o n “ D i ab e t e s C e r t i f i e d Education Center,” ser vices at the FAU/NCHA CHC also include diabetes patient and family education. “A l l o f o u r prog rams in the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing are grounded in caring to create a healing and supportive environment for the patients and families we serve throughout South Florida and beyond,” said Ortega. “I am excited and honored to expand the scope of my responsibilities and services to help our patients achieve their best physical, social and emotional health and well-being.”

Ortega is a board-certified gerontological and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner who continues her practice as a clinician and specializes in caring for the older adult. She is nationally certified as a dementia practitioner. Her work focuses on transforming health care environments by providing person and family centered care, interprofessional, culturally responsive, and linguistically appropriate evidence-based interventions, opening and increasing access to dementia specific care and supportive services for diverse populations living with ADRD and their family caregivers. Ortega’s practice experience encompasses nursing rehabilitation facilities (skilled nursing, post-acute, and long-term care) and memory disorder clinics. The focus of her doctoral work was aimed at enhancing care in skilled nursing facilities through excellence in clinical practice and care coordination.

“Dr. Ortega is at the forefront of clinical care, leadership, teaching, research and policy development to advance health care for our most vulnerable populations throughout this region,” said Safiya George, Ph.D., dean, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing. “In her latest role as associate dean for clinical care, she will bring a wealth of knowledge, innovative thinking and compassionate care to spearhead our clinical and outreach programs, which are nationally recognized for providing timely, high-quality and patient-centered care.”

Boca Raton, FL – Seven local Hooters Girls are raising funds in support of Self-Help International ‘s work to empower women from Friday, July 1 until Friday, July 8. Newly crowned 2022 Miss Hooters Internationa l M a d i s o n N o v o ( H ialeah), Aria Slavin (Sarasota), Sloan M i a v i t z ( S a r a s o t a ) , Olivia Scott ( S a r a s o t a ) , Skylar Becker (Fort Myer s ), G r a ce B u r c h e t t (Hooters of For t Myers Beach) and Gianna Tulio ( 2 0 2 1 M i s s Hooters Inter national) a r e p a r t i c ipating in the f u n d r a i s i n g efforts to invest in women business owners tr ying to start and grow their own businessand help them lift up their families communities in the process.

In addition to their online fundraising efforts the group of Hooters Girls will be traveling to Waverly, Iowa for the Hooters Give a Hoot for Self Help International Weekend. The Lags Memorial Golf Tournament will take place on Friday, July 8 at the Prairie Links Golf Course and the annual Lagsride bike ride will start at Kohlmann Park on Saturday, July 9th.

Hooters Girls Fundraising Links:

Aria Slavin (Hooters of Sarasota) http://justgiving.com/fundraising/Aria-Slavin

G i a n n a Tu l i o (2021 Miss Hooters) www.justgiving. com/fundraising/ Gianna-Tulio

Grace Burchett (Hooters of For t Myers Beach) http://justgiving.com/fundraising/ Grace-Burchett

Olivia Scott (Hooters of Sarasota) www.justgiving.com/fundraising/OliviaClaireScott

Madison Novo (Hooters of Hialeah and 2022 Miss Hooters International) www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Madison-Novo

Skylar Becker (Hooters of Fort Myers) www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Skylar-Becker

Sloan Miavitz (Hooters of Sarasota) w w w. j u s t g iv i n g. c o m / f u n d r a i s i n g / Sloan-Miavitz

Give a Hoot for Self-Help International by helping women in Ghana and

Nicaragua start and grow their own businesses. Self Help works to support women business owners in r ural communities by providing low interest micro-loans. Oftentimes, women in these small comm u n i t i e s a r e n o t e l igi b l e to r ec e ive l o a n s through form a l b a n k s a n d s o m et i m e s e n d u p t a k i n g l o a n s w i t h p r e d a t o r y l e n d e r s. B y h a v i n g a ccess to capital through S e l f - H e l p , w o m e n a r e a b l e t o start and invest in their b u s i n e s s e s. I n t a n d e m w i t h p r o v i d i n g m ic r o - l o a n s , S e l f H e l p offers training sessions to help women improve their business practices so they can grow their incomes. Women are powerful agents for changes, and when you invest in them, they are able to lift up their families and communities. Economically empowered women empower others. With the economic uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s cr ucial to help women invest in their businesses. For more infor mation on Self-Help International visit selfhelpinternational.org. South Florida Hooters is supporting this great cause in memory of the late Dave “Lags” Lageschulte, Hooters franchise South Florida Hooters owner, Waverly nahas supported Self tive, and long-time supporter of SelfHelp International for Help International. “South Florida more than 11 years. Hooters has suppor ted Self Help I n t e r n a t i o n a l f o r more than 11 years. The support began because the late Dave “Lags” Lageschulte, founder of South Florida Hooters was from the same small town, Waverly, IA, where Self Help International was founded. Lags and his family supported Self Help from its inception. Hooters has sent local Hooters Calendar Girls to the Give a Hoot Weekend,” said LTP Management Director of Marketing Kristi Quarles. LTP Management, a Franchisee of Hooters of America, owns and operates 16 locations in South Florida. For more information about South Florida Hooters please visit www.HootersFlorida.com?or follow us at Twitter @HootersFlorida, Instagram @ SouthFLHooters and Facebook https:// www.facebook.com/hootersflorida/.