AROUND TOWN

NEW&NOW

Samantha Marulli (pictured far right) created a scholarship in honor of her late sister Jessica (pictured here, right, with her sister Marisa).

MARISA MARULLI

LEGACY Expanding Minds, CHANGING LIVES

NATHAN COE

Sometimes, the most heartbreaking experiences of our lives spark our greatest moves for good. This was the case when Palm Beacher Samantha Marulli created the Jessica Marulli Memorial Scholarship in honor of her late sister. Months after a picture-perfect wedding at St. Edward’s, where she served as eucharistic minister, Jessica was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. She passed away in 2016.

Samantha launched the scholarship fund in 2018—on what would have been Jessica’s forty-second birthday—with a Bruce Sutka–designed evening at Marulli’s parents’ home on the island; more than 250 guests attended, raising $250,000 in one night. “The inspiration for launching the foundation came as a collective effort between my father and [me], celebrating not only Jessica’s legacy, but her vigor for our youth to become leaders through education,” says Samantha.

Funded mostly by a network of donors, the foundation benefits promising arts and sciences students at Franklin Pierce University, their father’s alma mater, and has allotted full-ride scholarships to 11 students since its inception. “Our mission is to embrace Jessica’s story, hopefully impacting these students to help guide them into a prosperous life by obtaining an education,” adds Samantha, who hopes to grow the foundation to offer five scholarships annually. “The students who have graduated are in thriving careers, and the others are on track to graduate and begin their professional lives free of student debt and with a bright future ahead of them.” (marullimemorialscholarship.com) –S.S.

GROWING GOOD

You may have heard of Blend Palm Beach County, a program that nurtures minority-owned food-based business enterprises by fostering community connections, but did you know that the organization pours into future chefs as well? Blend PBC’s agricultural elementary school program uses indoor microgreen harvesting to teach students economic sustainability in a hands-on way. Aside from activities like farm-totable smoothie-making and pizza-building, elementary agriculturists can sell their pea shoots and arugula sprouts to local restaurants; this past June, microgreens grown at two local elementary schools in marginalized communities were used in Blend PBC chefs’ masterpieces at the Mayor’s Ball at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. “Every dish tells a story, and we hope that ours embody the essence of community education and betterment,” says Trinnette Morris, executive director of Blend PBC. “Nothing tastes sweeter than helping Black and brown communities through the social and emotional learning that is taught through gardening.” (blendpbc.org) —S.S.

NEW&NOW

SMART STARTS Back to the Books

A SUCCESSFUL EDUCATION GOES BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. THESE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE SUPPORTING STUDENTS THROUGH HOMEWORK HELP AND EDUCATIONAL EXTRACURRICULARS. 1

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1. There’s a lot to love about your local library, not the least of which is its abundance of educational programs—all available for free. Send kiddos to the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach Afterschool Homework Help Center, where certified teachers assist with homework, projects, and test prep (there are free snacks, too). Teens can also take advantage of STEM programs, a homework center, or SAT and college prep workshops in partnership with Path to College. But learning doesn’t stop when school’s over: The Career Online High School program gives qualified adult learners the opportunity to earn a diploma and career certificate online. (wpblf.org)

2. West Palm Beacher Elizabeth Bornia founded the Communication Arts Academy, South Florida’s first independent program for fourth through eighth graders interested in communications, to introduce students to such practical arts as creative writing, graphic design, speech and debate, and TV/video production. With a knack for helping students nail their magnet program auditions, the academy’s class options range from moviemaking to comic book writing to theater, entrepreneurship, and argumentation—in case your middle schooler isn’t already skilled enough in debate. (commartsacademy.com)

3. The mission of Path to College is to help overlooked but driven students gain acceptance into top-tier universities, often with fullride scholarships—and the majority of the time, they succeed. But to do so requires a threeyear commitment (beginning in tenth grade) between student and mentor, with whom they will work one-on-one on a weekly basis to build their academic confidence and study for the SAT. Hands-on experiences in the program include internships, field trips, job shadowing, industry panel discussions, local service projects, and more. (pathtocollege.org) —S.S.

IN HOUSE CREATIVE

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ART AND BEYOND

MANY UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF THE ARTS, BUT WHEN A PROGRAM MODEL SEES 79 PERCENT OF ENROLLED ADULTS ATTAIN EMPLOYMENT AND MORE THAN 95 PERCENT OF HIGH SCHOOLERS GO ON TO GRADUATE, YOU KNOW YOU’RE ONTO SOMETHING. THE WEST PALM BEACH CENTER FOR ARTS & TECHNOLOGY, LOCATED IN THE HISTORIC NORTHWEST, AIMS TO INSPIRE, MOTIVATE, AND PREPARE YOUTH AND ADULTS FOR CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND SUCCESS THROUGH ARTS AND JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS. THE CENTER IS ONE OF 12 MODELED AFTER PITTSBURGH’S MANCHESTER BIDWELL CENTER, WHICH HAS DEVELOPED STRATEGIES

TO ADDRESS LOW EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AMONG YOUTH AND HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATES AMONG ADULTS BY ENCOURAGING ONTIME HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AND EFFECTIVE TRANSITIONS INTO CAREERS THAT PAY A LIVING WAGE AND PROVIDE ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES. PROGRAMMING HAS INCLUDED AN AERIAL AND 360-DEGREE PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF PALM BEACH COUNTY’S BRIGHT FUTURES PROGRAM, AS WELL AS A CAREER FAIR AND CONSTRUCTION TRAINING COURSE PRESENTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ABC INSTITUTE. (WPBCAT.ORG) —S.S.