October 11, 2004
CONTACT:
Gariot Louima, Editor
Office of Public Affairs
954-262-5309
FORT LAUDERDALE , FL – Four Broward
and Palm Beach County power couples who have dedicated themselves to
creating a better future for children will be honored at the 39th Annual
Snowflake Ball, November 12, at the Weston Diplomat Resort & Spa.
The black-tie gala raises money for the Mailman Segal Institute for
Early Childhood Studies’ programs for children with autism spectrum
disorder—the Baudhuin Preschool, The Unicorn Child Development
Clinic, the Autism Consortium, and masters and doctoral programs in
autism.
One of South Florida’s premier social events, the Snowflake
Ball will feature a cocktail hour, silent and live auction, dinner
and dancing. Each year, the Champion for Children Award is presented
to an individual, or individuals, who have dedicated their time to
making important contributions in the lives of children within our
community.
This year, there are eight honorees — four couples who’ve
found success in business, medicine and in the arts, and who’ve
used their positions and resources to help children.
The honorees are Palm Beach residents Mark and Louise Rosenbloom,
and David Horvitz and Francie Bishop Good, Alan and Marsha Levy and
Irving and Susan Goldstein, all of Broward County.
“This year, we chose to honor these four couples because they
have all given so generously of themselves to help children,” said
Wendy Masi, dean of the Mailman Segal Institute for Early Childhood
Studies. “We appreciate their contributions to children and to
the community at large.”
Mark and Louise Rosenbloom’s crusade
for children was inspired by their own experience with their oldest
son, a brilliant child with a severe communication disorder. The roadblocks
and frustrations they encountered motivated them to help children faced
with learning and communication challenges.
Together, they founded the Unicorn Children’s Foundation, which
is dedicated to education, treatment, and research on behalf of children
with communication and learning disorders. The foundation has been
successful on a national level at building awareness and resources
for these exceptional children.
Mark Rosenbloom, M.D., M.B.A., FACEP, is an adjunct associate professor
of medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University
in Chicago. He is the founder and CEO of PEPID LLC (Portable Emergency
and Primary Care Information Databases). Louise Rosenbloom, a graduate
of the prestigious Harrington Institute of Interior Design in Chicago,
has a background in magazine publishing and interior design.
David Horvitz works closely with Paul Newman to
develop camps for children with life-threatening and chronic diseases,
while Francie Bishop Good, an internationally renowned
artist and collector who serves as the chair of the Young at Art Children’s
Museum Capital Campaign, and is a founding member of the Third Avenue
Arts District.
Marsha Levy, a retired teacher and learning disabilities
specialist, has served on the board of the Children’s Home Society
and was the chairwoman of Scholarship and Education for the HANDY Organization,
a tutoring, mentoring and scholarship program for dependent children. Alan
Levy, founder of Great American Farms, Inc., a multifaceted
agricultural company, has used his position to assist in a range of
community projects—including serving as chairman of the Broward
School Readiness Coalition and co-chair of the Broward Child Welfare
Initiative.
Susan Goldstein left a successful career as an investment
banker to care for her daughter, who was diagnosed with autism. She
has served on the board of governors of the Baudhuin Preschool as well
as the Constituency board of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders
at the University of Miami. Additionally, she initiated legislation
benefiting children with autism and has brought Broward County over
$20 million in state funding for programs serving disabled and financially
disadvantaged children. Irving Goldstein, managing
partner of Goldstein, Zugman, Weinstein and Poole, LLC, an accounting
firm, has served as co-chair and a member of the board of governors
of the Baudhuin Preschool, and has supported a variety of causes.
“These couples use their expertise and resources to help families
in need,” said NSU President Ray Ferrero, Jr. “We honor
them for their efforts and ask that those who are more fortunate join
with us in offering to them special commendation, and in supporting
these very specialized programs at the Mailman Segal Institute.”
Part of Nova Southeastern University, the Mailman Segal Institute
is dedicated to improving the quality of life for children and their
families through building community awareness, providing direct service
programs, professional development activities, and family support.
The institute’s expert multi-disciplinary team provides service
to individual children, families, classrooms, school districts, and
community agencies.
For further information, contact the Mailman
Segal Institute’s
development team at (954) 262-6929.
