Guests at this year’s Hibiscus Children’s Center Candlelight Ball were delighted by its new venue, the Bellwood Plantation, which offered an evening of Southern elegance in an outdoor setting.
Co-chairs Diane Wilhelm and Mackie Duch planned an event featuring cocktails under the stars before guests headed into a large white tent for a gourmet dinner by Wild Thyme Catering and entertainment by the Gypsy Lane Band. Throughout the evening, attendees also perused the selection of auction items, knowing their support would assist the teens who are housed in the Hibiscus Children’s Village in Vero Beach.
In his welcome, Matt Markley, Hibiscus Children’s Center president/CEO, commented that Hibiscus has provided three decades of support to abused, neglected and abandoned children on the Treasure Coast.
Despite last year’s lack of events, which annually generate more than $250,000 for Hibiscus, he said supporters realized the vitalness of their donations and continued to contribute.
“Our costs didn’t go down during the height of the pandemic, and neither did your support.
Thanks to the enduring dedication of the Indian River Guild, we’re back,” said Markley, offering his sincere thanks, especially to the generous event sponsors, without whom the events could not take place.
Since its founding, he said the Indian River Guild has provided an “unrelenting dedication” to Hibiscus, offering holiday gifts, back-to-school supplies, prom dresses and haircuts, and meeting special needs that arise throughout the year.
“If children need something, guild ladies will do everything possible to meet their needs,” said Markley. “Because of the collective efforts of people like you, the Indian River Guild has raised more than $8 million for Hibiscus since 1997.”
Hibiscus is called when a child is removed because of abuse or neglect, and nobody else comes forward to care for them. As Hibiscus is open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, they receive children, sometimes multiple siblings, at all hours of the day and night.
“As an agency, our strength is grounded in our employees on the front lines every day, dedicated to providing the best possible environment for children to heal, feel safe and imagine a better life,” said Markley.
Recognizing that a child’s challenging behaviors are often a direct result of coping with adversity, chronic stress or overwhelming trauma, children are assigned to meet with a highly trained counselor within 24 hours of arrival; the counselors are available to the children at any time.
There are 22 mental health therapists with a wide range of experience and expertise, and Hibiscus operates one of only 13 sexual abuse prevention treatment programs in Florida, designed to help victims and families recover and avoid further victimization.
An education liaison ensures that their residents, many of whom arrive up to two levels behind, remain in school, and assists older teens to get into vocational training or complete college applications. The liaison also attends parent/teacher conferences and, with the house parent, coordinates afterschool activities.
A Career Pathways to Independence program is designed to provide life-skills development and career preparation, and a culinary program is offered by Chef Leanne Kelleher, owner of the Tides.
Later in the evening, longtime supporter Suzanne Bertman paid tribute to LaVaughn Tilton, the soft-spoken founder of Hibiscus Children’s Center who passed away in January 2021, but whose legacy lives on in the thousands of children’s lives saved at Hibiscus since 1985.
For more information, visit hibiscuschildrenscenter.org.
Photos by Kaila Jones
