PORT ST. LUCIE — It was an exciting party atmosphere when CASTLE hosted their annual Wishes, Hopes and Dreams campaign, bringing together 75 potential donors with dozens of staff and board members. With PNC Harbor Foundation presenting the Leadership Sponsorship, the annual event is designed to educate and enlighten potential donors about CASTLE and its programs, services and needs and encourage future long term donor support.

“This event is great because it’s a fun, relaxed atmosphere where our community philanthropists can come together with our board and staff members to personally meet them and talk about our organization”, stated Director of Development Chris Robertson.

Theresa Garbarino May, Executive Director for CASTLE explained the philosophy that so many people have. “Philanthropy is a life style for many because giving to others is often times taught at home. We teach our children to support programs in school, collect pennies for patients, and buy Girl Scout cookies for a good cause. As adults the world of philanthropy becomes an array of choices that are endless,” she said. “There are so many generous people in our Treasure Coast community and because of the generosity of all of them CASTLE has grown into an organization that serves over 12,000 people each year. This is all possible because philanthropy is alive and thriving here.”

Although CASTLE receives a portion of their funding from federal, state and local government agencies as well as United Way, they must raise additional funding in order to receive some of the state funded grants. For the next fiscal year the CASTLE must raise over $400,000 to secure this government funding. There are various ways people can give to CASTLE including gifts of cash, gifts of stock, gifts of real estate, bequests, tributes and memorials.

For more information about Donation and Giving Options, call Teresa Chandler at CASTLE 772-465-6011, extension 238 or e-mail her at tchandler@castletc.org.

About CASTLE

CASTLE is a Florida non-profit agency offering parenting education via in-home counseling, monitored visitations, and classes for first time parents, parents going through a divorce and children experiencing confusion due to divorce. CASTLE serves the Treasure Coast and Okeechobee counties including all of St. Lucie, Martin, Indian River and Okeechobee Counties, with a mission to improve the quality of family life and prevent child abuse and neglect while teaching parents to love, nurture and discipline their children safely. CASTLE is a United Way partner organization and is supported by the area Children's Services Councils. CASTLE facilities can be contacted by calling: St. Lucie County (772-465-6011), Martin County (772-781-4510), and Indian River County (772-567-5700) and Okeechobee County (863-467-7771). You can also visit them on-line at www.castletc.org.