The LaFrance Project

09/02/2026

While celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Edna W. Runner Education Center, we had the opportunity to interview Johnnie Hubbard, Executive Director of the Andrea C. Cameron Foundation, and ask him a simple but meaningful question: What does community mean to you?

To us, Community is more than the place we call home. It’s the relationships we build, the people we choose to support, and our willingness to show up for one another. When we share our time, resources, knowledge, and connections, our individual efforts become something much greater.

At The LaFrance Project, that belief is at the heart of what we do. We believe meaningful change happens when people, organizations, and leaders come together with a shared purpose. Alone, we can make a difference, but together, we can create an impact that lasts.

Want to find your way to get involved? Visit the link in our bio to connect with The LaFrance Project and discover how you can make an impact in your community.

09/01/2026

What’s on our calendar this September? 📅 From community initiatives to important causes and conversations, here are a few places you’ll find The LaFrance Project this month.

Connections Fire Truck Pull 2026
📅 Saturday, September 5
⏰ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 4301 Burns Road, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410

“Rock the Climb” 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb
📅 Friday, September 11
⏰ 7:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 1 Seminole Way, Davie, FL 33314

GLOW HEALTH: Awareness Luncheon & Ribbon Cutting
📅 Wednesday, September 16
⏰ 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 401 N Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Dinner with 12 Elders whose wisdom and advocacy have shaped the Historic Northwest community
📅 Thursday, September 24
⏰ 6PM
📍Location details provided after ticket purchase.

Storytime and activities at the Cox Science Center
📅 Saturday, September 26th
⏰ 10:30AM – 12:00PM
📍 4801 Dreher Trail N, West Palm Beach, FL 33405

Rohi’s Readery for a Lunch & Learn Community Celebration
📅 Saturday, September 26th
⏰ 12:30PM - 2:30 PM
📍 630 7th St, West Palm Beach, FL 33401

These are just a few of the upcoming events we’re excited to be part of and share with our community. From supporting important causes to meeting the people behind the missions, we believe showing up is one of the simplest ways we can help strengthen the communities around us.
Save the dates, get involved, and come say hello if you see us!

08/28/2026

You never know who you’re going to meet in the nonprofit space, and this is a story we couldn’t wait to share. We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Gary Forbes, a former professional basketball player who spent 12 years in the game and is now bringing that same drive, resilience, and determination into an entirely new chapter as the founder of The Sole Survivors.

But behind Gary’s career on the court is a personal journey that would ultimately help shape the mission he leads today. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at just 19 years old, Gary went on to compete at the highest level of the sport, becoming one of only three players in NBA history to play professionally while managing T1D. That experience has now become part of a much bigger purpose.

Today, Gary is using his journey to give back through The Sole Survivors, an organization dedicated to empowering children and individuals living with chronic health conditions like Type 1 diabetes. His mission is about more than managing a diagnosis. It’s about helping people recognize their potential, build confidence, and understand that their circumstances don’t have to define what’s possible for their future.

At The LaFrance Project, we love meeting the leaders behind emerging organizations and learning about the personal experiences that inspire them to serve others. Every mission starts somewhere, and sometimes the most meaningful ones begin with a story of our own.

Thank you, Gary, for sitting down with us and sharing yours. We can’t wait to see the impact The Sole Survivors continues to create. 🎤

08/26/2026

We’re honored to invite you to the Glow Health Awareness Luncheon & Ribbon Cutting, an afternoon dedicated to raising awareness, sharing stories of resilience, and creating a supportive community for those navigating psoriasis, autoimmune disorders, mental health, and other invisible battles.

Join our incredible panel as we come together to educate, empower, and inspire meaningful conversations:

▪️Jennifer LaFrance – Host & Speaker
▪️ Lisa LaFrance – Founder & CEO, The LaFrance Project | Philanthropist & Community Advocate
▪️ Dr. Maribel Roman – Author of Joy in the Midst of Pain, health expert, and inspirational speaker
▪️ Salome Mondelus – Founder & CEO, Glow Foundation Alliance, Inc.

📅 Wednesday, September 16, 2026
🕦 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Chambers of Commerce of the Palm Beaches | West Palm Beach, FL

We are also incredibly honored to be one of the sponsors alongside the Florida Mentoring Network, helping make this important event possible. We hope you’ll join us as we celebrate a new chapter for Glow Foundation Alliance and continue building a community where no one has to face life’s challenges alone.

🎟️ Reserve your seat today through the Chamber website or the link in our bio.

08/24/2026

On Saturday, we had the privilege of celebrating 40 years of Mr. Wil at Digital Vibez, Inc.’s Waves of Impact, an evening filled with celebration, community, and a shared commitment to investing in the next generation.

But this celebration was about so much more than a birthday. It was an opportunity to rally behind the work Digital Vibez continues to do for youth through dance fitness, technology education, and the arts, creating spaces for young people to learn, express themselves, build confidence, and thrive.

We were honored to be part of such a meaningful evening and to help make the impact go even further. We matched donations dollar for dollar, up to $20,000, and we reached Digital Vibez’s $40,000 fundraising goal to support the incredible work they continue to do for youth throughout our community.

A huge congratulations to Mr. Wil, the entire Digital Vibez team, and everyone who donated, attended, performed, volunteered, sponsored, and helped bring Waves of Impact to life. This is what can happen when a community comes together around a mission it believes in.

Here’s to 40 years of Mr. Wil and many more waves of impact still to come. 🌊
With gratitude to everyone who helped make the evening possible:

Host: Wil Romelus
MC: Jay Cashmere
Digital Vibez: Digital Vibez, Inc
Special Thanks: Scotty ross, Brian edwards, United Way of Palm Beach County, Cassy Romelus, Sherron Permashwar, Janine Marley Sheinkin, Jessica Clasby, Desiree Karnis Reavis, Travis Conway.

08/24/2026

https://thewellingtonedit.com/news/national-poetry-month-youth-summit-winners-to-be-featured-at-october-poetry-night-at-the-benz/

National Poetry Month Youth Summit Winners to Be Featured at October “Poetry Night at the Benz” - News and more published by The Wellington Edit.

08/23/2026

Donate to Digital Vibez, Inc through DAFFY and first-time users will get $25 added to their account. We love DAFFY because it is not only a Donor Advised platform, it is a way to build community!

Join Lisa LaFrance on Daffy.

08/21/2026

The mic has been passed again. And this time, we had the opportunity to sit down with Josh Weiner, Director of Communications at Community Greening in Boca Raton, to learn more about the incredible work his organization is doing to create healthier, greener, and more connected communities across South Florida.

From planting trees to bringing volunteers together, Community Greening is proving that small actions can grow into lasting community impact. They believe that planting trees is about so much more than beautifying a neighborhood. Through tree plantings, educational programs, and volunteer events, they’re helping restore our environment, strengthen communities, and inspire people of all ages to become stewards of the places they call home.

Before wrapping up our time together, we also had the opportunity to meet Mark Cassini, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Community Greening, who had one very important job left to do… pass the mic

And the mic is officially headed to the HABCenter Who knows where it will go from there? Stay tuned as we continue connecting with the incredible nonprofits creating meaningful change across South Florida.

Community Greening HabCenter Boca Raton

08/19/2026

On August 4th, we had the opportunity to join Housing Nantucket for their 2026 Annual Benefit at The Gaslight, bringing together supporters, community leaders, and friends around a mission that impacts so many: creating and preserving housing opportunities for the people who make Nantucket the place it is.

The most impactful part is how the funds raised help Housing Nantucket continue its work year-round, creating opportunities for residents and helping ensure that the people who work, serve, and contribute to the island can continue to call it home

The evening was made even more memorable with an unforgettable performance by two-time GRAMMY-nominated artist Maggie Rose, bringing everyone together through music in celebration of such an important cause. And thank you to every sponsor, donor, volunteer, and supporter who helped make this year’s Annual Benefit such a success. But the impact doesn’t have to end when the event does. If you’re looking for a way to support Housing Nantucket and their mission, we encourage you to learn more, get involved, and help continue the momentum.

This is exactly the kind of place-based community involvement we believe in at The LaFrance Project. Nantucket holds a special place in our hearts and we are grateful to be able to come here every summer. Follow us for nonprofit spotlights, inspiring community stories, volunteer opportunities, and ways to connect with the people and organizations creating meaningful impact across Palm Beach County, in Nantucket, and beyond.

08/18/2026

At The LaFrance Project, we believe access starts with something as simple as getting the right resources into the right hands. The August/September issue of The Well from our friends at BeWellPBC is here, and we are proud to be part of their distribution network. This issue of The Well features Palm Beach County youth telling adults, in their own words, what actually helps their mental health. Thank you to The Well for giving our youth this voice and platform. We hope you'll find something interesting in here.

BeWellPBC’s funders provide far more than monetary support.They are true partners, contributing time and resources to support BeWellPBC to advancebehavioral health and wellness for all residents in Palm Beach County.