LASZLO FISCHER SINAI SCHOLARS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
The Sinai Scholars Leadership Program at Chabad of West Boca Raton was recently renamed in honor of Laszlo Fischer. The program is an opportunity for teens across Boca Raton to participate in a guest mentorship program where community leaders share their career experience and advice. The five-month program is tuition-free and allows students to be awarded merit-based cash compensation for their studies. Business leaders from across all aspects of commerce have participated as guest mentors, including Laszlo’s son, Michael Fischer.
MEMORY WALL
A Memory Wall was recently dedicated in honor of Laszlo Fischer and his family at Chabad of West Boca Raton. It is a widely observed Jewish tradition to commemorate the passing of a relative or loved one on the walls within a temple. The plaques on the Memory Wall help to keep the memories of loved ones alive in our hearts.
MITZVAH TANK
The Foundation is proud to sponsor a Mitzvah Tank for Jewish Teen Network of Boca Raton. A Mitzvah Tank is a vehicle used as a portable educational and outreach center that travels to various locations.
Florida’s Children First Receives $25,000 Donation from the Laszlo Fischer Foundation
Gift will significantly advance the organization’s support and advocacy efforts on behalf of youth who are abused, disadvantaged, disabled, in the foster care system or experiencing homelessness.
BOCA RATON, FL – Florida’s Children First (FCF), an award-winning non-profit organization that has been the voice of at–risk children and youth in Florida, is pleased to announce the Laszlo Fischer Foundation has extended its financial commitment to FCF with a $25,000 donation.
Palm Beach County businessman and Board Chairman of the Laszlo Fischer Foundation, Michael Fischer, chose to announce the donation at FCF’s annual Palm Beach “Advocates for Children Awards” on October 25th, 2023. Fischer, who also served on the event’s host committee, shared that he is moved by the passion of the FCF team to support the community’s most vulnerable children. How incredibly humbling to see the progress FCF has in addressing the major systemic issues that these young people face. FCF elevates the voices of the youth through Florida Youth SHINE, FCF’s youth advocacy and empowerment group.
“We are so appreciative of the Laszlo Fischer Foundation’s gift to Florida’s Children First. It will help accelerate our ongoing efforts to build and expand the Palm Beach Florida Youth SHINE chapter, and to continue to be a catalyst for positive change in the system for all Florida’s children. With these funds we will be better able to provide our young people with the support, mentorship, and guidance they need to be strong advocates for themselves and for their peers in care,” said Geori Seldine, Executive Director of FCF.
“This extraordinary gift sponsorship of our Palm Beach Chapter of Florida Youth SHINE by Mr. Michael Fischer will enable us to reach more youth and will be critical in continuing our work creating systemic transformation, and substantive improvement in the system of care, and in the lives and outcomes of our youth,” adds Howard Talenfeld, founder and Board Chair of FCF. “We accept no government funding, which makes individual donations like this even more impactful. We’re excited to prove that the Laszlo Fischer Foundation’s investment in children will make a difference — because when one child succeeds, we all succeed.”
Donation Impact
Inspired by the example and memory of his late father, Laszlo Fischer, a child survivor of the Holocaust, who knew firsthand the feeling of abuse, hunger, homelessness, and abandonment as a child. Mr. Fischer actively seeks to support and work with organizations like FCF that address these issues in innovative ways.
“Joining the host committee this year, I learned a lot about the unique space Florida’s Children First has in the child welfare system. I learned more about Florida Youth SHINE and the powerful way they use their voices and personal experiences to speak out as well as critical issues that must be changed. And when you hear their stories, you realize that they have gone through things NO CHILD should experience. That pushes me into action,” Mr. Fischer noted.
“When these kids are given an opportunity to be heard, and when they have supportive organizations that help nurture and empower them, they can be a major force towards good. And when Florida’s Children First has the resources that they need to tackle even the most difficult, challenging issues – they achieve things that affect thousands of kids this year, next year, and for years to come.”
“That’s why I increased my commitment, and I challenge others to follow my lead. I want to help Florida Youth SHINE grow so the organization can help even more kids in need, and to help the Florida’s Children First team keep their focus on the big, game-changing issues that will achieve significant, exciting changes that get us closer to ensuring that NO child in our community goes un-Housed, un-Fed, un-Educated, or un-Loved.”
### About Florida’s Children First: Florida’s Children First is an award-winning non-profit organization that advocates to make positive systemic changes to improve children’s lives. Its primary focus is on impacting the lives of children in foster care. Its work
On the celebration of the 85th birthday of Laszlo Fischer. The Laszlo Fischer Foundation Pledged $1 Million to Vita Nova
Today would have been my dad’s 85th birthday and in his honor the Laszlo Fischer Foundation pledged $1 million to Vita Nova to build the Laszlo Fischer House, a 12-unit apartment building for youth aging out of foster care. We invite you to join us in this important endeavor. No child should dread turning 18, yet that’s exactly what happens when you’re in foster care. Help put an end to the stress and anxiety these kids experience by ensuring they have a place to call home on their 18th birthday.
Press Coverage
Laszlo Fischer Foundation Inaugural Golf Tournament raises $150,000-plus to fund housing for Palm Beach County youth aging out of Florida’s Foster Care System
In a powerful show of advocacy for youth on May 12, donors, friends, and family of the Laszlo Fischer Foundation hit the links and raised more than $150,000 to support housing needs for teens aging out of Florida’s Foster Care System. More than 130 people gathered at PGA National Resort, in Palm Beach Gardens, to play a round of golf, enjoy breakfast and lunch, and bid in silent and live auctions, to support the Laszlo Fischer Foundation’s dedication to assisting youth, as they transition to an adult life of independence. Be sure to read our full story below and to view our golf tournament gallery.
Early sponsors included Title Sponsor: 626 and Presenting Sponsor: Your South Florida BMW Centers. Other major sponsors included the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business & Entrepreneurship at Nova Southeastern University, Caldera Law, Taylor Made Lending, LLC and Faulkner, Inc.
“There is a tremendous need in our community for affordable housing, perhaps none greater than among youth who are aging out of foster care,” said Michael Fischer, president of the Laszlo Fischer Foundation. “When these kids turn 18, they are literally turned out of the foster programs they are living in and unfortunately, many have nowhere to turn. We hope to put an end to the stress and anxiety these kids feel by having a home waiting for them.”
The Foundation has partnered with Vita Nova, Inc., a local nonprofit, that provides housing, life skills training and other programs for youth that have aged out of foster care. There is currently a waiting list for kids who are in transition and need a place to call home.
“When we started this foundation last year, we didn’t want to duplicate services already in place. We wanted to partner with an already established charity that was working with this at-risk population,” said Fischer. “Vita Nova is doing an outstanding job with the services and programs they currently offer youth, and we are set to focus on increasing housing opportunities, so they can concentrate on expanding services for these kids.”
Several other companies and organizations answered the call to help by sponsoring the golf tournament, including Tito’s Handmade Vodka, The Barbara Knight Foundation, Truist Bank, The Colony Group, SK Promotions, J.P. Morgan, Anthony Pozzolano, Fish Collection, Cascadia Capital, LLC, Haltech, Pacific Marble Restoration, and MedSource Imaging. Acclaimed artists including Jonathan Stein and Blair Hess also donated their talents.
Lung Force Sunset Soiree
The Laszlo Fischer Foundation is a proud sponsor of Lung Force’s Sunset Soiree. This event will be held on June 3rd in Fort Lauderdale and will raise funds and awareness to defeat lung cancer. Click the image or the button to learn more and to show your support for the fight against lung cancer.