Best Foot Forward
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Wanda Moran
Honorary Chair
Wanda Moran has lived in South Florida for 35 years, and her husband Jim has lived here for over 50. Jim's father, Jim Moran Sr., the founder of JM Family Enterprises, always instilled in his family a strong sense of giving back to the community. Wanda and James formed the Wanda and James M. Moran Jr. Foundation to help needy causes in their community. They have been fortunate to be able to help many causes, such as Best Foot Forward, SOS Children’s Village, Peggy Adams Animal Shelter, and the Phil Smith Neurology Center at Holy Cross Hospital. They are so grateful that they are able to help others have a better future, and Wanda is honored to be the Honorary Chair of this year's Best Foot Forward A Decade of Change Bash. She has always been a strong proponent of ensuring educational opportunities are provided to all children, regardless of where they live and who they live with. “There is no better investment we can make than in our children,†Wanda said. “Best Foot Forward is providing compelling programs that are making a difference and changing lives in our community. I am proud to be a part of their journey.â€
Gigi M. Tylander
Champion of Children Award Recipient
Gigi Tylander is a highly respected business leader in Palm Beach County. She moved to Palm Beach from New York City in 1979 with her husband and best friend, Bill Tylander. Together, they built a life filled with love and two beautiful children. Gigi has been actively involved in her community for many years. Her vision has helped organizations grow; she has guided others to accomplish common goals and served in numerous volunteer leadership positions. She has served on the board of the Healthy Beginnings Coalition since its inception and was on the board of Children's Home Society for 12 years. She was a director of the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches, chairman of the Pro-Choice Coalition of Florida and a guild member of Planned Parenthood. She was on the board of West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority, City Center Partnership and the Community Redevelopment agency when downtown West Palm Beach was taking form. She started her own office supply and office furniture business in 1986, which she and her husband sold in 2016. In 1995, she was named the Small Business Person of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches, and in 1997, Outstanding Downtown Business Leader by the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority. Gigi is a giver and a woman of compassion. She is most proud of her volunteer efforts to restart the Nelle Smith Residence for Girls. In July 1999, with meager funds and mounting liabilities, the agency was facing closure. Gigi, along with other committed board members, raised funding, remodeled the house, re-created the operational manual and hired new staff. Tylander dedicated countless hours to the project, and the residence reopened in the summer of 2000. She led the fundraising efforts that established new funding and grant resources for years to come. Nelle Smith was home to hundreds of foster care girls. She was honored at the 25th annual Primetime Awards for her long-standing volunteer work with the Project 18 Mentoring program, and she has the distinction of being the mentor with the most years of service. Gigi has a big heart for young people and the underprivileged.
Lisa and Todd Orlando
Event Chairs
Elie
BFF Student Speaker
Rising Chairs
Meryll and Ethan Bangsil
Rita Barbieri
Lori Bargas
Marcy Barrick
Meryl Charnow
Cat Chester
Lexi Cowan
Margi Cross
Lorraine Cross
Sharon Deren
Anita Detert
Liz Dinner
Carol Dunne
Mel Elion
Gloria Hosh
Elida Justo
Leigh Kippen
Lydia Kissel
Patti Lashley
Kathy Lechtner
Les Matthews
Laura McCutcheon
Laura Messler
Christine Paige
Laurie Rosenberg
Susan Salamon
Claudia Sanchez
Joan E. Schwartz
Heather Shaw
Sandy Sheehy
Seyril Siegel
Melody Spano
Mary Stern
Sheryl Stiefel
Marissa Tiongson
Gigi Tylander
Elaine Weinberg
Presenting Sponsor
Laura and Shaw McCutcheon*
Leaps and Bounds
Mainstreet Capital Partners*
Polen Capital*
Trend Capital Management LP*
Jumping For Joy
Burns Family Foundation*
Anita Detert*
GL Homes*
JM Family Enterprises, Inc.*
Nelson Mullins Broad and Cassel*
Vertical Bridge*
Zimmerman Advertising*
Fancy Footwork
Anonymous*
Kathy and Ron Assaf*
Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation*
First Republic Bank - Lisa and Todd Orlando*
Cathy and Abdol Moabery*
Office Depot*
Head Over Heels
Meryll B. Bangsil, CFP, CEPA-
Boca Raton Wealth Consulting Group-
UBS Financial Services Inc.*
Champagne & Parisi Real Estate
Margi and Kurtiss Cross*
Mary and Bill Donnell
Sandy and Ed Sheehy*
Mark Sutherland*
Gigi and Bill Tylander
Valve Research and Manufacturing Company*
Swept Off Your Feet
Leslie Adams - Morgan Stanley
Ann Appleman
Lori and David Bargas*
CenterState Bank*
Linda Coffin
Laura and Bill Fash*
FPL*
Horace Gray
Marla and Gary Greenspan*
Allison and Stuart Haft
IHOP*
Innovative Telecom Solutions*
Kessler Lipman Orthopedics*
Lisa and Larry Miller*
Claudia and Warren Orlando*
St. Thomas University College of Law*
Sunflower Landscaping*
Taste A'Vint*
TBS Law, P.A.*
TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank*
Temple Beth El of Boca Raton*
Urology Center of South Florida, P.A.*
Exclusive Underwriters
Emcee Sponsor
Diane and Larry Feldman - Subway of South Florida*
In Kind Sponsors
Jewelry Sponsor
Cristino Fine Jewelry*
Design Sponsor
Dawn of Designs*
Promotional Sponsor
MyPhoto*
Video Sponsor
Plum Productions Corporate Video Services*
Media Sponsor
Spotlight Magazine
*Denotes repeat sponsor
Best Foot Forward is the only nonprofit organization in Palm Beach County dedicated to the educational success of youth who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned and have entered into the foster care system.
