Helene and Stephen Weicholz of Boca Raton were honored as Philanthropists of the Year recently by the Broward Chapter of the Association of Fund Raising Professionals during a luncheon at the Signature Grand in Davie.
“We are deeply honored for this very prestigious award. Our work with both JAFCO (Jewish Adoption and Foster Care Options) and Joe DiMaggio Children’s Foundation means everything to us,” said Stephen Weicholz, addressing the 650 people who attended the event.
Both JAFCO and JDCF nominated Helene and Stephen Weicholz as Philanthropists of the Year.
“The JAFCO Children’s Village would not exist if it were not for Helene and Stephen’s generous $1 million gift and the new Children’s Ability Center would not be there without their second $1 million donation,” said Sarah Franco, executive director of JAFCO.
The JAFCO Children’s Village is a residential facility to house children, who have been abused or neglected at the Sunrise campus.
The nonprofit JAFCO was established in 1992. It is licensed by the State of Florida to provide foster and adoptive home placements within the Jewish community in South Florida.
“We learned about the organization while attending a JAFCO golf tournament. When we heard about Jewish children who needed a place to live, we knew we wanted to help and place our name at the JAFCO Village,” said Helene Weicholz.
Helene and Stephen Weicholz also donated $1 million to the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit of Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood.
“Their generous gift enables the hospital to continue the pediatric heart transplant program. Our heart transplant program is one of only three such programs in Florida and the most active in South Florida,” said Chantal Leconte, administrator at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.
“I marvel at how Helene and Stephen have been so generous in helping so many. Their generosity comes from their hearts and I applaud them for caring and doing so much for those less fortunate,” said Mike Levy, a close friend of the couple.
Children are at the heart of the philanthropic efforts of the couple. Helene and Stephen Weicholz also support the Israel Children’s Tennis Centers, the Grandfather Home for Children in North Carolina, SOS Children’s Villages in Florida and the Helene and Stephen Weicholz Nursery Playground Fund at Temple Beth Orr in Coral Springs among other organizations.
Before retiring, Stephen Weicholz had his own financial firm, the Weicholz Financial Group in Coral Springs. Helene has her own interior design company in addition to other occupational interests. They have three children and several grandchildren.
In the program distributed at the event, their three children jointly wrote:
“Dear Mom and Dad,
We are so proud of you for being selected Philanthropists of the Year for all you do to enhance the lives of those in need. It is a well-deserved honor.”
To learn more about JAFCO, 4200 N. University Dr. in Sunrise, call 954-749-7230 or go to
