Boca Festival Days kicks off in August and features a series of events planned and run by nonprofit organizations in an attempt to raise funds and awareness. The Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce runs the festival, and each nonprofit is paired with a for-profit chamber business. This year’s chairwoman is Boca Helping Hands executive director Linda Gove, and she said this year’s festival takes on added importance.
“We always see a decline in assistance during these slower months, but it is even more acute with the shape of the economy. We really want to bring visibility to smaller nonprofits that may not have the capacity to host events or reach the community on a regular basis,” she said.
Boca Consultants owner John Schneyer is this year’s co-chairman and said there are several misconceptions related to Boca’s image.
“When people think Boca, they often think big cars, big houses, plastic surgery and abundance, but there are people and families in need,” he said.
Gove and Schneyer estimate there are close to 300 nonprofit organizations in Boca Raton and Palm Beach County, and he said it does not have to be a zero sum game. “Sometimes people think that if one group receives, it takes away from another. There are so many distinct groups, and we need to emphasize that we can all share resources,” he said. For a full list of events, visit www.bocaratonchamber.com and click on Festival Days Events.