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MODERN FL MOM, MOMPRENEURS

MOMpreneur Monday: CHARM (Children are Magical)

MOMpreneur: n. defined as a female business owner who is actively balancing the role of mom and the role of entrepreneur.

Welcome to our next installment of MOMpreneur Monday on MBMom. This is where we highligh Florida businesses and brands that were founded by female entrepreneurs and fellow mamas.

Today’s Modern Boca MOMpreneur is Jaclyn Stapp, founder of CHARM (Children are Magical). This group aims to heighten awareness of children’s issues. They also provide underprivileged youth with the tools for a fulfilling future through education, encouragement and valuable resources.

CHARM WM

We are officially entering the season of GIVING MBMoms, so today we would like to introduce you to an awesome non-profit organization right in our own backyard: CHARM (Children are Magical).  

CHARM derives its inspiration and purpose from its MOMpreneur founder’s own life experiences. She was one of five siblings raised by a widowed single mother. Jaclyn experienced firsthand the dilemma of ‘need’ with few available resources. Yet, she had a passionate calling to meet needs of other families around her in similar circumstances.

Hi Jaclyn! Tell us a little bit about your family & philanthropic background pre-CHARM…

The greatest mentor in my life is my mother, who has been the living inspiration throughout my growing years. She raised me, my sisters and brother while also teaching us to give time and service to others. My mother embraced opportunities for creating a better life for herself and her family.

No matter our own need, we were always raised to be grateful for what we had and find ways to give back.  

Jaclyn and her mother

I have paid that example forward with my own children, encouraging them to give back and to mentor others. They have been part of my work with Ronald McDonald House and National Voices for Equality, Education and Enlightenment.

Traveling around the world, I have always been compelled by children and family issues. 

So why start your own charitable organization?

CHARM (Children are Magical) began because I wanted to meet needs in my own neighborhood.  Whether it was by helping someone with groceries, homework or providing simple family services. I have become more and more aware of those needs, especially those of children and families throughout my life.

Volunteering at children’s hospitals, schools, and feeling the impact that crises can have on children and families—a crisis like Japan’s tsunami or perhaps a family losing their housing or the opportunity to attend school—big and “not so big” crises can be devastating. 

My purpose for CHARM is to create a point of contact where children and families can be supported with encouragement, tools and valuable resources in connection with other agencies. This allows them to rebuild a stable home and successful future, despite the situations they face.

What sets CHARM apart from other non-profits?

CHARM is unique because I have a personal commitment to give every child and family ownership of “hope and a drive to succeed. We make that possible through collaborative partnerships with other agencies, a sort of “one-stop” connecting point for building a better family together.

Stapp Family Beach

What are your goals for CHARM?

My focus is to nurture CHARM and grow it nationally. It all begins by realizing the needs around you and South Florida is a blessed community in many ways.

Still, there are so many needs, and so many ways to help, within a few miles of every community. I recently visited with young mothers in Lancaster, PA who slept in their cars with their children after losing housing.

There are all kinds of needs that often go unnoticed in every part of the country, in every neighborhood. 
What exciting things are coming up for CHARM?

We have partnered with Mason Harlie to create “I AM STRENGTH” bracelets, with proceeds benefiting CHARM. There are also other levels of contribution through our website, www.childrenaremagical.org. 

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We’re thrilled that you launched in South Florida! What do you love about living and growing your non-profit in our area? 

South Florida is a wonderful area for raising a family, which is why so many families choose to live and work here.  That commitment to family, family values and stability is a wonderful reason for the local community to lend support to CHARM. Our vision and focus is dedicated to building stable, safe, nurturing environments. Children can reach for their dreams, and find strength, skills and empowerment to make them come true.

Charm Logo

Connect with CHARM (Children are Magical) on Facebook and Twitter!

Learn more about how you can help at: www.childrenaremagical.org.

EVENTS, KIDS, MOMPRENEURS

The Ribbon is CUT! What’s NEW at Boca VIPediatrics?

Sponsored Boca VIPediatrics Ribbon Cutting WM

Boca VIPediatrics is OFFICIALLY open for business…that is according to the Boca Chamber of Commerce and friends and family who helped Dr. Chad Rudnick and his Mompreneur wife Ashley Rudnick celebrate their grand opening and ribbon-cutting on October 30th!

Modern Boca Mom was invited to attend the party and it truly was a community affair.

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Dr. Rudnick even took the time to take a selfie with moi!

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We tried!

And then the ribbon was cut, which meant it was time for MBMom to ask what was NEW at Boca VIPediatrics! 

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Luckily, Ashley their VIP Director, filled me in.

  1. There’s a new monthly payment plan! You don’t have to foot the entire annual membership fee at one time. “The new monthly payment plan is comparable to a cable bill or daily Starbucks (you’re busted Modern Boca Moms!), but you get your family’s own private pediatrician that is always on call to answer your questions, 24/7.”
  2. The membership is all-inclusive. “What a lot of people don’t know is that the membership fee is all-inclusive of all sick and well office visits, vaccines, house calls, and 24/7 access to reach Dr. Rudnick via his cell phone. There are no copays. So it works out to be a predictable cost for ALL your child’s healthcare, and your insurance is used for more serious or in-depth care or prescriptions (hospitalizations, labs, x-rays, etc.).”
  3. You only need your insurance for the big stuff… “Similar to car insurance, which you wouldn’t use for routine things like oil changes or flat tires, only the big things go through insurance. This way, we can provide the BEST possible care for our patients, and we’re never incentivized to do things TO our patients, rather FOR them, without an insurance company telling our patients what’s covered and what’s not. It’s nice for our VIP families to know that they have unlimited sick or well visits, and they’ll never get a bill from us or their insurance company for our care.”

Since their grand opening in July, Boca VIPediatrics has had an overwhelming response from the community for accessible, convenient, and affordable pediatric care. Concierge pediatric care. In fact, they are drawing near to reaching their patient cap!

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Ashley told MBMom, “Our VIPs tell us that their favorite feature is being able to use a “virtual visit” or send a text and save an office visit by having their child’s issue evaluated on the spot. Whether it’s FaceTime to listen to a cough or take a look at a rash, a text message that asks about medication dosage, an email that asks, ‘Hey, is this a good baby product?’, or a phone call any day of the week that allows moms to speak directly to Dr. Rudnick about any concerns they may have about their child from eating, to sleeping, to behavior, and most importantly, staying healthy.”

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She went on to say, “The national average of time spent with a doctor is 8 minutes. In our practice, we block out an entire hour so you never have to feel rushed to ask questions. Of course, if you want to be in and out, we can do that too! With our very cozy staff of just 3, we want to take the time to get to know all of our families so that you get the “small town” doctor’s office feel.”

“The house calls have also been a big hit with our VIP families. The house calls are done for urgent after-hours care and also for the first newborn exam, and we have saved many an ER trip by offering this service to our VIPs. The statistic is 1 in 5 kids end up in the ER every year – which is pretty staggering. If we can save a family from having to go to the ER by being available after-hours for a house call or office visit, the family has saved not only the traumatic experience of being in an ER, but hours of waiting and potentially thousands of dollars,” said Ashley.

That is unbelievable to me (but verified by Dr. Rudnick and Google!).

After speaking with Ashley, Dr. Rudnick and several attendees at the ribbon-cutting celebration, this Modern Boca Mom now believes that Boca VIPediatrics is bringing a much needed change to the pediatric health care industry, right here in Boca!

Hey, you have to start somewhere…

Sponsored: This post was sponsored by Boca VIPediatrics. All opinions expressed in this blog post are my own and not influenced in any way by the sponsor.  Any statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclosure for more information. 

DINING

Pull Up a Seat at Farmer’s Table Boca Raton

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Sponsored

Farmers Table WM

When I ponder dining out in South Florida…Boca Raton especially, I dream of fresh organic and locally-sourced food, craft cocktails and eating outside. Bonus points if there’s a pool nearby!
Which is why as we approach the Thanksgiving season, I am grateful for Farmer’s Table.
For a few reasons…read on to find out what they are! 

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Love this place! Skirt by Kiki*C

Modern Boca Mom was invited to sample their fall menu last month and it did not disappoint. It’s not surprising considering that Farmer’s Table has won several dining awards AND it’s completely packed every night.
Now with “season” in full swing, I’m pretty sure we’ll need to book our reservations a week or more in advance!

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I invited my lovely sister Lauren to join me and of course we started off with their amazing signature cocktails with fresh ingredients.

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Cucumber Cooler 

Crop Organic Cucumber Vodka, Fresh Cucumber
& Mint Lemonade, Splash of Gingerale

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Razzmatazz Martini

Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka, Fresh Raspberries,
Shrub & Co Grapefruit Syrup, Agave Nectar,
Sparkling Soda

It was so nice, #ModernBocaAunt ordered the Razzmatazz TWICE!
The service was great and our waiter recommended the Shrimp & Roasted Corn Flatbread to start along with an order of Chicken Meatballs. Is your mouth watering yet? And that’s just the appetizers…

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Few people realize that not only is Farmer’s Table an amazing stand-alone restaurant (keep reading for an exclusive announcement below), but it also functions as the Wyndham Boca Hotel’s special event catering source, serving the same quality food to event guests as they do in the restaurant.
That means main courses like THIS:

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Braised Prime Short Rib with Brussels Sprouts, Organic Yam Mashed, Black Skillet Wine Sauce

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Bison Chopped Steak with
Yukon Gold Steak “Fries,” Edamame
Corn Succotash, Mushroom Dem

That is NOT your typical wedding food…
And how can you forget dessert? I chose the mini vegan cupcakes (I like tiny desserts) and my sister went with carrot cake. Again, delish.
And somehow I still felt ‘healthy’ treating myself! That’s a win in this MBMom’s dining book.

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Farmer’s Table Philosophy
“Our commitment to fresh, honest food begins with sourcing exceptionally clean ingredients from the best local farms so we know exactly where and how everything is produced. We believe the preparation and creation of a dish is just as important as the taste, which is why our focus is real food: fresh, healthy, delicious, satisfying dishes without excess fat, sodium or preservatives.” 
“We call our cuisine “feel good food” for several reasons. First, it’s good for you: nutritious and nourishing to the body without depriving you of flavor or satisfaction. Furthermore, it’s good for the community, as we support local farmers and artisans. Finally, it’s good for the planet, because we use eco-conscious purveyors and also implement environmentally friendly practices in our kitchen. Our food energizes the spirit and satisfies the senses, supporting the wellness of people and the planet.”

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Farmer’s Table will be launching a NEW Private Dining Room in late December for special occasions– wedding rehearsal dinners, birthday parties, corporate events and banquets for all occasions. And like I said in my last post about the Wyndham Boca, they have a beautiful event center upstairs for larger events, and smaller venues for private dining as well.
#dailybabyavery loved it when we took her to visit earlier this year. 🙂

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And here’s my favorite part/the special announcement I teased:

Soon, they will have a POOLSIDE BAR (!!!), so you can enjoy drinks right by the pool and/or in the outside lounge area. SCORE!

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The fun thing about Farmer’s Table that I hear is many people go back night after night so that the restaurant begins to feel like home: everyone says ‘hi’ to each other, and it just feels comfortable and home-y!
The next time you have a special occasion, think about celebrating at Farmer’s Table! I really feel like it has become my go-to, community restaurant. Don’t you want to experience what everyone is talking about?

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Sponsored: This post was sponsored by the Wyndham Boca Raton. All opinions expressed in this blog post are my own and not influenced in any way by the sponsor.  Any statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with provider. Please refer to this site’s Disclosure for more information. I have been compensated or given a product or service free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

MOMPRENEURS

MOMpreneur Monday: Family Focused Mediation

MOMpreneur: n. defined as a female business owner who is actively balancing the role of mom and the role of entrepreneur.

Happy Monday Modern Boca Moms! Welcome to our next installment of MOMpreneur Monday on MBMom! We highlight Florida businesses and brands that were founded by female entrepreneurs and fellow mommas.

Today’s South Florida Mompreneur is Jenny Shane, founder of Family Focused Mediation, Inc., which helps families in Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties.

Family Focused Mediation South Florida

If you’ve ever seen Wedding Crashers, you might be more clued in than you think about what a family mediator does. In the opening scene of the movie, the comedy duo is actually mediating a divorce.

Family mediation is a confidential process. It’s when a neutral facilitator (the mediator) works with a couple, who is experiencing a family conflict, such as divorce, and assists that couple in coming to a resolution. The mediator does not make any decisions for the couple. Once the couple is able to reach an agreement on the contested issues, such as child support, alimony, etc., the mediator drafts a settlement agreement. Both parties file it in court along with the other necessary court documents.

Even though it’s not funny or most comfortable of topics, that’s what we’re going to talk about today. We’re also going to discuss the NEW mommy-launched company that handles it: Family Focused Mediation, Inc. in Coral Springs.

Family Focused Mediation South Florida

Tell us a little bit about your path to get here, Jenny…

I have a Bachelors of Science degree in psychology from the University of Florida and a law degree from Stetson University College of Law.  After law school, my husband and I (we met at UF, he too is an attorney) moved to South Beach and we both practiced law in South Miami. I practiced insurance defense for many years even after my first daughter was born.

Soon after becoming a mom, going back to work full time as an attorney was difficult. The required hours per week were draining on my ability to be a fully present mom. More so after having a child, it was difficult for me to focus on defending the large insurance companies, instead of helping the everyday individual.

The new mom in me was yearning to be more nurturing and to actually make a difference in someone’s life. I had done an internship while in law school and got certified as a county mediator. I remembered how much I enjoyed working one on one with someone in a legal arena, but not actually being an attorney or fighting for just one side.

What did you do next?

I stopped practicing as an attorney in 2010 and decided to become a Florida Supreme Court certified family mediator. As soon as my training period was completed, I founded my own mediation company, Family Focused Mediation South Florida

As my company’s name implies, my sole intention as a family mediator is to focus on the family’s well-being and bring the harmony back to a broken family. 

Family Focused Mediation South Florida

What makes your firm different from other mediation firms?

Unlike the typical family mediator, I focus 100% of my time doing family mediation. Other mediators practice law a majority of the time and work as a mediator less often. 

However, being a mother to two girls now (ages 5 and 2.5) has taught me that family comes first no matter what! I am extremely fortunate to have an intact and happy family. Yet, many families are not like mine. And I try to make it my mission as a family mediator to bring as much happiness and harmony back into a broken family.

I also make myself very accessible to my clients. Unlike many mediators, I am available by phone, email or text even late into the evening. Family drama tends to occur at night and that’s when my clients need to speak with me. As a mom to young children, I understand that sometimes the best time to talk is after the kids go to sleep.

Family Focused Mediation South Florida

What do you like most about what you’re doing now? In what ways do you think you are you helping families the most with mediation South Florida?

I enjoy working with families who are navigating their divorce or separation pro se, which means without attorneys.

These couples truly need my guidance through this process and don’t rely on their attorneys to do the heavy lifting. This allows me to really get my hands dirty. I am able to use all my legal experience and my psychology background to assist the family through this difficult time.

Additionally, I aim to reach these pro se parties before they file their divorce, paternity issue, or modification at the courthouse. This is called pre-suit. By attending family mediation before filing at the courthouse, a couple can save a tremendous amount of time, money and heartache. 

  • They save time because the entire divorce or family issue can be determined in one day with a mediator. All that is left would be to file at the courthouse and attend a quick hearing in front of a judge to have the matter approved.
  • They save money because they do not have to pay for attorneys, who can charge upwards of thousands of dollars for the case. This can linger for up to a year or more.
  • Lastly, the amount of stress and heartache is much less because the process is accomplished in a matter of hours. It doesn’t take months or years while the couple battles back and forth over the matter.
What’s new at Family Focused Mediation South Florida?

I recently launched a new website for Family Focused Mediation South Florida – www.familyfocusedmediation.com. My social media is full of interesting and insightful tidbits about recent happenings in family law or just anything family-related.

Additionally, I post a weekly Friday-ism where I provide my followers with an uplifting quote or thought to help keep reality in perspective, especially when dealing with a family drama. 

What do you love most about living and working in South Florida?

I am a native Floridian, so needless to say, I love it here in South Florida! I am originally from West Palm Beach, but I have lived all over Florida. My home base is now in Parkland/Coral Springs and I have no plans to ever leave.

Family Focused Mediation South Florida

Connect with Family Focused Mediation South Florida on Facebook and Twitter!
Learn more at: www.familyfocusedmediation.com.