FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Orbis, the newly created non-profit organization dedicated to bringing together professionals and promoting the South Florida business community, held its Thanksgiving fundraiser at Tarpon Bend on November 9th to benefit Kids@Home. The event raised more than $500 for Kids@Home, which was matched dollar for dollar by Joel Altman, president of the Altman Companies netting Kids@Home $1000.

Samuel A. Schwartz and Michael Schimmel

In addition, several hundred cans, boxes and containers of non-perishable food items were donated.

"It was a wonderful event, bringing together more than 70 professionals who raised money for a great organization while also having a terrific time," said David C. Scileppi, an attorney with Gunster Yoakley and co-founder of Orbis.

Kids@Home, a Boca Raton-based non-profit organization providing a comprehensive array of independent living and self-sufficiency care for teenagers who at 18-years-old are aging out of foster care. The goal is to ensure the safety, permanency and well being of teens as they transition from foster care by providing coordination and linkages to housing, education, employment, and caring adults.

Craig Moskowitz raffles one of the many prizes
that benefited Kids@Home

"We are very gratified by the turn-out and the positive feedback," added Michael S. Schimmel, an Orbis co-founder, also an attorney with Gunster Yoakley. "The guests ranged from real estate professionals to educators to small business owners, all of whom were looking forward to our next event, which we have tentatively scheduled for February."

Orbis is a non-profit organization that represents a cross-section of the South Florida business community. Andria Cunningham of Kids@Home, Nicole Flier of James A. Cummings, Inc., Alec Lindenauer of UBS Financial Services, Craig Moskowitz of Automatic Data Processing (ADP), Samuel A. Schwartz of @Opportunities, LLC, and Allyn G. Thomas of RBC Centura Bank are also Board members of Orbis.

"Orbis is different than other business organizations. Although Orbis provides a great opportunity to meet other successful professionals, our events are designed to be enjoyable yet benefit the community," said Moskowitz.