BPW Gold Coast

Mission: To achieve equity for all working women through advocacy, education and connections.

Event/Meeting Information: First Wednesday of the Month

Philanthropy/Advocacy: Everyone is entitled to join our local organization. We host an annual suit drive for domestic abuse survivors and raise funds for the BPW/FL Education  Foundation.

LO Contact Information: Email the LO President by clicking HERE

Officers

• President: Janis Tapley
• Treasurer: Toni Worley
• Secretary: Peggy Beyer

How to Join: Send request for application to the LO President by clicking HERE

BPW/FL State President Sue Banks and BPW/Gold Coast member Linda Charlton met with Nancy Wilson, Career/College Coordinator of the PACE Center for Girls in West Palm Beach in August while delivering a carload of items on the organization’s Wish List. Donations ranged from clothing and school supplies to personal care products and arts and crafts items.

The PACE Center for girls is a non-profit organization for middle and high school girls and operates 21 locations in Florida as well as sites in Georgia and South Carolina. Along with offering a year-round academic program aligned with the local public school district, PACE provides counseling and life skills training and other support services at no cost to families. The West Palm Beach center opened in 1996, and its graduates have gone on to direct employment, trade schools, colleges, and universities.

In fulfilling its mission of women helping women by donating to a youth organization, BPW Gold Coast supports PACE’s goal of “Finding the Great in Every Girl.” Providing support at an early age can help foster the positive growth of the young ladies who participate in the PACE program. BPW will continue to look at ways in which it can partner with the organization, supporting its educational goals.

In 2025, Gold Coast members continue to collect clothing for their annual suit and clothing drive, which is now an ON-GOING event.

Thank you to Bob from Lighthouse Cleaners for your donation of hangers!

Members of BPW/Gold Coast toured the Women’s Center at the VA Medical Center in March 2024 to see how we can support their program. The members followed up with a delivery of clothing items in April 2024.

Pictured L to R, Sheri McCandless, Janis Tapley, New Member Eileen Malinowski, Visiting Guest of Sue’s and LO President, Sue Banks.

BPW/Gold Coast partnered with BPW/Ft Lauderdale to sponsor goodie bags to welcome the 17 residents of the BPW FAU Scholarship House for the new Semester. The bags were Valentine theme and included personal care and snack items.

BPW/Gold Coast member, Janis Tapley, assembling some of the goodies.

Past State Presidents and BPW/Gold Coast Members, Sheri McCandless and Sue Banks at the scholarship house after delivering welcome goodie bags for the new semester to the residents.

The young women of the FAU Scholarship House with their personalized bags of goodies and the House Dining and Meeting Room set up for their Galentine’s Celebration.

Gold Coast members gathered to celebrate during Christmas 2023 with a spread of food in their usual fashion.

Gold Coast members once again collected items to be given to children through the Back to Basics Angel program this December 2023; https://backtobasicsinc.org/angel-program

One of our BPW sisters, Joyce Speilos, turned 100 and Gold Coast members attended her surprise celebration in November 2023.

	Birthday girl, Joyce Spelios and Sheri McCandless

Gold Coast members teamed up to help Meals On Wheels of the Palm Beaches to support Palm Beach County’s homebound senior population with hot meals in November of 2023, by participating as a pie selling team for MOWPB’s Pie It Forward Annual Fundraiser.

At the BPW/FL 2023 annual conference “Energizing the Future Today”, members from BPW/Gold Coast and BPW/Fort Lauderdale shared accommodations. The time together created lasting bonds and memories.

 

Roomies pictured from left to right. Carole Tolomeo, President/BPW Fort Lauderdale, Sheri McCandless and Tiki Bates, members of BPW/Gold Coast, and Sue Banks, President, BPW/Gold Coast.

 

BPW/Gold Coast member Tiki Bates (pictured on right) collaborates with members from around the state during a strategic planning session.

Michele Cavallo, BPW/FL President, and Sue Banks, President/BPW Gold Coast, take to the dance floor during the banquet.

BPW/Gold Coast had a joyful and giving Christmas party.

Pictured is Joyce, who is 99-years young, making sure we all smile this Holiday. Also pictured are gifts below the tree of items collected by members to be given to children through the Back to Basics Angel Program; https://backtobasicsinc.org/angel-program.

Happy Holidays to all of our BPW sisters in Florida.

Over the recent months, BPW/Gold Coast collected items to donate them during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. These items accumulated to over 10 boxes, four plastic bags, multiple items on hangers and more. On October 19, they were donated to The Florida Breast Cancer Foundation, which has thrift stores around the state. The truck arrived timely at the home of the President of BPW/Gold Coast, Sue Banks. The driver was very personable and grateful for the donation. Sue took a PR moment and gave the driver an envelope with the letter below and included a BPW/FL and BPW/FL Education Foundation brochure.