The Salvation Army Florida

Winners of Salvation Army of Palm of Beach County’s Art Competition selected by Prominent Art Enthusiasts.

West Palm Beach, Florida (February 16, 2022) – Six local artists were selected as finalists of The Salvation Army of Palm Beach County’s Fine Art Competition. The Competition took place between October and December of 2021 and helped inaugurate the 2022 Centennial Anniversary Year of The Salvation Army of Palm Beach County.

South Florida artists were invited to present their unique interpretation of one or more of the five Core Values of The Salvation Army: (1) Passion, (2) Compassion, (3) Uplifting, (4) Brave, (5) Trustworthy. A sixth category featured artwork commemorating the Centennial Anniversary of The Salvation Army of Palm Beach County. Paint, Sculpture, photography, and mixed media were all accepted for submission for the competition.

First place winner, Lori Pratico received a $3,500 cash prize. The remaining five honorees: Fran Steinmark (Passion), Marion Holmes (Compassion), Stephen Johnson, (Brave), Tony Arruza (Trustworthy), Michael Brigges (Uplifting), and Alex Aviles (Centennial Anniversary) each received a cash prize of $1500.

“We are grateful for the guidance that the distinguished art advisors and curator, Wendy Fritz and Catherine McCulloch brought to the Centennial Art Competition,” said Palm Beach Area Commander, Major James Hall. “Under their leadership, the competition gave local artists a chance to showcase their talent. In fact,” continued Hall, “we are considering a similar art competition for local High School-aged artists later in the year.”

The panel of judges for the Centennial Art Competition included artists recognized in their respective field and active in the South Florida art community. They included Beth Rudin DeWoody, local art collector and well-known curator and philanthropist; Ghislain D’Humieres, Director of The Norton Art Museum; Sybille Welter, Director of Public Art and Culture of West Palm Beach; Vincent Ricardel, eminent photographer, and artist; and Carol Prusa, artist, and professor at Florida Atlantic University.

The Salvation Army is among the largest global nonprofit providers of social services to people living in impoverished communities around the world. The organization has locally helped countless Palm Beach County individuals and families overcome poverty, addiction, and economic hardships through a range of social services since 1922.

For more information, please contact Frank Marangos, Director of Development and Communications for The Salvation Army of Palm Beach County at (561) 686-3530. Facebook information can be found by searching for @salarmypbco.

Two college-age Salvation Army band members participated in the Tournament of Roses Parade.

West Palm Beach, Florida (January 18, 2022) – Two West Palm Beach musicians from The Salvation Army’s Florida Brass Band participated in the Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1, 2022, in Pasadena, California. Trombone player, Lensky Petion, and Bradley Calixsti, who plays the cornet, were selected to join other musicians from across the country and the world as part of The Salvation Army’s Tournament of Roses Band. This was the 98th consecutive year that a Salvation Army Band marched in the Parade.

Lensky and Bradley were introduced to their respective instruments after their families began attending The Salvation Army Corps (church) in West Palm Beach. Both developed their skills through the weekly and summer music program offered at the church, and the summer music conservatory program at Camp Keystone offered by the Salvation Army’s Florida Divisional Music and Arts department. The college-aged musicians were chosen by Adely Charles, the Florida divisional music and arts director and bandmaster of the Florida Divisional Band, with full support from bandmaster Frankie Peynado, their local music leader and Lieutenants Denzell and Erika McClain their local officers (pastors).

For millions of people around the world, the Tournament of Roses Parade is an iconic New Year’s Day tradition. The Parade has a long and storied history reaching back to the end of the 19th century. The Pageant traveled 5 ½ miles down Colorado Blvd. and featured four types of entries: floral-decorated floats entered by a participating corporation, non-profit organization or municipality, equestrian units, bands, and Tournament entries.

The Salvation Army Tournament of Roses Band has marched in the Rose Parade since 1920. The Band is noted for spreading awareness of The Salvation Army’s charitable work to a broader audience for over 100 years. This was the first time that members of the West Palm Beach Salvation Army’s Brass band were selected to play in the parade.

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For more information, to volunteer, and/or make a financial contribution to The Salvation Army of Palm Beach County please contact Frank Marangos, Director of Development and Communications at 561.686.3530 and/or visit www.salvationarmypalmbeachcounty.org. Facebook information can be found by searching for @salarmypbco.