Public and local officials showed up to help HabCenter Boca Raton officially open a sensory room and program for adults with special needs who need a getaway space. Or as 16-year client Rudolph Green Jr. said at Wednesday’s ribbon cutting, “this will ease my mind. I can sit down and relax and meditate and get it out of my system and be a positive guy.” Calming low lighting, quiet music and other sensory room staples provide what the center’s Mary Brown called “a peaceful retreat.” Brown explained to two roomsful of onlookers that the program was devised to “improve the quality of life” for the people who work at the center’s plant nursery, manufacturing and other programs.
CEO Sherry A. Henry said the 48-year-old center provides services with “20 companies and counting,” has 30 internships a year with local universities, and placed people in 44 paying jobs last year. “85% don’t get to be part of the workforce,” she said. Among the turnout was Denise Fraile, the 2026 chair, and emcee Alex Price for the HabCenter’s Chopstick Challenge fundraiser from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday Aug. 25, in the Wyndham Hotel Boca Raton’s event center. Guests will cheer on Chopstick Challenge jockeys Palm Beach State College provost Dr. Van Williams, Jan Savarick, Nicole Grimes, Steve Clarfield, and Jerry Fedele. Boca Raton Regional Hospital executive Brian Altschuler will serve as judge for the evening. Red Pine Restaurant & Bar and Farmer’s Table provide the food.
State Sens. Tina Polsky and Lori Berman joined Boca Raton Regional Chamber CEO Troy McLellan and executive V.P. Sarah Pearson and a bevy of chamber ambassadors at the ribbon cutting. The Rotary Club of Boca Raton, which supports the center, had a big turnout for a group tour, including OPAL Awards co-chairs Savarick and auctioneer Neil Saffer, Bonnie and Gary Hildebrand, Julie Vianale, Bernardo Wolfson and Pat McCarthy. Also in the room were former deputy mayor Fran Nachlas; Lauren Klein, who teaches at Boca School for Autism and Habitat for Humanity Greater Palm Beach County CEO Jennifer Thomason.