BOCA RATON, Fla. – January 15, 2026 – The American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY) will host its 2026 Hearts & “Soles” Sneaker Ball on Friday, March 13, 2026, at the Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club in Boca Raton—an urgent benefit aimed at sustaining critical services for more than 700 middle and high school students who serve as family caregivers for chronically ill, disabled, and/or frail elderly family members. (AACY.org)
The event comes at a pivotal moment for AACY’s nationally recognized Caregiving Youth Project, which is experiencing immediate financial strain that threatens the continuation of core services relied upon daily by vulnerable students.
The evening begins at 6:00 p.m. with registration, cocktails, and hors d’oeuvres, followed by dinner, dancing, and a live auction from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Guests are encouraged to wear cocktail attire paired with sneakers, symbolizing the daily balance Caregiving Youth must strike between adult responsibilities and adolescence.
The 2026 Sneaker Ball is led by Honorary Chairs John and Arline McNally, with Kim Champion and Bruce Spizler, J.D., serving as Co-Chairs. Neil Saffer of Saffer & Company Benefit Auctions will serve as Master of Ceremonies. Boca Raton Magazine is the Exclusive Magazine Sponsor.
Through the Caregiving Youth Project, AACY provides individualized academic advocacy, mentoring, respite, and emotional support to students whose caregiving responsibilities often go unseen. Without these services, many Caregiving Youth face increased risks of academic failure, chronic stress, social isolation, and long-term economic instability.
As AACY approaches its 20th year of service, the organization has supported more than 3,000 Caregiving Youth, helping achieve a 98 percent high school graduation rate. That proven model is now at risk. Without immediate philanthropic support, essential services for hundreds of students could be reduced or eliminated.
The 2026 Hearts & “Soles” Sneaker Ball is not positioned as a traditional gala. It is an emergency benefit designed to sustain life-changing services that allow Caregiving Youth to stay in school, care for their families, and build a path toward a stable future. All proceeds directly support the continuation of the Caregiving Youth Project during this critical period.
American Association of Caregiving Youth Board of Directors:
Frank Barbieri, Esq.; Debralyn Belletieri, Chair; Karen Brill; Leandra Cain; Althea Largie Ceasor; Gail Eagle; Jeffrey Gordon, Esq., Vice Chair; Laura Jones, Treasurer on Leave; Maria Levix; Ellyn Okrent, LCSW; Isabel Parrado, MEd, Secretary; Daniel Polen, Interim Treasurer; Pamela Polani, Esq.; Connie Siskowski, RN, PhD, President and Founder; Bruce Spizler, JD.; and Abbey Strauss, MD.
About AACY
The American Association of Caregiving Youth® (AACY), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, champions the needs of more than 6 million young people who are also family caregivers across the United States who provide essential care for chronically ill, injured, frail elderly, and/or disabled family members. As the leading national voice for Caregiving Youth, AACY raises awareness of this often-hidden population and serves as a trusted resource for families, policymakers, educators, and healthcare professionals on the challenges these youth face, regardless of the care recipient’s diagnosis.
Corporately founded in 1998 by Connie Siskowski, RN, PhD, AACY provides both direct support and national advocacy to advance understanding and action for Caregiving Youth. Locally, through its Caregiving Youth Project (CYP), the first program of its kind in the nation, AACY serves over 700 middle and high school students each year across 44 Palm Beach County schools, with new students enrolling daily. Since its founding at Boca Raton Middle School in 2006, the CYP has supported more than 3,000 youth and their families, offering in-school, out-of-school, and at-home services that address academic, emotional, and family needs through a comprehensive network of community partners. Most students remain in the program for more than five years, reflecting its sustained impact and high graduation success.
Nationally, AACY’s Caregiving Youth Institute (CYI) leads the organization’s C.A.R.E. framework: Connection, Advocacy, Research, and Education to strengthen awareness, partnerships, and policy solutions that support Caregiving Youth across the country. Through national collaborations and affiliates, AACY continues to expand the visibility and support these youth deserve.
To learn more, donate, or volunteer, visit www.aacy.org or call 561-391-7401.
Media Contacts: American Association of Caregiving Youth
Connie Siskowski
connie@aacy.org | 561.391.7401