Sweet Dream Makers promotes and improves the health and well-being of children and families by providing beds, bedding, and essential furniture.
OUR STORY
Making a difference, one family and one bed at a time
Sweet Dream Makers is a growing nonprofit organization, founded in 2012 in response to an overwhelming community need to get children into a bed of their own. Sweet Dream Makers delivers new beds, at no cost, to children and families sleeping on the floor, sharing beds, or sleeping in unsafe, unsanitary conditions.
From humble beginnings as a grassroots, social action program at Temple Beth El in Boca Raton, Sweet Dream Makers has expanded to become a highly sought-after and trusted organization serving families in Palm Beach County. Founder Suzanne Broad has built an innovative and efficient program, working alongside 100+ local social service agencies, and has proudly provided thousands of beds to hundreds of families.
As we continue to grow to meet the need in Palm Beach County, our sights are set to scale up to serve the greater South Florida region. Sweet Dream Makers is dedicated to ensuring the basic comfort and security necessary for each child to reach their full potential. Together with our partners and supporters, we are working toward the simple, yet ambitious, goal to improve the lives of our community’s children, one bed at a time.
FUNDING PARTNERS
100 Women Who Care
Al & Jane Nahmad Family Foundation
Albert E. and Birdie W. Einstein Fund
Alexander Brady Foundation
Allegany Franciscan Ministries
Amaturo Family Fdn
AmTrust Bank
Askofsky Family Foundation
Atlantis Motor Group
Baer’s Furniture
BallenIsles Charities Foundation
The Batchelor Foundation, Inc.
The Billi Marcus Foundation Inc
The Boca Rio Foundation, Inc.
Boca West Community Charitable Foundation
The Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea
City Mattress
Closet Envy FL
Community Foundation of Broward County
Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties
Essentia Boca Raton
Extraordinary Charities
Florida Panthers Foundation
Gillman Family Foundation Inc.
Goldman Sachs
GoodYear Tire Company
Great Charity Challenge
Hands on Tzedakah
The Hagen Family Foundation
Harcourt M. & Virginia W. Sylvester Foundation
Harry T. Mangurian Foundation
Heidi Schaeffer, M.D. Charitable Trust
Hermanowski Foundation
H.F. Lenfest Fund
Ibis Charities Foundation
Irvin Stern Foundation
Isabel Smith Nutrition and Lifestyle
The Jim Moran Foundation
Just Play LLC
Kaufman Rossin
Kiwanis Club of Fort Lauderdale
Lara Greenwood Photography
Lattner Family Foundation
Leave A Legacy Foundation
Leslie L. Alexander Foundation
Lou Bachrodt Auto Group
M2D2 Partners
M.B. & Edna Zale Foundation
The Mary Alice Fortin Foundation, Inc
McNally Family Foundation
Men Giving Back
Myron & Elaine Adler Private Foundation Inc.
Nature City
Neubauer Family Foundation
Pat Moran Family Foundation
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office
Phyto Partners
PNC Private Bank
Pulte Family Foundation
Ronald McDonald House Charities, South Florida
Roots and Wings
Rose Brand
Rotary Club of Downtown Boca Raton
The Ruth Silverman-Rosenbloom and Victor H. Rosenbloom CF
Saks Fifth Avenue
The Sandler Foundation
Sid Pashelinsky Family Foundation
Silver Sac Catering
The Sokol Foundation, Inc.
Soroptimist Int’l of Boca Raton
SouthState Bank
Stampar Jewelers
Steve E. Bernstein Family Foundation
Taxman Family Foundation
Temple Beth El of Boca Raton
Total Rental Solutions
United Way of Palm Beach County
Vertical Bridge
Villa Rosano Restaurant
The Walter & Adi Blum Foundation
Wanda and James M Moran, Jr. Foundation
William and Helen Thomas Foundation
OUR BOARD
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Brian Broad
President of the Board 2016
Attorney/Owner of the law firm: Brian W. Broad, P.A., Boca Raton, Florida
Brian Broad is a respected Boca Raton based real estate attorney for over 30 years. Originally from Long Island, New York, Brian practiced labor relations and family law. He has served on the board of The Haven (a group home for foster youth) and has been active in community service for over 40 years. Brian is an avid sailor and bread baker when he is not helping families in need with furniture deliveries or brainstorming with his wife and SDM founder, Suzy, on how to grow the program to meet the staggering need. Brian and Suzy have two children following in their footsteps and have been happily married since 1991.
Brian Broad is a respected Boca Raton based real estate attorney for over 30 years. Originally from Long Island, New York, Brian practiced labor relations and family law. He has served on the board of The Haven (a group home for foster youth) and has been active in community service for over 40 years. Brian is an avid sailor and bread baker when he is not helping families in need with furniture deliveries or brainstorming with his wife and SDM founder, Suzy, on how to grow the program to meet the staggering need. Brian and Suzy have two children following in their footsteps and have been happily married since 1991.
Leslie Steinberg
Treasurer & Board Member 2016
Present: Organizational Systems Consultant/Coach
Former: Chief Operating Officer, Mindful Management, LLC.
Leslie moved to Florida in 2005 from Brookline, Massachusetts. She worked closely with Suzy transitioning Sweet Dream Makers from a social action project into a successful and financially transparent non-profit. Leslie has served on numerous foundation boards empowering women and children in both Florida and Massachusetts. She works closely with the Board on all aspects of budgeting and financial reporting.
Former: Chief Operating Officer, Mindful Management, LLC.
Leslie moved to Florida in 2005 from Brookline, Massachusetts. She worked closely with Suzy transitioning Sweet Dream Makers from a social action project into a successful and financially transparent non-profit. Leslie has served on numerous foundation boards empowering women and children in both Florida and Massachusetts. She works closely with the Board on all aspects of budgeting and financial reporting.
Debbie Block
Secretary & Board Member 2016
Founder/Administrator, Gotta Guy℠ in SoFla on Facebook
Former: Attorney, Jones Foster/Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley
Debbie is the technological backbone of Sweet Dream Makers. After retiring from a 25-year legal career and founding the very successful social media platform Gotta Guy, she used her knowledge to build SDM into an efficient non-profit organization by programing databases, streamlining processes, and managing the website, email, and social media communications.
Former: Attorney, Jones Foster/Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley
Debbie is the technological backbone of Sweet Dream Makers. After retiring from a 25-year legal career and founding the very successful social media platform Gotta Guy, she used her knowledge to build SDM into an efficient non-profit organization by programing databases, streamlining processes, and managing the website, email, and social media communications.
Larry Geller
Executive Board 2016
Executive VP - General Counsel, Just Play, LLC
Larry’s extensive background as general counsel of a multinational toy company ensures that SDM’s brand as a non-profit stays on mission while ensuring proper trademarks and corporate oversight. In addition, Larry is always willing to lend a hand delivering essential items to the families we serve. Larry is an avid sailor and has volunteered his time working to improve the lives of children and families for over 30 years.
Larry’s extensive background as general counsel of a multinational toy company ensures that SDM’s brand as a non-profit stays on mission while ensuring proper trademarks and corporate oversight. In addition, Larry is always willing to lend a hand delivering essential items to the families we serve. Larry is an avid sailor and has volunteered his time working to improve the lives of children and families for over 30 years.
Doris Gillman
Executive Board 2018
President of Gillman Family Foundation
Former President/CEO of Accessories by Doris DBA Fine Things
Doris was immediately inspired to support SDM by the simplicity of the mission and the staggering amount of local children without a bed of their own. As a former business owner of a successful retail operation, Doris understands the business of running SDM. As a philanthropist, Doris clearly understands the business of giving. Doris and her husband Neil sponsor the annual “Be a Sweet Dream Maker” Celebration and Auction.
Former President/CEO of Accessories by Doris DBA Fine Things
Doris was immediately inspired to support SDM by the simplicity of the mission and the staggering amount of local children without a bed of their own. As a former business owner of a successful retail operation, Doris understands the business of running SDM. As a philanthropist, Doris clearly understands the business of giving. Doris and her husband Neil sponsor the annual “Be a Sweet Dream Maker” Celebration and Auction.
Marc Malaga
Executive Board 2016
Entrepreneur / Investor
Marc brings his experience as a visionary to SDM. As an innovative entrepreneur he took a brick and mortar store and built a multi-million dollar enterprise long before e-commerce was mainstream business. Marc has a true understanding of the families we serve, having been on the board of The Haven and served as a Big Brother and foster parent.
Marc brings his experience as a visionary to SDM. As an innovative entrepreneur he took a brick and mortar store and built a multi-million dollar enterprise long before e-commerce was mainstream business. Marc has a true understanding of the families we serve, having been on the board of The Haven and served as a Big Brother and foster parent.
Marc Schiller
Executive Board 2019
CEO, City Mattress.
Marc first became involved with Sweet Dream Makers when his neighbor mentioned the program while out to dinner. Marc initially donated a few beds but quickly transitioned into a devoted partner, believing whole-heartedly in our mission and strategically supporting our growth and operations. Marc and his long time partner Gloria are tri-athletes and clearly understand the value of a good night’s sleep.
Marc first became involved with Sweet Dream Makers when his neighbor mentioned the program while out to dinner. Marc initially donated a few beds but quickly transitioned into a devoted partner, believing whole-heartedly in our mission and strategically supporting our growth and operations. Marc and his long time partner Gloria are tri-athletes and clearly understand the value of a good night’s sleep.
In Memoriam
Jim Gordon
Founding Board Member (2016-19)
Jim Gordon, founding Board member and inspiration for Sweet Dream Makers, passed away in December 2019. Jim helped give life to Sweet Dream Makers by encouraging its founder, Suzanne Broad, to incorporate as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and build a sustainable organization to fill the critical and unmet need of providing beds and bedding to local families in need. “He was so very proud of all that Sweet Dream Makers has accomplished in such a short time and was my biggest cheerleader. He will be sorely missed but will forever live on in our hearts.” - Suzy Broad.
Jim Gordon, founding Board member and inspiration for Sweet Dream Makers, passed away in December 2019. Jim helped give life to Sweet Dream Makers by encouraging its founder, Suzanne Broad, to incorporate as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and build a sustainable organization to fill the critical and unmet need of providing beds and bedding to local families in need. “He was so very proud of all that Sweet Dream Makers has accomplished in such a short time and was my biggest cheerleader. He will be sorely missed but will forever live on in our hearts.” - Suzy Broad.
ADVISORY BOARD
Stephen Block
Advisory Board 2016
Former Principal of Mindful Management, LLC (real estate investment and management)
Neil Gillman
Advisory Board 2018
Director, Gillman Family Foundation
Judy Gordon
Advisory Board 2016
Retired Broward County School Teacher
Wendy Greenhut
Advisory Board 2017
Owner, The Book Company & Bulk Bookstore
Board of Trustees, Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation
Board of Trustees, Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation
Tim Lewis
Advisory Board 2016
Owner, Lewis Rental Properties, Boca Raton, Florida
Melissa Malaga
Advisory Board 2016
Masters of Social Work / Owner Maxwell’s Chophouse, NYC
Guardian ad Litem
Guardian ad Litem
Rick Steinberg
Advisory Board 2016
Director of Finance, Quantachrome, Boynton Beach, Florida
Matthew MacFarland
Advisory Board 2020
Private Wealth Advisor, Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Marcia Andrews
Advisory Board 2020
Palm Beach County School Board Member, District 6
Joanna F. Sackel, Esq., M.S.W.
Advisory Board 2022
Assistant Professor, Lynn University
STAFF
Suzy began her career in New York City as an art director at an advertising agency. In 1992, she moved to South Florida with her husband and continued to work in advertising while raising her family in Boca Raton. She volunteered at a local group home for foster children, a soup kitchen, the PTA, and became deeply involved with social action at her place of worship. As the Co-Chair of The Giving Tree of Temple Beth El, Suzy saw first-hand the overwhelming need for beds in our community. She spearheaded a new program called Sweet Dreams with the mission to get kids off the floor and into a bed. Suzy founded Sweet Dream Makers in December 2016 with encouragement from the Board of Directors and the community, and today, together with her friends and supporters, she has changed thousands of lives throughout Palm Beach County.
Click here to contact Suzy
Suzanne Broad
Executive Director
Hailing from Jupiter, Florida, Chloe is an alumni of the University of Central Florida. Since graduating in 2014, she has spent the last seven years advocating for kids, teens, and young adults through her professional work with nonprofits and her personal commitment to mission work, mentoring and volunteering.
Click here to contact Chloe
Chloe Textor
Development and Communication Director
Susan has lived most of her life in the South Florida area. Before joining Sweet Dream Makers, Susan worked for a foot and ankle surgeon and, prior to that, she spent many rewarding years as a Broward County elementary and middle school teacher. When not working, Susan enjoys spending time with her three children and her three rescue dogs. Her attention to detail, her organizational skills, and her love for helping children and families makes her a perfect fit as Program Manager at Sweet Dream Makers.
Click here to contact Susan
.Susan Tucker
Program Manager
Debbie is the technological backbone of Sweet Dream Makers. After retiring from a 25-year legal career and founding the very successful social media platform Gotta Guy, she used her knowledge to build SDM into an efficient non-profit organization by programing databases, streamlining processes, and managing the website, email, and social media communications.
Click here to contact Debbie
Debbie Block
(Volunteer) Technology & Social Media Director
For more than a decade, Kamilah has been dedicated to building the capacity of nonprofit, public and education systems through a variety of development and fundraising roles. Kamilah is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Broward/Ft. Lauderdale Chapter Board of Directors; she currently serves as the Chapter Representative for the Florida Caucus and is also a member of the IDEA Committee (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access). Kamilah earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Florida State University and her master’s degree in Public Administration from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University.
Click here to contact Kamilah
.Kamilah Jones, MPA
Director of Foundation and Corporate Relations
Rhonda comes to SDM as a volunteer with an extensive background working for the Internal Revenue Service. She served as Treasurer for the Leave a Legacy Foundation, where SDM was a grantee. Rhonda has served as Secretary on the First Choice Credit Union Board of Directors since 2015, and today, she works hand-in-hand with the SDM Treasurer to balancing the books. Rhonda’s attention to detail and tenacity to account for every dollar falls directly in line with our pledge of complete transparency.
Rhonda Diffenbach
(Volunteer) Bookkeeper
After a career in the Armed Forces, James became an investigator for the Department of Children and Family Services. During that time, James spearheaded a local program called "Brothers Helping Brothers," an all-volunteer group of men and woman in his local community who gave back to their neighbors in need. James volunteered his time for The Giving Tree of Temple Beth El for over five years and now works part-time at Sweet Dream Makers driving our truck and picking up gently-used furniture. He also helps manages our Warehouse and teaches local youth the joy of giving back. James was honored for his work by the Florida Panthers Foundation in February 2021 as a "Territory Teammate" (a local community hero who goes above and beyond to serve, help and inspire others during the COVID-19 pandemic).
James Bulger
Warehouse Program Manager
Jodi, a graduate of the University of Florida, worked at Fair Oaks Hospital in Delray Beach for five years in the Activities Therapy Department using her training in Occupational and Recreational Therapies. This experience gave her extensive knowledge and compassion for working with all types of people and understanding their needs and different situations. She is an accomplished artist, having trained under the highly acclaimed and accoladed Jim Houser and the great Edith Ritkin. Her artwork has been featured in several galleries across the coast. Jodi also co-created Luvbirds with her sister, a project with a mission to spread love and do random acts of kindness on a daily basis. This all provides Jodi with a background filled with love, empathy, and vast understanding of the human condition. She enjoys meeting and helping all the families.
Jodi Ijac
Warehouse Coordinator