- April 24, 2024
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The well-known charity worker asked for prayers in fighting recently diagnosed cancer.
Wayne Grant
News Editor
Gloria Max was recognized for her years of helping school children, the elderly and families-in-need on Oct. 21 when she was named 2015 Citizen of the Year at the annual Citizens For Ormond Beach membership dinner in the ballroom at the Performing Arts Center.
Presenting the award was longtime CFOB member Dr. Charleen Evans-Thomas.
“When there is a need, Gloria is there to help,” Evans-Thomas said.
As executive director of the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties, Max works to provide backpacks with supplies for schoolchildren, groceries through the Jerry Doliner Food Bank and meals during the holiday seasons. The foundation also assists people with clothing, furniture, household goods and medical equipment.
Known for helping others, Max told the group that she is now in need of their assistance, in the form of prayers. She said her fundraising job has always been challenging, but now she faces a more daunting challenge.
“I was diagnosed recently with stage four peritoneal and ovarian cancer,” she said. “But let me tell you, I’m a fighter. I will beat this. I will continue to raise funds for the less fortunate people in our community. I believe in prayer. Therefore I’m asking all of you to pray for Ray and Me.”
In receiving her award, Max shared credit with her husband, Ray, who runs the Jerry Doliner Food Bank, and she also thanked the volunteers.
“We have young and old that give time to help the less fortunate regardless of race or religion,” Max said.
She noted that 99% of people who receive aid are not Jewish, because the local Jewish community is very small.
She said the award belongs to all of the individuals, businesses and organizations that donate to the federation, which helps people in countries all over the world.
She said the outreach of the federation is to give to others in their most difficult times.
“We might be a small federation, but we help local people in a big way,” Max said.
Max was born in Toronto, Canada, and said that she married her pen pal. She helped her husband, Ray, in his delicatessen and gourmet food store.
Development update
Also at the dinner, city Economic Development Director Joe Mannarino gave the crowd an update on business development.
He emphasized that local government can only offer encouragement to businesses. For instance, the Food Lion property on the beachside has been vacant for several years, and the city has worked to find a buyer for the property owner, but so far the owner has not agreed to sell.
“We’ll keep at it,” he said. “Again, the city does not own the property. We just work with developers. I know people would like to see a grocery store there.”
He also mentioned the defunct gas station at the corner of Granada Boulevard and Nova Road. He said CVS Drugstore is expected to start construction in January, and the former gas station and the adjacent Burger King will both come down. CVS will then close their store in the Trails Shopping Center, providing room for the Publix there to expand.
Successes in recent years include the expansion of S.R. Perrott, Emergency Communications Network and Edgewell Personal Care (formerly Playtex); and new companies at the Airport Business Park, such as Valient Equipment and SKYO Industries.
In regard to retail, he said Granada Boulevard is one of the “hottest corridors” in Volusia County.
“We working with (businesses) to try to find a place while trying to also conserve land,” he said.
Helping Hands
The Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties has provided 88,000 backpacks, with supplies, to schoolchildren over the years.
The Jerry Doliner Food Bank serves more than 24,000 families annually.
