One of our great pleasures at LIFE PUBS is preparing our May issue. We love to take time to honor mom, paying tribute to the wonderful women who help shape our world.

But just what makes a magnificent mom? In our book (or magazine) it’s a woman whose dedication and love for her family shines through whatever she does. Whether she works inside the home or out, she’s our go-to gal. Moms just seem to be able to juggle it all! She also is a woman who by example, shows her children the importance of making a difference in the community and in the lives of others. She’s the rock, the glue and the ultimate cheerleader. Someone who nurtures, loves …and multi-tasks like no one else in our life. And she is our first love and one of our most enduring and powerful relationships.

And for this special issue, we think we found some great local moms who demonstrate and embody all that we believe a great mom to be.

We wish these lovely ladies and all the other magnificent moms out there a very Happy Mother’s Day! We want you to know we appreciate YOU!

With a career, family, volunteering and fundraising for so many organizations, it’s hard to imagine how anyone finds time for it all. But Theresa Brier of Coral Springs proves that with the support of a great family, you can accomplish anything while still being a great role model for your children.

Theresa is the Broward County Director for United States Congressman Ted Deutch. “Through my job I’m fortunate to be able to assist our constituents throughout U.S. Congressman Ted Deutch’s congressional district and I’m thankful to have an opportunity to work with so many U.S. Veterans, senior citizens and families.”

She and husband, Simeon, met while attending Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, and began dating in college. They have two beautiful daughters, Angelina (10) and Gianna (8). “Faith and family always come first in my life and it’s important for me to be available for our girls in all of their endeavors, including school and sports,” she said. “As a wife, I truly enjoy supporting my wonderful husband, Simeon who recently became a partner at the law firm of Edwards Wildman. My husband and I both feel it’s important for our family to know the importance of giving back and helping people in need.”

Theresa leads by example and has a long list of charitable and community involvement. She’s the Children’s Choir volunteer at Church by the Glades, an Advisory Board member for the Aging and Disability Resource Center, Eagle Ridge Elementary PTA member and Room Mom, Junior Achievement Constitution Initiative Committee member, Alliance for Lupus Research, FAU Theta Phi Alpha Sorority philanthropies, and Parkland Soccer and Coral Springs Lacrosse. (We think she spikes her Wheaties)! Seeing their mom give so much of her time to others, Angelina and Gianna wanted to help make a difference too. “This past summer the girls wanted to have a lemonade stand benefitting St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. With some great friends who live in the Coral Springs and Parkland area they joined together to call their group ‘Kidz 4 Change.’ The Publix in the Heron Bay Shopping Center hosted them and they raised a considerable amount of money for a great cause.”

Spending time together as a family is just as important to the Briers, and one of their favorites is their weekly movie night. They also enjoy taking trips to Beech Mountain, NC twice a year where they get to hike in the summer and play in the snow in the winter. “My husband and I know time flies and we try to value our time with our girls whenever we can,” said this adoring mom. “The best part of being a mother is sharing special time together and expressing love and affection consistently. I’m always learning something new from our girls. I hope and pray that they’re learning from me, to be a kind person and to treat others with respect and compassion.”

Theresa Brier is not just an amazing mom, but an amazing person.

This May, JoAnne Goldberg will be receiving lots of loving wishes from her husband, daughters, grandchildren and thousands of volunteers throughout South Florida. Naturally, her family will be celebrating Mother’s Day, but the volunteers will be celebrating her new role as the President of The Pap Corps. This month this amazing dynamo takes the helm of the 60-year old non-profit organization that raises research funds for ALL types of cancers for the doctors at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. In our opinion one of the finest and most focused of all charities.

“This will definitely be a memorable time for me,” said Goldberg, a Connecticut native who has lived in Boca Raton since 1989. “I’ve been blessed to have a wonderful, supportive family and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to be able to lead The Pap Corps for the next two years.” 

This new role with The Pap Corps will take a mix of both her Mom skills and the entrepreneurial savvy she learned as a former party store owner in New Jersey, but JoAnne feels she is up to the task.

“I’ve volunteered with The Pap Corps for 12 years,” she said. “And for the past two years I served as the Executive VP, so I have met some amazing role models to look to for inspiration. Naturally, I know there’ll be challenges, but just like running a family or a business, I have my goals and will work to get everyone excited about keeping our organization growing and raising more funds.”

Last year alone, The Pap Corps raised over $3.4 million dollars for research funding for ALL types of cancers. And this May they hope to top that figure.

“It’s amazing when you realize that this organization started in 1952 with just a handful of women sitting in their living room, wanting to help raise funds for Dr. George Papanicolaou, the inventor of the Pap test, and now we have over 20,000 members in 54 chapters throughout Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, raising funds for the only university-based cancer center in South Florida.”

The Pap Corps is comprised of men, women and teens who want to help win the war against cancer and each one has a different reason for joining the fight.

“I’ve been truly blessed that my family is healthy, and that’s something I often reflect upon, especially when my husband Gerry and I have the opportunity to spend time with our wonderful daughters and grandchildren. But I do know how fragile life can be, having lost my childhood best friend to cancer. Her death compelled me to get involved with The Pap Corps as a volunteer, and the more I learned, the more I wanted to do.”

JoAnne’s Pap Corps family has many poignant stories to share of members and loved ones coping with a cancer diagnosis, but fortunately there have been many triumphs to celebrate.

“The treatments keep getting better, and more people are living longer healthier lives,” said JoAnne. “Every month we have a breakfast where doctors from Sylvester tell us about the latest research they’re doing. It’s truly an amazing experience to hear them talk so fervently about their studies and the strides being made. And hearing them tell us how grateful they are to The Pap Corps for helping fund this research is an amazing feeling.”

And everyday, JoAnne has plenty of inspiration in her own life to continue in the fight against cancer. “The impact of all of this really hits me when I’m with my own daughter and my 5-year old granddaughter Sara,” confides JoAnne. “You just want to do anything to protect your family and keep them healthy. I see the innocence in Sara’s face and how happy she is and I want to do all I can to give her a world without cancer .... that’s my mission.”

For more info on how you can help visit www.papcorps.org.

It would seem a love of the arts has paved a path for Deborah Gregg’s professional and family life. It certainly led her to meet the love of her life. “Michael and I met in an art history class in college and have been married for almost 23 years. You might say, we started out studying history, then created it together!” laughed the mother of two.

And history they have made, sharing their love of the arts and the importance of community involvement with their two daughters, Sasha, 17, and Nina, 14.