By Angela Higginbotham
angela@floridanewsline.com

Jeanine Rogozinski has fond memories of growing up in Dallas, Texas with her parents and three siblings. She received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas. She and her husband, Dr. Chaim Rogozinski, enjoy calling Mandarin home and have been married for 36 years. They have four children and two small grandchildren. Rogozinski enjoyed many years as a stay at home mother, while volunteering her time where needed in the community and within The Bolles School.

Active in nonprofit organizations for the past 30 years, Rogozinski is passionate about helping those around her. As the four-time chair of the annual River Garden Gala and Foundation board president for 15 years, Rogozinski is a constant force in moving people forward and having a positive impact on those around her. Inspired by her in-laws, who were Holocaust survivors, Rogozinski finds motivation in their story of resilience, courage, strength, tolerance and love of family and country.

“I find a lot of joy in helping others and I believe that what you give, you will receive back in spades,” she said.

  1. What do you enjoy most about living in Mandarin?

I enjoy the serenity, nature and inherent beauty of the area. We do a lot of walking. The sidewalks are nice, the people are friendly, and the community is healthy and vibrant. The southern hospitality reminds me of home in Texas.

  1. What do the River Garden Foundation and the Gala represent and what goes into making the event such a success?

River Garden is an eight-time state gold seal recipient senior living facility with tremendous leadership. My mother in law, Ella, resides there, and the gala started 25 years ago by a group of women who were passionate about community awareness. More than $3 million has been raised in the past 25 years. That money goes to subsidize the immediate needs of River Garden residents and they have grown to depend on this help from the community.

This year, our theme is “Shimmer & Stars” for the River Garden Foundation’s Silver Anniversary Gala. We will honor many for their dedication over the years. It will be held at the Sawgrass Marriott Resort and Spa on Nov. 18 and it’s just a night filled with fun and love for everyone involved. The entire public is invited and they can find information on the River Garden website. We typically have upwards of 600 guests attend. Cocktails, a silent auction, and a lovely dinner make the night fun. Eighty volunteers and special sponsors come together to bring such great positivity and energy to make it the highly anticipated event that it has become.

  1. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I stay active in helping the community with most of my time, but I enjoy spending time with friends and family as much as possible. Jacksonville is a melting pot with so much diversity and I enjoy having friends with so many different backgrounds. My husband and I enjoy our time together and working out is one of our ways to spend time with each other. We do travel some, but we have a dog that is important to us at home.

  1. What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment?

My children. They are all adults with good hearts and good souls. They are very close, have a tight bond and they look after eachother. Rachel and Erin are both attorneys. Jonathon is an orthopedic surgeon in residency, who hopes to work with his dad, and Danielle is in banking.

  1. Is there anything that most people don’t know about you?

I don’t think so. I am an open book. I don’t usually hold back much. We all have flaws, but I wake up every day with a smile on my face. I have so much to be thankful for. Everything matters. I’m a routine person; I do the same thing every day, but I love what I do and I’m content. I pray for everyone’s health all the time. You can’t buy it and you can’t control it.

 

Photo courtesy Jeanine Rogozinski

Jeanine Rogozinski with her husband, Dr. Chaim Rogozinski.

 

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