Debra Tendrich

Professional Bio for Debra Tendrich

Highly dedicated and results-driven, Debra Tendrich is a renowned human activist, philanthropist, and Founder/CEO of the non-profit organization Eat Better Live Better (EBLB) since 2016. EBLB, designed to combat and control childhood obesity and other dietary-related illnesses, has supported countless individuals, along with over 11,000 youth, through tailored nutritional programs and offers healthy foods to children, families, and communities. In addition, Debra designed a certification course within EBLB that allows schools and other community-based organizations to teach her evidence-based, effective, and hands-on curriculum to the youths on a national level. These programs have since been implemented throughout the county and earned her several recognitions by The Palm Beach Post, Sun-Sentinel, Boca and Delray newspapers, WPTV, WPBF, CBS 12, CH. 29, amongst others.

Debra’s journey stems from her experience as an obese child who grew up into an obese adult. At 5’1 tall and weighing over 200 pounds, Debra was diagnosed with high cholesterol; and decided to exercise and eat healthily for 30 days – a transformational process that ultimately sparked her passion for health and fitness. Debra lost 70 pounds and dropped her cholesterol by almost 100 points, which became the catalyst for her daughter, Amira, to continue her own journey. With this as her base, Debra has devoted her time volunteering at schools and providing extensive community outreach services since 2014. Thus far, Debra has donated over 600 backpacks and school supplies throughout the Palm Beach County Schools, helped organize anti-bullying pep rallies, and continuously speaks to students and teachers about fitness and nutrition implementation to help build healthy lifestyles.

With the onset of COVID, Debra recognized a growing need for grocery relief in the community. In response, Debra developed the Grocery Assistance Program (GAP Program) which has since distributed over 1,200,000 pounds of healthy groceries and fresh produce to families in need. Additionally, her growing Teachers Giving program has celebrated hundreds of teachers and support staff, by surprising them with turkeys for Thanksgiving.

In addition to her work with EBLB, Debra also sits on the Advisory Board for the FAU School of Social Work, is an Executive Board Member for the Palm Beach County Crime Prevention Officers Association (PBCCPOA) and sits on the Delray Chamber Education Fund board (DCEF). In conjunction with this, Debra lectures at FAU, Everglades University, works as a mentor, is a published author in the Parklander Magazine, La Guia News, and other periodicals/platforms to help raise awareness of childhood obesity and the community issuesthat are directly correlated to the catastrophic epidemic. She is also a volunteer public speaker for several organizations, including the FRPA, Future Leaders United for Change, and the Upward Bound Program. In line with her ongoing efforts, Debra co-chaired the county's nutrition initiative with the Birth to 22 Project and currently sits on the Hunger Relief and Nutrition Education Committees with the United Way PBC, the Delray Beach Initiative to End Homelessness, and the Healthier Delray Committee. Moreover, she sat on the committee for the League of Women Voters Complete Count Census Committee and the PBC Multicultural Census Committee. Additionally, she is an active member of the Delray and Boca Chamber of Commerce, a Leadership Delray and Leadership Boca graduate and a graduate of the GLASS Leadership Program through the ADL (Anti-Defamation League). Though Debra did not win her run for Delray Beach City Commission in 2020, the experience inspired her to take a more active role in the City of Delray Beach. In pursuit of this goal, she has enrolled in college at the age of 35 to pursue a degree in Political Science and Law, with a focus on Civil Rights and Public Interest.

Through Debra’s leadership, EBLB won Delray Beach Non-Profit of the Year 2021 by the Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce, was honored by the Association of Women in Communications, awarded a Certificate of Community Service and Dedication by the Guardian Angels, honored by the Delray Beach Housing Authority, won the Shining Star Award as Healthcare Advocate of the Year by the Puerto Rican Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and PBSO, and was crowned Ms. Florida Woman of Achievement in 2017-2018 through the Woman of Achievement Pageant. Debra was also nominated Non-Profit Executive of the Year by Non-Profits First for three years in a row, Woman of Distinction by Soroptimist, and Volunteer of The Year by the Junior League of Boca Raton, and the Giraffe Award by the Women’s Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce.