Charitable Magazine

THE UNITED WAY FORWARD: EIGHT DECADES OF IMPACT AND THE WORK STILL LEFT TO DO

STRONGER TOGETHER: INSIDE THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF BROWARD COUNTY AND ITS PARTNERS

CHAPMAN PARTNERSHIP: ON THE FRONT LINES OF HOMELESSNESS

CHARITABLE

SEPTEMBER 2026

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of Broward County

THE WORLD HAS CHANGED. HAS YOUR COMMITMENT? Our community faces challenges few imagined. In moments like these, your support matters more than ever. Our Jewish Federation strengthens security, fights antisemitism, supports those in need, stands with Israel, and ensures a vibrant Jewish future.

The future won’t be shaped by circumstance.

It will be shaped by those who choose to commit and stand together.

Because resilience is built before it’s needed.

Join us.

JEWISHBROWARD.ORG Scan for more info  CHARITABLEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2026 3

Help Make It Possible.

Sometimes the most powerful medicine is hope.

At Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation, philanthropy fuels the moments that transform exceptional medical care into extraordinary healing.

Every act of generosity helps children heal, families find hope, and our community continue building one of the nation’s leading children’s hospitals.

Every gift, regardless of the size, helps create brighter futures for the children and families who depend on Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.

Join us in making a difference.

JDCH.com/give-back 954.265.3454 JDCHFoundation@mhs.net

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Your generosity makes possible: Specialized pediatric programs and physician

recruitment that ensure families can access world-class care without leaving South Florida.

Family-centered programs that provide comfort,

support, and resources when families need them most.

Innovative technology

and groundbreaking research that bring tomorrow’s treatments to today’s patients.

Child Life specialists

who help children understand procedures through play, easing fear and anxiety.

Healing spaces and therapeutic experiences

that allow children to laugh, learn, and simply be kids—even during long hospital stays.

Conine Clubhouse, a home away from home for families during a child’s extended hospital stay.

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it starts with one.

We believe some of the most profound change begins with a single drop of kindness. A simple act of generosity creates a ripple of healing. Together, those ripples become a wave of change that transforms lives for generations.

Every child deserves a future defined not by their trauma, but by their potential.

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Foster Care Creating safe, stable places for children when home cannot be one.

Early Childhood Education Helping children build strong foundations for learning, development and lifelong success.

Family Strengthening Working alongside parents and caregivers with the tools, resources and support that help families stay strong and together.

From prevention and early education to intervention, healing and foster care, Kids In Distress and Family Central meet children and families where they are and help create the stability they need to move forward.

One person can create a ripple.

Together, we can create a wave.

Become a Champion for children and families.

Give. Partner. Volunteer. Advocate.

819 NE 26th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305 I 954.390.7654

9301 NE 6th Ave, Miami Shores, FL 33138 I 954.720.1000 KIDinc.org I familycentral.org

Join the Wave of Impact

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L-R: Dustin Jacobs, Vice President of Marketing; Ricardo Acosta, Assistant Vice President of Organizational Development; Biana Murnane, Chief Executive Officer; Wendy Lutheran, Vice President of Human Resources

People Helping People:

BrightStar Credit Union’s Commitment to Community At BrightStar Credit Union, philanthropy isn’t just an initiative, it’s part of our culture. For more than 80 years, we’ve embraced the credit union philosophy of “people helping people” by strengthening South Florida through financial education, community involvement, and meaningful partnerships.

BrightStar proudly supports organizations such as the Broward Education Foundation, Broward College Foundation, ArtServe, Henderson Behavioral Health, local animal welfare organizations, and many others that advance education, the arts, animal care, and community wellbeing. Founded by Broward County teachers, education remains at the heart of our mission. We continue that legacy through school supply drives, scholarships, educator grants, and support for local students, schools, and youth sports

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programs that help strengthen our communities.

Through partnerships with schools, nonprofits, community groups, and local businesses across South Florida, BrightStar helps expand access to education, financial wellness resources, and opportunities that empower individuals and families. These efforts reflect our belief that lasting impact is created when organizations work together to meet the needs of the communities they serve.

As a credit union open to everyone, BrightStar is committed to helping South Florida thrive. By investing in local organizations and initiatives that support learning, wellness, and opportunity, we help create stronger communities and a better place to live, work, and raise a family. It’s our way of putting the philosophy of people helping people into action every day.

Visit

bscu.org/Charity CHARITABLEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2026 9

Investing in South Florida Communities At Fifth Third Bank, community impact is more than a commitment—it is a core part of how we serve South Florida.

Through financial education, affordable housing investments, philanthropic giving, volunteerism and leadership involvement, we work alongside nonprofit organizations, community partners and local leaders to create opportunities that strengthen the communities where we live and work.

Bringing Financial Access Directly to Communities One of Fifth Third’s most visible community investments is the Fifth Third Financial Empowerment Mobile, known as the eBus. The eBus brings financial education, banking access and one-on-one guidance directly into neighborhoods throughout South Florida, with a particular focus on reaching underserved communities.

The mobile financial center provides private consultation spaces, computer workstations and access to financial products and services. Through a partnership with SpringFour, visitors can connect to more than 24,000 free financial wellness resources available through nonprofit and government agencies. Community members can access localized assistance related to food security, housing, childcare, employment services, small business support and other essential needs.

In 2025, the eBus served hundreds of South Floridians through

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partnerships with trusted community organizations: • Urban League of Broward County • Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County • Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County = 607 individuals served, 84 service hours Together, these engagements helped connect residents with financial education, banking resources and critical community services.

Supporting Financial Literacy and Economic Mobility Financial education remains a cornerstone of Fifth Third’s community strategy. In South Florida, the bank partners with organizations including Junior Achievement of South Florida, serving as the presenting sponsor of the organization’s annual Stock Market Challenge. The program provides students with hands-on experience in investing, critical thinking and teamwork through a real-world stock market simulation designed to strengthen financial literacy skills. Fifth Third not only serves as the event’s presenting sponsor, helping ensure students gain exposure to practical financial education experiences, employees volunteer with the students to help them enjoy their experience.

Investing in Affordable Housing Fifth Third Bank also supports community development through investments in affordable housing initiatives. One example is Seven on Seventh, a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) development located at 900 NW 7th Avenue in Fort Lauderdale.

The eight-story property includes: • 72 affordable apartment units • 140 parking spaces • 1,955 square feet of commercial space • 6,745 square feet of resident amenities The development serves low- to moderate-income residents and includes units reserved for individuals with special needs. Residents have access to on-site case management services, a computer center, library, fitness and recreation areas, laundry facilities and other supportive resources. The property also serves as an extension of Broward County’s Central Homeless Assistance Center through a partnership with Broward Partnership for the Homeless.

Projects like Seven on Seventh help address critical housing needs while supporting long-term economic stability and quality of life for South Florida residents.

Philanthropy and Volunteerism Fifth Third Bank was the first financial institution in the United States to establish a corporate foundation, launching the Fifth Third Foundation in 1948. Today, that legacy continues through charitable grants, sponsorships, community investments and support for nonprofit organizations throughout South Florida.

Over the past two years, the bank has provided financial support to more than 20 community organizations across Southeast Florida, many of which serve low- and moderate-income individuals and families.

Fifth Third Day (5/3 Day) is the bank’s annual companywide celebration of community impact, during which teammates volunteer and support nonprofit organizations across the communities they serve. In South Florida, Fifth Third Day 2025 benefited three local organizations through contributions totaling $7,800.

Community engagement extends beyond a single day of service.

South Florida teammates actively volunteer throughout the region, serving on nonprofit boards, advisory committees and community initiatives. To date, South Florida employees have contributed 2,082 volunteer hours in support of causes that align with the bank’s mission and community priorities.

Community Leadership Through Board Service Fifth Third’s commitment to South Florida is reflected in the leadership roles teammates hold across community organizations.

The bank’s regional leadership team actively serves on nonprofit, civic and economic development boards throughout the region, helping drive initiatives focused on education, economic mobility, workforce development, affordable housing and community advancement.

South Florida Leadership Team Community Involvement Leader • Title • Community Board Involvement • Stephanie Green South Florida Regional President Urban League of Broward, United Way of Collier and the Keys, Naples Zoo • Rob Baluchi South Florida Retail Executive Tamiami Food Bank • Craig Watson South Florida Wealth & Asset Management Executive Special Olympics • Stephanie Seltzer South Florida Regional Marketing Manager PACE Center for Girls Broward and Autism Speaks of South Florida

A Lasting Commitment Whether delivering financial education through the eBus, helping students build financial literacy skills through Junior Achievement programs, investing in affordable housing developments like Seven on Seventh or contributing time and resources to local nonprofits, Fifth Third Bank continues to invest in initiatives that create meaningful impact across South Florida.

By combining financial expertise, philanthropic support and active community leadership, Fifth Third is helping build stronger, more resilient communities while advancing opportunities for individuals and families throughout the region.

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If she called you tonight...

Where would you turn for help?

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For five decades...

Women In Distress has been there—24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

• Answering calls 24/7, hosting the Domestic Violence Hotline for the entire State of Florida.

• Creating personalized safety plans for every participant.

• Providing safe shelter, food, clothing, and medical and emotional support.

• Offering an on-site pet shelter, because no one should have to choose between personal safety and a beloved companion.

• Delivering mental health services and counseling for adults, children, and families.

• Providing legal advocacy and assistance with Injunctions for Protection.

• Building pathways to independence through employment support, life skills, housing, and relocation assistance.

• Surrounding every survivor with compassionate, wraparound services that foster dignity, empowerment, and self-sufficiency.

Today... demand is greater than ever.

Need exceeds our capacity. That’s why our Capital Campaign exists—to ensure that every survivor who finds the courage to leave violence has a safe place to go. The most valuable real estate in Broward County isn’t on the Intracoastal. It’s the room where a frightened child finally sleeps safely through the night. Be the philanthropist who helps redefine what’s possible for Florida’s future. Transformational generosity doesn’t just change organizations—it changes what an entire community tolerates.

Join our Capital Campaign.

Invest in Broward’s best real estate.

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WIDBroward.org

Andrew Holmes President

Deanna Prusinowski

Corporate Relationships Manager (954) 979-7911 | 4KIDS.org When did 4KIDS begin?

In 1997, a movement began within the Christian community to end the foster care crisis in Broward County. 4KIDS was launched as a faith-based foster care agency by a group of advocates with the mission of providing homes and hope for kids in difficult places.

As 4KIDS celebrates its 30-year anniversary, how has the organization evolved and what is its vision for the future?

4KIDS has expanded beyond Broward County and serves the Palm Beach, Treasure Coast, Southwest Florida, and Miami-Dade regions. Through our digital ministry, we serve parents, caregivers, and families globally.

While 4KIDS remains deeply committed to foster care, our vision is broad, focusing on prevention, family strengthening, preservation, and restoration.

We strengthen families before separation occurs; help youth and young moms transition into strong futures; support children, caregivers, and families during foster care placement; provide trauma-informed therapy; and continue the work of restoration long after stability is achieved. This expansion is made possible primarily through the financial support and partnerships formed with individuals, churches, family foundations, local businesses, and corporations, while remaining driven by our faith.

What makes 4KIDS unique in addressing these needs?

Under the leadership of its president, Andrew Holmes, 4KIDS is advancing a model that addresses the full spectrum of needs affecting everyone we serve—children, families, caregivers, and young adults.

We have come to understand that home is not just a physical place. Home is safety, belonging, identity, and healing. It is where hope is born and futures are launched. Our goal is to help those facing adversity experience Home and restored futures.

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Kal Gajraj, PhD

Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer CAN Community Health kgajraj@cancommunityhealth.org | cancommunityhealth.org

What causes do you support?

I’m drawn to causes at the intersection of health, animals, and the arts. I support the Susan Terry Foundation, which helps organizations address critical community needs, including access to healthcare and essential services. I also support the Humane Society of Broward County and Gray Box Theater. While their missions are different, each represents something I deeply value: caring for people, caring for animals, and ensuring the arts remain accessible and vibrant in our community.

What led you to support those causes?

Each is personal to me. Through my work at CAN Community Health, I see firsthand how access to healthcare can change and sometimes save a life. The Susan Terry Foundation extends that spirit of compassion by investing in organizations making a tangible difference for people who need support. My connection to the Humane Society of Broward County is especially personal. It’s where I adopted my Shih Tzu, Patches. He became part of my family and was with me for nearly 16 years before recently passing. Supporting animal welfare is one way I can honor the unconditional love and joy he brought into my life. And the arts have been part of my professional and personal journey for years. Gray Box Theater has created an intimate, accessible home where artists can perform, audiences can connect, and the arts can thrive in South Florida.

How can we engage newcomers to support our causes?

We have to make philanthropy feel accessible, personal, and connected to impact. Not everyone begins their philanthropic journey by writing a large check. Sometimes it starts by volunteering for an afternoon, attending a performance, sharing a cause on social media, or inviting a friend to an event. Organizations also need to do a better job of showing people what their generosity accomplishes. When someone can see the patient who received care, the animal that found a home, or the artist who was given a stage, philanthropy becomes more than giving; it becomes belonging. The future of philanthropy is about inviting people into the mission and giving them meaningful ways to participate.

Which philanthropist do you most admire and why?

I admire philanthropists who use their resources and influence across causes rather than limiting their impact to one area. Elton John immediately comes to mind. Through his philanthropy, he has been a transformational force in the global response to HIV/AIDS, while also using his platform to champion causes including the arts and animal welfare. What I admire most is the consistency of that commitment. His example demonstrates that philanthropy is not simply about generosity; it is about using your voice, visibility, and resources to challenge stigma, create opportunity, and improve lives. That philosophy resonates deeply with me because it connects three areas I care about tremendously: health, animals, and the arts.

What does meaningful philanthropy look like to you?

Meaningful philanthropy is more than writing a check; it is about creating lasting impact. I believe the most effective philanthropy combines financial support with time, advocacy, relationships, and a willingness to use your platform to elevate the work of others. Whether we are improving access to healthcare, helping an animal find a loving home, or ensuring an artist has a stage, we should be able to see the human impact behind our investment. For me, giving is ultimately about leaving a community stronger than we found it and creating opportunities that continue long after our individual involvement ends.

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OUR MISSION Provide high-quality, comprehensive services to empower people affected by hearing loss, deafness, or listening challenges.

OUR VISION Communication without limits.

Delivering impact across the lifespan Comprehensive Audiology • Hearing evaluations free for youth under age 18

• Discounted or free hearing aids based on income and available funding

• Expert selection of hearing aids

• Free community-based hearing screenings

• Fitting, tuning, and repairing

• Hearing health education seminars

Early Childhood • Early hearing loss identification education

• Family counseling for children with hearing loss

• Free hearing screenings at preschools

• Teacher hearing health education

• Parent connection to community resources

• Speech-language pathology

School-Aged Children & Young Adults • After-school and summer camps

• Academic support

• Mental health counseling

• Career and postsecondary education exploration

• Behavioral health and advocacy services • Speech-language pathology

• Workforce development • On-the-job internships

Adults & Families • Mental health counseling

• Art therapy

• Case management

• Free amplified telephones

• Older adult hearing health education • Family-centered events • American Sign Language instruction • Deaf men’s support group

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Don’t Let Hearing Loss Write You Out of the Conversation.

Untreated hearing loss doesn’t just affect your ears — it can affect your mind.

Left untreated, hearing loss makes conversation harder, listening more exhausting, and staying engaged with others feel like work—so many people simply stop trying. That withdrawal raises the risk of loneliness and social isolation, both established risk factors for dementia.

The World Health Organization’s updated 2026 guidelines confirm this: up to 45% of dementia risk worldwide is tied to modifiable factors, and hearing loss is now formally recognized among them. The guidance states hearing aids may be offered as part of dementia risk-reduction strategies.

The good news? Hearing loss is one of the few risk factors you can actually do something about. Hearing aids keep you in the room—in the conversation, the connection, the life you don’t want to miss.

This has been an amazing year of helping our community recognize the importance of hearing healthcare across the lifespan that keeps individuals connected to life!

Tracy Perez, Psy.D. Regional Executive Director

SCHEDULE A HEARING EVALUATION TODAY Center for Hearing and Communication | Florida 2900 West Cypress Creek Rd. Suite 3, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309 FLreception@chchearing.org | 954-601-1930 | chchearing.org/florida-services CHARITABLEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2026 19

Building Brighter Futures for Broward County Youth Since 1985

Meet Kirk Brown, CEO of Handy (Helping Advance and Nurture the Development of Youth), a nationally recognized transformational leader with three decades of experience connecting public policy, private investment, and community partnerships to produce measurable outcomes for youth and families.

Brown’s leadership is rooted in ensuring every youth has a real path forward. As CEO of Handy, he has expanded the organization’s ability to connect youth with education, employment, safe housing, mental health support, and trusted relationships.

Under his leadership, Handy has achieved a

95% SUCCESS RATE

in post-secondary matriculation, employment placement, safe housing attainment, and positive life planning.

His vision is clear: help youth build lives defined by stability, opportunity, and hope.

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From Surviving to Thriving Handy youth don’t just beat the odds, they redefine them.

At Handy, we see potential where others see statistics. We walk alongside youth who have experienced foster care, homelessness, and hardship, and champion their journeys toward self-sufficiency.

They’re earning degrees and certifications.

Landing internships and launching careers.

Securing safe housing and mental health support.

Reclaiming their voices, their dreams, and their futures.

Help Broward County Youth: Donate. Volunteer. Become a Handy Partner.

Learn more at handyinc.org | Follow our stories of transformation @handysouthfl CHARITABLEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2026 21

CELEBRATE. CONNECT. MAKE AN IMPACT.

JOIN FRIENDS OF JACK & JILL CENTER FOR AN EXCITING SEASON OF SIGNATURE EVENTS, BENEFITING JACK & JILL CENTER’S WORK SUPPORTING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

LIGHT UP DOWNTOWN | DEC. 1, 2026 Celebrate the holidays with one of Fort Lauderdale’s favorite festive traditions.

FLIP FLOPS ON THE DOCKS | APRIL 2027 Kick back waterfront and enjoy an unforgettable evening in support of Jack & Jill Center’s mission.

POWER BREAKFAST | FALL 2027

Start your morning with purpose and connect with community leaders creating opportunities for children and families.

AND THE CELEBRATION IS JUST BEGINNING! In 2027, Jack & Jill Center proudly celebrates 85 years of strengthening children, families, and our community.

Join us for special programming and opportunities to celebrate our impact throughout this milestone year.

STAY CONNECTED. BE PART OF THE CELEBRATION.

Scan the QR code to join our email list for event announcements, tickets, sponsorship opportunities, 85th anniversary updates, and more.

WWW.JACKANDJILLCENTER.ORG

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Editor’sLetter Building Broward, Sustaining South Florida Philanthropy looks a certain way from the outside. The galas, the gowns, the hush that falls over a room when someone speaks from the heart. It’s beautiful, yet it’s only part of the story.

The people in this issue live in the other part.

What strikes me about each of them is how little they need the applause. They are motivated by something quieter: a statistic that keeps them up at night, or a child who deserves a better future.

They have built careers around causes that ask a great deal and rarely make the front page.

Charitable changes that.

Published annually by Lifestyle Media Group, it is Broward County’s only guide to the nonprofits defining local philanthropy and the people whose generosity sustains them.

Inside, you’ll find organizations that have anchored this community for decades. You’ll also find profiles of philanthropists and community leaders, highlighting the experiences that make generosity personal.

Those are the stories worth telling. And now, they have a home.

Clarissa Buch Zilberman — Clarissa Buch Zilberman Editor-in-Chief, Charitable

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Broward County gives. It gives at a scale most people outside the nonprofit world never see, through foundations, gifts, and volunteer hours that never get counted. What it has never had is a single place to find all of it.

That gap is why we built Charitable.

Through a partnership with the Nonprofit Executive Alliance, this is the first publication of its kind in Broward County. It functions as a working guide to the organizations shaping local philanthropy and the people funding them, published annually and designed to be kept rather than skimmed.

For years, the Sun Sentinel gave this community’s charitable work a regular platform. Nothing has filled that space since.

Meanwhile, the same thing kept surfacing. The people doing the most consequential work here were the hardest to find. Their efforts play out in boardrooms and after school programs, well outside the reach of any coverage. We wanted that work on the record.

We also know many of them well. The business owners and community leaders we have worked alongside for years spend their nights on boards, underwriting programs, and showing up for causes that will never carry their names.

For the nonprofits inside these pages, Charitable offers visibility with the people best positioned to help. For donors, it offers a clear view of where support can go and what it can do once it gets there.

From all of us at Lifestyle Media Group, we are grateful to the organizations that trusted us with an idea that had no precedent in this market, and to the partners who backed it before there was anything to show them.

Broward has always been generous. Now it has the record to prove it.

— Michelle Simon and Kimberly Sarni Publishers, Lifestyle Media Group

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A Family’s Legacy

of Giving

David continues his father Martin Greenberg’s legacy of philanthropy through the Martin B. Greenberg Foundation, Inc., established more than 30 years ago.

Founded by Martin, the foundation’s philanthropic mission supports veterans, the arts, youth organizations, medicine, science, and education.

Through targeted grants, the foundation has supported organizations including Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital, Cleveland Clinic, Gilda’s Club South Florida, the Broward Performing Arts Foundation, NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, the Museum of Discovery and Science, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Junior Achievement of South Florida, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and the Martin B. Greenberg Trading Room at Hofstra University, along with many other charitable organizations dedicated to improving lives, expanding educational opportunities, and strengthening communities.

Today, David is joined by his daughter Samantha and his son Richard as they carry forward their grandfather’s vision of giving back, ensuring that the values of generosity, service, and community continue for generations to come.

David Douglas Greenberg David@mbgreenbergfoundation.com For grant applications: mbgreenbergfoundation.com/about

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CHARITABLE PUBLISHER MICHELLE SIMON AND KIM SARNI

BROWARD COUNTY • 2026

EDITOR IN CHIEF CLARISSA BUCH ZILBERMAN

CREATIVE DIRECTOR MELANIE GERONEMUS SMIT ART DIRECTORS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2026 11:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.

ALEXANDER HERNANDEZ EVELYN SUAREZ

Silent Auction - Luncheon - Honoree Panel Discussion

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

FOUR SEASONS

525 N FORT LAUDERDALE BEACH BLVD FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33304

OU R HONOR E E S

LAINE DOSS

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ADVERTISING MARKET MANAGERS

BEN HAMILTON,

STEVE LEDERMAN EVENTS JUSTINE ROBB

OPERATIONS MANAGER MONICA ST. OMER

Patty Jeffrey

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MedPro Healthcare Staffing

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County

LIFESTYLE MEDIA GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER RAY CHEHATA CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD GARY PRESS

LMG HEADQUARTERS 2455 E. SUNRISE BOULEVARD #1112 FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33304

Jessica Rodriguez

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Cloud Nine Nonprofit Advisors

Amazon

EDITORIAL CONTACT: CZILBERMAN@LMGFL.COM ADVERTISING CONTACT: info@lmgfl.com

Join us as we honor women leading the way in Broward County

Honorary Event Chair Rita Case Rick Case Automotive Group

Scan for event details.

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©2026 Charitable is published by Lifestyle Media Group, all rights reserved. Charitable is published annually. All contents are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without written consent from the publisher. The advertiser is solely responsible for ad content and holds publisher harmless from any error.

LMG PUBLICATIONS LAS OLAS LIFESTYLE BOCA/PARKLAND LIFESTYLE • WESTON LIFESTYLE WEST BROWARD LIFESTYLE • AVENTURA LIFESTYLE DORAL LIFESTYLE SOUTH FLORIDA BUSINESS & WEALTH LUXE CHARITABLE

WHERE HEALTHY LIVING HAPPENS

CHILDREN DISCOVER A LOVE OF LEARNING

CREATING JOY FOR CHILDREN FACING CANCER

More Than a Community Center.

Changing Lives Every Day. At the David Posnack Jewish Community Center, there is a place for every age and a community for everyone.

• 7,899 Members call the DPJCC home • 365 Children enrolled in Early Childhood Education

Every day brings new opportunities to learn, connect, and make a difference. Through educational, cultural, social, recreational, and wellness programs, we enrich lives in an environment built on fun, friendship, and unity.

• 1,108 Camp Kadima campers each summer

Open to all and proudly guided by Jewish values, the DPJCC welcomes individuals and families of every faith, race, age, ability, and identity. From infants and preschoolers to seniors, adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and children and families impacted by cancer, there’s a place for everyone to learn, grow, belong, and thrive.

• $250,000 Scholarships awarded annually

• 500+ Individuals with developmental disabilities and children with pediatric cancer supported through our programs

SCAN HERE To learn more about the DPJCC

The DPJCC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, highly rated by Candid and Charity Navigator. The David Posnack Jewish Community Center is recognized as exempt from federal income taxation under section 501c3 of the IRS and eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions. Federal ID: 59-2075982.

A beneficiary agency of

On the Nina & Louis Silverman Campus 5850 South Pine Island Road Davie, Florida 33328 (954) 434-0499 | dpjcc.org CHARITABLEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2026 27

22 EDITOR’S LETTER

Introducing Broward’s first-annual guide to local philanthropy

contents

Fun, furry, and fiercely committed

How a first-of-its-kind publication came to Broward County

82 A BIG DIFFERENCE

34 THE MAN IN PINK

Four hours a month can change the course of a child’s life

How a Fort Lauderdale attorney turned a jacket into a movement

84 BUILDING A SAFER TOMORROW

38 STRONGER TOGETHER

Women In Distress on 50 years of service

One federation, many partners, one shared community

90 MORE THAN A MEAL

46 BEHIND EVERY CAUSE

How one promise became a health movement

A look at Florida’s largest nonprofit CEO coalition

92 50 YEARS OF DISCOVERY

50 WHERE THERE’S A NEED, THERE’S A CAN

How the Museum of Discovery and Science turned 15 million curious visitors into a half-century of momentum

Meet the organization redefining community health

52 THE UNITED WAY FORWARD

56 THE SAME TABLE

A shared life spent serving Broward’s most vulnerable children

70 WELLNESS THROUGH GIVING

For Casbah Spa’s founders, giving back is the ultimate form of wellness

72 FINDING HOME

In conversation with Chapman Partnership

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The numbers that prove culture belongs to everyone

80 PAWS FOR A CAUSE

24 PUBLISHER’S LETTER

Eight decades of impact and the work still left to do

76 THE ART OF ACCESS

30 TIME TO DRESS UP Inside the galas that fund South Florida’s nonprofits

62 CALENDAR LISTINGS Your guide to the season’s most anticipated charitable events

100 WHAT PHILANTHROPY MAKES POSSIBLE A hospital where no family is turned away, and a community determined to keep it that way

102 A CROWN WITH A CAUSE

One of South Florida’s most enduring philanthropic forces

104 THEIR VOICES MATTER

What it means to be a safety net for children in foster care

LEADERSHIP ISN’T JUST ABOUT WHAT YOU ACCOMPLISH. IT’S ABOUT WHAT YOU LEAVE BEHIND. Generations of South Florida leaders have invested their time, talent, influence and resources in something bigger than themselves, our young people.

Through Junior Achievement of South Florida, they are opening doors, expanding opportunity and preparing the next generation to lead, innovate and thrive.

Because when we invest in young people today, we build a stronger, more vibrant tomorrow for our community.

LEGACY. LEADERSHIP. SERVICE.

For the next generation.

Junior Achievement

™

of South Florida

BUILD YOUR LEGACY WITH JA. JASouthFlorida.org

CHARITABLEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2026 29

In South Florida, the most glamorous nights are often the most purposeful, and the women who know them best say how you show up matters as much as why you’re there.

here is a rhythm to philanthropy in South Florida that outsiders rarely see. It begins quietly in late September — a luncheon here, a cocktail reception there — and builds steadily toward the grand signature galas that define the season before winding down by early May. For Ladan Ahmadi Patel, Second Vice President of Membership for the Royal Dames of Cancer Research, that rhythm has become a way of life.

Ahmadi Patel entered Broward County’s nonprofit community in 2019, after purchasing her home from a prominent local philanthropist. She was then connected with several organizations, including Royal Dames. What started with hosting fundraisers grew into a board seat and a front-row view of what makes this world run.

“Philanthropy is woven into the fabric of South Florida,” she says. “Our galas are more than social events — they bring people together to support

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› Ladan Ahmadi Patel

“Philanthropy is woven into the fabric of South Florida.

Our galas are more than social events — they bring people together to support meaningful causes and strengthen the community.” meaningful causes and strengthen the community.”

Stacie Weisman, Managing Member of Bloomers Frozen Drinks and founder of Ben’s Badazz Bloody Mary Mix — in which profits support suicide prevention — arrived at philanthropy through a different door. It started as part of her professional life, though it later turned into something deeply personal.

“You have to help people at their lowest and lend a hand up,” she says. “Mental health help is a job for all.”

After losing the person closest to her to complications of mental health, she channeled her grief into action, founding her charity brand with a singular focus. “Mental health in this country needs all the support it can get.”

No matter their pull into philanthropy, both women agree that when it comes to raising awareness and fundraising, nothing replaces a room.

For Ahmadi Patel, a great gala delivers what a donation page cannot: a night people feel together, from the excitement in the room to a real connection with the cause. gether, from the excitement in CHARITABLEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2026 31

“People want to connect with a cause while having a memorable, fun evening, not sit through endless speeches.”

Weisman puts it more plainly: “Band, your tablemates, and a good bar. There’s no digital band that gets you and your friends shaking it on a dance floor.”

The energy of a room, both say, does not happen by accident.

“Every aspect of a successful event should be thoughtfully planned,” Ahmadi Patel says. “A strong, engaging master of ceremonies and/or auctioneer and a well-paced program are essential to keeping the audience energized and engaged. It is also important to create an enjoyable experience; while fundraising is the goal, guests also want a fun, memorable evening, not simply a long dinner filled with speeches.”

And then there is fashion, which, in this world, is never just fashion.

Dressing for the occasion is a form of participation, explains Ahmadi Patel. “The way someone presents themselves reflects the importance they place on the occasion and contributes to the atmosphere of the evening.”

Weisman, who admits she knows what she’s wearing months before any event, frames it as a mindset. “Feel good, give more,” she says.

Ahmadi Patel has noticed a shift in how people dress since the pandemic, a move toward cocktail attire and sport coats where black tie and evening gowns once dominated. She reads it as a reflection of a younger generation and more full-time residents joining the philanthropic community.

The standard, they agree, still matters. “One can never be overdressed for a gala,” Ahmadi Patel says. ■

The Dress Code, Decoded Black Tie Ahmadi Patel: “Whether it’s a chic cocktail dress, a dramatic evening gown, or a beautifully tailored tuxedo or suit, the key is to look polished, sophisticated, and event appropriate.”

Cocktail Attire Weisman: “Tea-length to just above the knee is perfect, with just a bit of sparkle.”

Garden Party Weisman: “This isn’t the Derby. Minimize the florals.

And never wear a hat that could decapitate someone.”

Universal Rule Weisman: “Do not go alone to the dressmaker. Bring a friend who will look at the back of the dress, too.”

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› Stacie Weisman

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CHARITABLEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2026 33

CHAMPIONS OF CHARITY

The Man in Pink How one Fort Lauderdale attorney turned a jacket into a movement

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M

‹ Left: Michael Wild hosts an event in his signature pink jacket.

Michael D. Wild has spent more than a decade showing up for Broward County — on boards, at galas, and every October, in a pink jacket.

In his own words, Wild explains how he turned a breast cancer awareness campaign into a decade-long community tradition and why the jacket keeps finding its way back to his closet each October: “When I was first approached about participating in the American Cancer Society’s annual campaign, Real Men Wear Pink, over a decade ago, I was already serving on a dozen nonprofit boards and was worried that if I asked for any more donations or event sponsorships, people would start avoiding me.

As the owner of a law firm whose success relies on people taking my calls, I needed to be a bit more creative.

Much like race car drivers or golfers, I decided to sell ad space on my uniform: a pink jacket to support breast cancer awareness. For a specified donation to the American Cancer Society, I use colored Sharpies to draw the logos or messages of the donor. I then wear the jacket for all 31 days of October, acting as a walking billboard for both the donors and the cause.

“I’m proud to be a member of a community that is so philanthropic. Broward County continues to thrive because of the collaboration and support that we provide to each other.”

The pink jacket has traveled to the top of the Empire State Building, the sidelines of the Giants-Eagles game, wine tastings in Napa Valley, the frozen bleachers in South Bend during a Notre Dame-USC game, and even to Nashville for a friend’s bachelor party.

The Nashville trip was uniquely rewarding. I met a young woman whose mother battled breast cancer. She asked if she could sign the jacket and proceeded to write a message of love and strength to her mother on the front. Another person overheard and expressed a similar experience, so I had him sign the front, too. That year, we had sponsors on the back and survivors on the front.

I don’t think I could stop the jacket, even if I wanted to. It’s become an expectation of the Fort Lauderdale community.

Each year, I challenge myself to visit more locations, incorporate more sponsors, and recruit more guys to participate in Real Men Wear Pink. I’m proud to be a member of a community that is so philanthropic. Broward County continues to thrive because of the collaboration and support that we provide to each other.” ■

CHARITABLEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2026 35

BE THE IMPACT. CHANGE A LIFE.

One Mentor. One Advocate. One Donor.

One Volunteer can change a child’s future forever.

Join 120 years of Changing Lives.

Together we can empower the next generation

For 120 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County has helped young people realize their full potential through the power of mentorship.

Join us in creating the next generation of success stories.

WAYS TO MAKE AN IMPACT

MENTOR

CONNECT

Become a Big

Join an Impact Network

GIVE BIG

Invest in Potential

Change two lives – including your own.

Provide guidance, encouragement, and support to help children in Broward build confidence, reach goals, and realize their potential.

Engage with like-minded missiondrive community leaders through Women on the Verge, Big League, Alumni Network that champion youth success.

Support mentoring relationships though donations, sponsorships, workplace giving, fundraising events or corporate partnerships.

ENGAGE

SHARE

INSPIRE

Be Part of The Movement

Support and attend signature events, volunteer opportunities and community activities that help create meaningful mentoring experiences.

Advocate and Use Your Voice for Broward Youth

Spread awareness about mentorship and connect more young people and families with life-changing opportunities.

Bring Mentorship to The Workplace

Bring learning to life - Host youth workplace visits, career exploration experiences and real-world learning that inspire future success.

RESULTS – The Impact of Mentorship

100% Graduated from High School • 99% stayed out of the juvenile justice system Increased self-confidence, emotional regulation, social competence, and connectedness

READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT? • Become a mentor • Volunteer • Join an Impact network

• Donate • Attend events • Receive updates

#bbbsbroward • bbbsbroward.org/support 36

SEPTEMBER 2026 | CHARITABLEMAG.COM

Scan the QR Code to learn how you can help shape the next generation.

Beauty with a Purpose...

A 25-Year Legacy of Giving Back

In 2001, high school friends, Tresa Stiles and Nicole Maggio opened Casbah Spa and Salon, offering exceptional salon services and globally influenced spa treatments. In 2024, Casbah Med Spa was introduced under the care of Dr. Josephine Bonell, M.D., expanding its full-service beauty and wellness offerings.

Nicole and Tresa believe that successful businesses have a responsibility to strengthen the communities they serve. Over the past 25 years, they have supported at least 25 community organizations and local schools... and will continue.

954.630.0633 / casbahspa.com / 1000 Seminole Drive, Suite 400, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

CHARITABLEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2026 37

‹

‹

Jewish Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy

Jewish Federation’s Leadership Mission to Israel

Stronger Together Broward County is home to more than 180,000 Jewish residents, making it one of the largest Jewish communities in the country. The Jewish Federation of Broward County and its partner organizations have spent decades making sure it is also one of the strongest.

or more than 80 years, the Jewish Federation of Broward County has carried the responsibility of holding that community together.

“That number represents both an incredible opportunity and a profound responsibility to ensure every individual and family can find connection, care, and a meaningful place in Jewish life,” says President and CEO Audra Berg.

The Jewish Federation’s name is familiar across Broward. But what sits behind it is bigger than most people imagine.

“People often think of Federation as a fundraiser, but we’re really a community builder,” she says. “We bring people and resources together to care for people in need, strengthen Jewish life, respond to crises at home, in Israel, and around the world, and build the future of the Jewish people through strategic investments that will benefit generations to come.”

This year alone, the organization invested more than $23 million across more than 100 programs, and its annual campaign is the strongest it has been in two decades.

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“No other organization brings together the full Jewish community the way Federation does,” Berg says. “We convene partners, align resources, respond to emerging needs, and invest strategically to strengthen the entire Jewish ecosystem.”

The results speak for themselves: Federationsupported programs prepared 18,000 meals for the hungry and delivered food to more than 10,000 people through partner pantries.

Another 2,000 people received mental health services. Some 2,455 individuals with disabilities took part in life-enhancing programs, and 1,556 scholarships sent children to day school, preschool, and camp.

Security has become the clearest illustration of what a coordinated community can do.

Federation operates a full-scale community security initiative that provides customized planning and training for institutions and events, free safety equipment, coordination with law enforcement, and real-time threat

monitoring across a shared network.

More than 80% of Jewish institutions in the county are now protected through it. Its Jewish Community Relations Council and Hillels take the same fight to campuses, government, and public life.

Some of the Federation’s work, however, is much quieter.

“Many people are surprised to learn that one of our sacred responsibilities is ensuring that every Jew has a dignified Jewish burial, regardless of their financial circumstances or whether they have family to make arrangements,” Berg says.

“It’s one example of how Federation quietly cares for our community at every stage of life, often in ways most people never see.”

That same instinct shapes its work with Holocaust survivors. South Florida has one of the largest populations of Holocaust survivors in the country,

‹ Left: Jewish Federation’s Emerging Leaders

› Past Board Chair Doug Berman, President & CEO Audra P. Berg, and Board Chair Seth Wise

with roughly 1,500 living in Broward County alone, and more than 30% of survivors nationwide live near poverty.

Through the Holocaust Survivors Fund, Federation underwrites case management, home care, monthly food assistance, and holiday visits, much of it delivered through partner agencies.

At the other end of the age range, the investment starts before kindergarten.

Each month, more than 4,000 Broward children receive PJ Library books connecting them to Jewish stories and traditions. Some 600 educators strengthened their teaching through professional learning programs. A thousand students deepened their connection to Israel through the Federation’s “shinshinim,” Israeli emissaries, while nearly 100 teens and adults traveled with March of the Living, a program that is centered on Holocaust remembrance.

The Federation’s reach, though, extends well past the county line. In the wake of war, Federation delivered emergency relief and recovery aid to more than one million Israelis through its global partners, and it helps Jews in more than 70 countries access safety, dignity, and hope. Closer to home, it worked with more than 200 civic, interfaith, and government partners this year.

What comes next is being shaped by the community itself. Federation spent time listening before it started building.

“We’re in a moment of transformation,”

Berg says. “After listening to more than 1,400 community members through Ignite Broward, we’re now turning that vision into action by launching initiatives that will strengthen Jewish life for generations to come.”

Ignite Broward, the resulting decadelong strategy, is now being implemented around stronger connections, future leaders, collaborative partnerships, and more accessible pathways into Jewish life.

“We’re especially excited about Jewish Broward 411, an initiative we’re currently building that will soon make it easier for anyone to find Jewish programs, services, and resources through a single trusted entry point,” Berg says.

The thinking behind it reflects how people now expect to find everything else.

“People expect connection to be simple, personalized, and immediate, and we’re embracing that reality,” she says. “We’re investing in new digital platforms and communication tools that make it easier for people to discover opportunities, access resources, and engage with Jewish life on their terms.”

Donors have changed alongside them.

“Today’s donors want to be partners, not just contributors,” Berg says. “They want to understand outcomes, see collaboration, and invest in bold ideas that create lasting change.”

Some of that shift traces back to a single date.

“Since October 7, we’ve seen an extraordinary desire for people to connect

“Today’s donors want to be partners, not just contributors.

They want to understand outcomes, see collaboration, and invest in bold ideas that create lasting change.”

more deeply to their Jewish identity, stand with Israel, and support one another,” Berg says. “At the same time, rising antisemitism and growing community needs have reinforced that strong Jewish communities require intentional leadership, partnership, and investment.”

More than 1,000 people gathered in Broward to commemorate the anniversary of the attacks. What the months afterward made visible was the machinery underneath, the agencies and partnerships that had been built long before anyone needed them.

Berg says that if she could get every nonprofit leader in the county into one room, she would ask a single question: “How do we stop competing for attention and start designing systems that make it easier for people to access the help, relationships, and opportunities they need? The biggest challenges facing our communities are too complex for any one organization to solve alone.”

Three of Federation’s partners show what that looks like on the ground. ■

CHARITABLEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2026 39

CHAMPIONS OF CHARITY

Goodman Jewish Family Services oodman Jewish Family Services has spent nearly 65 years expanding what it means to show up for someone in crisis.

President and CEO Randy Colman describes an organization rooted in tikkun olam, a foundational Jewish concept that translates to “repairing the world,” and welcoming every person with dignity and compassion.

“We don’t just solve one problem,” he says. “We help people navigate life’s challenges from every angle. Someone may first come to us because they need food. During that conversation, we may discover they’re struggling with anxiety, caring for an aging parent, experiencing domestic violence, or facing eviction. Because of the breadth of our services, we don’t hand them a list of referrals. We walk alongside them.”

Across 12 integrated programs, Goodman JFS serves thousands of individuals and families each year, connecting people to mental health counseling, food assistance, elder care, and more. The Dorit & Ben J. Genet Cupboard recently hit two million meals served, and a refrigerated truck will soon push fresh food deeper into underserved neighborhoods across the county.

“Behind every meal is a family, a senior, a child, or a veteran who didn’t have to choose between paying rent and buying groceries,” Colman says. “It’s a reminder that food insecurity exists in every corner of Broward County."■

“Behind every meal is a family, a senior, a child, or a veteran who didn’t have to choose between paying rent and buying groceries.

It’s a reminder that food insecurity exists in every corner of Broward County.”

‹ Goodman JFS Holocaust Survivor Event

Jewish Family Home Care Jewish Family Home Care (JFHC) is one of Broward County’s largest nonprofit providers of non-medical home health care, serving more than 400 clients, including more than 300 Holocaust survivors.

Their caregivers provide personalized care that allows seniors to remain safely and independently in their own homes while supporting their physical, emotional, and social well-being.

“JFHC’s mission has always been to help seniors of all faiths age with dignity, compassion, and respect in their own homes,” says Chief Executive Officer Robin Miller. “Over the last two years, that mission has become even more meaningful as many seniors, especially Holocaust survivors, continue facing loneliness, health challenges, and the emotional impact of world events. For many of our clients, our caregivers provide much more than assistance with daily activities. They provide companionship, comfort, and peace of mind.”

One client, a Holocaust survivor well into his 90s with limited vision and mobility, still lives in the home he loves because of the support and assistance from Jewish Family Home Care’s caregivers.

“We are investing in our caregivers, strengthening community partnerships, and expanding access to quality home care so more seniors can age safely in place,” Miller says. “As South Florida’s senior population continues to grow, ensuring they receive compassionate, personalized care today helps build a stronger and healthier community for generations to come.”

Miller adds: “Our work is guided by Jewish values centered on compassion, respect, and caring for others. Those values are timeless. We also recognize that younger generations want to make an impact in meaningful ways. Whether through volunteering, philanthropy, or caring for aging family members, we encourage the next generation to see supporting seniors as an opportunity to strengthen both their families and the community.” ■

“We are investing in our caregivers, strengthening community partnerships, and expanding access to quality home care so more seniors can age safely in place.”

‹ Federation’s Annual March of the Living Program

The David Posnack Jewish Community Center he David Posnack Jewish Community Center (JCC) has spent decades putting Jewish life under one roof. The southwest Broward campus serves infants through seniors year-round, and Chief Executive Officer Scott Ehrlich says the best part is watching them cross paths.

“I love seeing a senior walking the track with some young moms in the morning, and they’re talking about life,” he says. “It really becomes this center of socialization and friendship.”

All in one place, Ehrlich says, people are “socializing, making friends, getting to know each other, and getting to appreciate not only people that are Jewish, but people [of] other faiths that are here as well.”

The roster is long enough that most members only know their own corner of it. There’s a fitness center, aquatics, an indoor running track, tennis and racquetball, batting cages, dance, and martial arts. The cultural calendar carries the Diane & Barry Wilen Jewish Book Festival alongside annual film and music festivals. Seniors can come Monday through Friday for a free kosher meal. The

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Susan and Saul Singer Early Childhood Learning Center has a full preschool and infant day care, and a youth program with hundreds of kids runs Jewish programming on Saturdays and helps look after the younger ones.

“It’s about the next generation,” he says, “and making sure they understand [not only] who we are [but also] the fact that you have to accept everybody for who they are no matter what religion or what race.”

Looking ahead, the J is expanding east this year, toward the roughly 60,000 Jews Ehrlich estimates live in the East Fort Lauderdale area.

The new offices will operate as the David Posnack JCC of Greater Fort Lauderdale and will feature pop-up programming at restaurants, museums, private homes and partner synagogues.

“We really become that central address for the Jewish community, and I’m really proud of that because this wasn’t here when I was a kid,” Ehrlich says. “It’s the power of the J for everybody.” ■

“We really become that central address for the Jewish community, and I’m really proud of that because this wasn’t here when I was a kid. It’s the power of the J for everybody.”

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SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE AT 988 CHARITABLEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2026 43

Stefanie Springer Co-President

Broten Garage Door Sales 886 S Andrews Avenue, Pompano Beach broten.com What causes do you support?

We support many amazing causes, but I love to focus on anything local. There is so much need right here in South Florida, and South Florida has been so good to Broten for over 70 years. We are a family-owned third generation local company, so I believe the best way we can give back is to make our community a better place. The causes that are closest to my heart are those geared toward children in foster care.

What led you to support these causes?

My husband and I became foster parents through 4KIDS (4kids.org) in 2023. Our first placement was a sibling set of three teenagers who had nothing with them except for the clothes on their backs. The Hands and Feet (thehandsandfeet.org) helped us in a huge way.

I filled out a form with their sizes and the next morning there was a bag at my door for each child with clothes and shoes specifically picked out for them. It helped us to bridge the gap for our kids and get them items they desperately needed.

What are the biggest challenges your causes face?

The Hands and Feet’s biggest challenge is ensuring they have the resources available to meet the needs of children impacted by the child welfare system. Consistent funding is critical to their ability to respond quickly to requests. 4KIDS’ biggest challenge, as with any foster agency, is a lack of foster parents. If you have room in your heart and are curious about becoming a foster parent, please go to their website to learn more.

People often tell me they don’t want to foster because they are afraid they will get too attached, and my answer is always the same: “You will, but every child deserves to have someone get attached to them.”

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35 Years of Changing Lives

Left to right: Aggie Pappas, Founding Executive Director pictured with Board Vice Chair Whitney Dutton, Board Chair Ashley Boxer, Executive Director Ashley King and students Andrea and Lundon.

For 35 years, Pace Center for Girls Broward has helped create brighter futures for girls while strengthening our community.

Through education, counseling, therapy, mentoring, and lifeskills development, Pace helps girls overcome barriers, build confidence, discover their potential, and see what’s possible.

As we celebrate this milestone, we’re not only reflecting on 35 years of impact—we’re looking ahead to what comes next. We invite community leaders, partners, and supporters to help shape that future.

8 in 10 GIRLS improve academically 8 in 10 GIRLS are engaged in their community 8 in 10 GIRLS improve healthy social relationships

There are many ways to make a meaningful difference: invest in our mission, connect Pace to new partnerships and resources, share your expertise, advocate for the girls we serve, or explore service on our Board of Directors.

The next 35 years will be shaped by people who believe in the potential of our girls and are ready to help turn that potential into possibility.

Join us in creating what’s next.

To learn more contact Dorian T. Lange at dorian.lange@pacecenter.org.

Pace Center for Girls Broward

@pacebroward

CHARITABLEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2026 45

CHAMPIONS OF CHARITY

Behind Every Cause

“We connect nonprofit leaders to the knowledge, relationships, and opportunities that shape civic life across South Florida.”

he Nonprofit Executive Alliance (NEA) unites more than 150 nonprofit chief executive officers and executive directors across South Florida, connecting the dots between healthcare, housing, economic development, homelessness, education, the arts, and human services. As Florida’s largest nonprofit CEO coalition, they bring leaders together to foster peer-to-peer support, strengthen collaboration, and deliver solutions addressing shared community challenges.

“The NEA connects nonprofit leaders to the knowledge, relationships, and opportunities that shape civic life across South Florida,” says strategy officer Sandra Veszi Einhorn. “By connecting organizations with the right partners, helping leaders navigate complex challenges, and ‹ Left: NEA Members and Community Leaders

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‹

creating opportunities for collaboration, the NEA strengthens the organizations that communities rely on every day. Much of this work happens behind the scenes, but its impact extends far beyond individual organizations. When one leader becomes more knowledgeable or confident in their public leadership, it creates a ripple effect throughout the community.”

The NEA also recognizes that while nonprofit leaders often share many of the same challenges, the demands of their work can leave them operating in silos. By creating a trusted environment where executives can build relationships, exchange ideas, and support one another, the NEA is helping to build a stronger, more connected, and more resilient nonprofit sector across South Florida.

“Today’s nonprofit landscape is increasingly complex,” she says. “Organizations are being asked to do more with fewer resources while navigating workforce challenges, evolving public policy, and growing community needs. Rather than encouraging leaders to simply work harder, the NEA creates opportunities for them to pause, connect with their peers, and recognize that many of the issues they face extend beyond any single organization’s mission.”

That collaborative approach comes to life through the NEA’s CEO Network, Affinity Groups, and Issue-Based Groups, which provide nonprofit leaders with peer-driven opportunities to exchange

Above: NEA Members and Community Leaders

“If leaders are more connected and better equipped to serve their communities because of the NEA, that’s a win for everyone.” ideas, share solutions, and collaborate on topics and issues that impact all residents, businesses, and tourists of our region.

These gatherings provide nonprofit leaders with a trusted space to learn from one another’s experiences and develop partnerships that often continue long after the meetings conclude.

Looking to the future, the NEA envisions becoming an even more indispensable resource for nonprofit leaders across South Florida. Success will not be measured simply by organizational growth, but by the growth, strength, and resilience of South Florida and all its communities.

“If leaders are more connected and better equipped to serve their communities because of the NEA, that’s a win for everyone,” Einhorn adds. “At its core, the NEA believes that investing in nonprofit leaders benefits not only the organizations they lead but the communities they serve.” ■

CHARITABLEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2026 47

For tickets and sponsorships, scan the QR code or go to https://rdfall26.givesmart.com Or contact Royal Dames at http://www.royaldames.org or 954-546-0868 A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7532) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. REGISTRATION #CH/273. FOR TAX PURPOSES CONSULT YOUR TAX PROFESSIONAL.

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Find Your One...Find Your Soul Cat Come to PURRR, Broward’s top feline adoption agency and largest sanctuary. We personally match people and cats by their personalities and lifestyles, not just by fur color.

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Tanya Heller, Founder & CEO | Ken Hansted, Executive Director | SEPTEMBER 2026 49 CHARITABLEMAG.COM

CHAMPIONS OF CHARITY ‹ Kal Gajraj, PhD, MBA, CDP, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at CAN Community Health

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Where There’s a Need, There’s a CAN CAN Community Health was born during a crisis. Today, it’s one of South Florida’s most ambitious community health organizations.

s the HIV epidemic tore through communities with speed and devastation more than 40 years ago, the response was largely left to organizations willing to show up when no one else would. CAN Community Health was one of them.

Thirty-five years later, what began as HIV care has since expanded into behavioral health, pharmacy services, telehealth, and primary and dental care. Serving more than 35,000 patients across six states, its leadership has a name for where it’s headed: the “Wellness Era.” “The moment we’re in is one of transformation and momentum,” says Kal Gajraj, PhD, MBA, CDP, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at CAN Community Health. “We’re moving beyond treating illness and toward creating healthier communities through prevention, education, and empowerment.”

“In our Wellness Era, we’re redefining what it means to be a community health organization,” he adds, “not simply helping people survive, but helping them thrive.”

The results of that philosophy are quietly taking shape.

More than 90% of CAN patients living with HIV are virally suppressed, meaning they can live full, healthy lives, according to Gajraj.

“For us, 90% isn’t just a statistic; it’s thousands of success stories happening every day,” he says.

It’s also a number that reflects an entire ecosystem of support through CAN: patient navigation, behavioral health, pharmacy services, and a “Patient Assistance Fund,” which helps patients facing unexpected financial barriers to healthcare.

“Some of the most important work we do isn’t clinical at all,” Gajraj says. “It’s helping remove the everyday barriers that stand between people and better health.”

That idea drives CAN’s many partnerships, including with Stonewall Pride, the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida, the OutShine Film Festival, and Gray Box Theater. For Gajraj, even sponsoring a film festival can be considered healthcare.

“We believe healthcare should be woven into the communities we serve,” he says. “Whether we’re walking in a Pride parade, supporting local artists, sponsoring cultural events, or providing health education in community spaces,

“Scientific breakthroughs alone won’t end epidemics,” Gajraj says.

“Equitable access to those breakthroughs will.”

we’re demonstrating that health and wellness belong everywhere people live, work, celebrate, and connect.”

Reaching people where they are extends beyond community events. Through its Online PrEP program, CAN brings HIV prevention directly to patients through a digital platform, while an automated chatbot offers a discreet entry point for anyone not ready to walk through a clinic door.

Looking ahead, by 2030, the organization has set its sights on ending the HIV epidemic entirely.

“Scientific breakthroughs alone won’t end epidemics,” Gajraj says. “Equitable access to those breakthroughs will.”

“If we can continue removing barriers, embracing innovation, and strengthening partnerships across healthcare, government, philanthropy, and community organizations, I believe the next decade can be one of the most transformative periods in public health history,” he adds. ■

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CHAMPIONS OF CHARITY

The United Way Forward United Way Broward CEO Kathleen Cannon on eight decades of impact and the work still left to do.

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K

Kathleen Cannon has led United Way Broward for more than 15 years — long enough to have watched South Florida’s needs evolve and relentless enough to keep meeting them. Under her leadership, the organization has grown from a traditional funder of community programs into something harder to categorize: housing developer, food distributor, veterans’ services coordinator, literacy initiative, and policy voice.

At a moment when donors are more discerning, and the nonprofit sector is being asked to do more with less, Cannon is clear-eyed about the work ahead.

What’s one thing your organization does that no other nonprofit in South Florida is doing?

Most nonprofits are experts in one issue. United Way Broward focuses on the entire community.

We look across every neighborhood, every age group, and every major challenge to identify where systems aren’t working.

Then we mobilize the partner agencies, businesses, elected officials, policymakers, and funders who can solve these problems together.

What initiative or program are you most excited about right now?

United for Housing is one of the most exciting things we’re doing because it changes lives for today and for generations. It can end generational poverty. We’re investing in multiple affordable housing developments across Broward and purchasing apartment buildings ourselves to help preserve affordable rents for working families.

What’s something your organization does that would genuinely surprise people?

The power and the challenge of United Way Broward is that we do so much that it is hard for our community to know everything we do. For example, we train police officers in deescalation techniques to serve people that may be in a mental health crisis; we run middle- and highschool clubs to promote anti-bullying behaviors; we launched a multi-state initiative titled MISSION UNITED to provide comprehensive care to veterans, their spouses, and their children; under our Project Lifeline program, we have distributed more than 24 million pounds of food to over seven million people throughout the county since 2009. We fund over 130 organizations across our community, and all of what I described is not even the half of the amazing work we do.

What’s one statistic you wish more people knew?

49% of Broward County households — nearly one in every two — can’t afford the basic cost of living, even though many are working full-time. These ALICE households (Asset Limited, Income

Constrained, Employed) earn above the federal poverty level but still can’t consistently afford essentials like housing, child care, groceries, transportation, and health care. The federal poverty measure simply doesn’t reflect today’s cost of living, which is why this issue often goes unnoticed. They are our teachers, health aides, construction workers, and service employees — people who keep our community running. This statistic should change how we think about financial hardship.

If you could get every major nonprofit leader in the county in a room, what conversation would you force them to have?

I would advocate that we rethink how nonprofits can operate together. Our missions may be different, but many of us duplicate administrative functions like HR, payroll, IT, finance, and technology.

By sharing services, forming strategic partnerships, or even considering mergers where appropriate, organizations could spend less on infrastructure and invest funds, efforts, and talents in better serving the community. ■

‹ Left: United Way Broward CEO Kathleen Cannon CHARITABLEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2026 53

Executive Search Technology Staffing Professional Recruiting Interim Resources

@StevenDouglasHQ 54 SEPTEMBER 2026 | CHARITABLEMAG.COM

stevendouglas.com

HUMANE SOCIETY OF BROWARD COUNTY

Our Mission is...

Advocating for and improving the lives of animals by providing adoptions, community services, and education.

SAVE THE DATES!

V C A WA L K

FO R T H E A N I M A L S

PAWS Gala

FEBRUARY 20, 2027

APRIL 17, 2027

LAS OLAS INTRACOASTAL PROMENADE PARK

MARRIOTT HARBOR BEACH RESORT & SPA

Visit our website for more information and upcoming events

Follow us! @browardhumane @humanebroward

humanebroward.com

954.989.3977

@humanebroward

CHARITABLEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2026 55

@humanebroward

CHAMPIONS OF CHARITY ‹ Mark and Tiffani Dhooge

The Same Table

For more than three decades, Mark and Tiffani Dhooge built two separate organizations and one shared life, all in service of Broward’s most vulnerable children. Now, they’re stepping back together and welcoming the next generation of change-makers.

ark Dhooge dedicated 33 years to Kids In Distress and Family Central — including 15 as President and CEO — two organizations that together serve approximately 20,000 children and families in Broward County each year.

His wife, Tiffani, spent more than 25 years building child welfare programs and leading organizations before serving as President and CEO of Children’s Harbor, an organization exclusively dedicated to teenagers in and aging out of foster care.

In other words: Two separate boards with two separate missions, yet the same kitchen table at the end of every day.

“Child welfare doesn’t stay at the office,” Tiffani says. “It follows you home.”

“We talked about kids over dinner. We talked about budgets on vacation. We solved personnel issues while folding laundry.

More than once, conversations that started in the office followed us all the way to the bedroom. Was it a gift to have someone who understood this work without needing an explanation?

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Absolutely. But that gift came with a cost.”

Now, after a combined half-century of service, both are stepping back to make room for what comes next — and for each other.

The Work Between Them The couple’s organizations address different parts of the same problem. KID and Family Central work upstream, strengthening families before the child welfare system ever has to intervene through early childhood education, family support programs, and crisis intervention. Children’s Harbor operates later in the story, serving teenagers who have already spent years inside the system.

“Changing the life of one child has never required everyone to do everything. It has simply required each of us to do something.”

“KID is working to prevent children from ever entering the child welfare system,” Tiffani says.

“Children’s Harbor is making sure the children who do enter it aren’t defined by it.”

“In a perfect world, organizations like Children’s Harbor wouldn’t need to exist because organizations like KID had succeeded,” Tiffani adds. “I’d celebrate that day. Until then, we’ll keep helping teenagers build lives that are bigger than the trauma they’ve survived.”

Mark measures the impact of his work in the cases that never happened — the child who stayed home because a family was stabilized in time, the parent who found support before reaching a breaking point.

“Some of our greatest successes are stories that will never make the news,” he says, “because a child remained safely at home, or a difficult chapter ended before it became a lifelong tragedy.”

Tiffani measures hers in specifics: the college acceptance email forwarded with three exclamation points, the photo of a first apartment captioned, “I did it,” or the text that says, “Guess who got the job?”

“I’ve always measured success by how many children no longer need us,” she says.

When asked what 33 years have taught him, Mark doesn’t reach for milestones. “It’s the people,” he says — the case managers who refused to give up on families everyone else had written off, the employees who answered late-night calls not because they had to, but because somewhere, a child was depending on them. “Most people will never know their names.

But I do.”

Tiffani, who has watched her husband lead for most of her career, is clear about his impact. “Mark is, without question, the greatest leader I’ve ever known.

Team KID doesn’t just respect him as their CEO. They trust him like family.”

The Next Chapter Both Dhooges leave with the same message: This work belongs to everyone.

Mark and Tiffani Dhooge

“I’d want people to understand that communities become stronger when ordinary people make the extraordinary decision to care for one another,” Mark says.

Every child, he believes, deserves at least one adult who sees them and refuses to give up on them. Mentor a child, become a foster parent, check on a struggling neighbor.

“Changing the life of one child has never required everyone to do everything,” he says. “It has simply required each of us to do something.”

As they reflect on the past and the future, both describe their departures less as endings than as completions.

“I don’t see it as letting go,” Mark says.

“I’ve never believed this organization belonged to me.”

Tiffani shares a similar sentiment: “I feel like I’m finishing what I was called here to do. Every leader writes a chapter. None of us gets to write the whole book.”

Their successors — Raeann Bacchus at Kids In Distress and Family Central, and Theresa Kennedy at Children’s Harbor — inherit organizations both Dhooges describe as stronger than when they arrived. That, Mark says, is the only measure of leadership that matters.

Next up for the Dhooges: The Dhooge Den, a Substack where they plan to trade boardrooms for something more personal, sharing lessons from a lifetime of leadership, stories from the road, and a front-row seat to their own family’s story for the first time.

Follow their next chapter at thedhoogeden.substack.com. ■

CHARITABLEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2026 57

CHAMPIONS OF CHARITY

Kids In Distress & Family Central Raeann Bacchus has spent more than two

decades working across child welfare, public health, and human services — from the front lines as a Child Protective Investigator to a $4.4 billion state budget as Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Florida Department of Children & Families, to overseeing Medicaid child health products at CVS Healthcare.

Now she’s bringing all of it to Kids In Distress and Family Central as its incoming President and CEO. “I was raised in a family where education was the cornerstone of our lives,” she says. “My mother is an educator, and both she and my father instilled in my sisters and me that education, whether academic or technical, is the one thing no one can ever take away from you. KID’s model of education, prevention, and intervention resonated with me on a very personal level. KID is a place where children will have the chance to build an unbreakable foundation.”

She describes the responsibility ahead with the same language she uses for leadership itself.

“My responsibility is to be legacy- and mission-focused and build upon what Mark has already created, with a great deal of thoughtfulness and intentionality,” she says. “It’s the only way we’ll leave a lasting fingerprint on the lives of the children, families, employees, and the community we are privileged to serve.”

As for where she wants to take the organization: “Twenty years from now, I hope KID is known as the city on the hill whose light never dimmed because we never stopped showing up for our children and our community.” ■

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Children’s Harbor For more than two decades, Theresa

Kennedy has built her career around one belief: Every young person deserves someone who refuses to give up on them.

That conviction has taken her from the front lines of foster care to executive leadership in child welfare, human trafficking prevention, and family services.

Now, as the incoming President and CEO of Children’s Harbor, Kennedy brings both the perspective of someone who has walked alongside these young adults and the experience to lead an organization built for them.

“My role isn’t to reinvent Children’s Harbor,” she says. “It’s to build on that foundation.”

“Perhaps most importantly, we need to continue changing the conversation about foster care,” she adds. “I want people to stop seeing these young people through the lens of their trauma and start seeing them through the lens of their potential. I believe every young person deserves someone who believes in them. When a community chooses to invest in its young people, it doesn’t just change one life; it changes generations. That’s the future I see for Children’s Harbor, and it’s one I’m incredibly proud to help build.”

Looking ahead, her measure of success will be anything but a headcount. “I don’t want our success measured by the number of young people we serve. I want it measured by the lives they build.” ■ CHARITABLEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2026 59

ART LIVES HERE

HOLLYWOOD ART AND CULTURE CENTER Contemporary gallery exhibitions, live performances, cinematic experiences, and community arts education — all centrally located in downtown Hollywood.

WWW.CENTERHOLLYWOOD.ORG

GOODMAN Jewish Family Services MISSION Goodman JFS of Broward County, Inc. is dedicated to empowering individuals, strengthening families, protecting the vulnerable and helping seniors age safely and with dignity in their homes by providing innovative social services and programs to the Broward community.

Services provided by Goodman JFS are based on Jewish values to improve quality of life regardless of race, religion, ethnic background, sexual orientation, and/or gender identity.

RANDY COLMAN, MS, MBA

President & Chief Executive Officer

BARBARA GOLDBERG Board Chair

Empowering those in need with the resources to succeed.

5890 S. Pine Island Road, Suite 201 Davie, FL 33328

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SEPTEMBER 2026 | CHARITABLEMAG.COM

(954) 370-2140

ABOUT US Founded in 1962, Goodman JFS’ holistic approach improves quality of life for the most vulnerable. We use a wraparound service model to meet our clients’ basic needs, from food and clothing to homelessness prevention.

We offer social skills training for neurodivergent adults as well as employment readiness workshops and additional resources to build a better future for children, families, veterans and seniors, including Holocaust survivors.

We also empower individuals impacted by life’s challenges and trauma by providing counseling and personalized support. info@jfsbroward.org

jfsbroward.org

Allison Baker, President Marc Kaplan, Executive Director, Enterprise Development Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation Marc.Kaplan@Nicklaushealth.org (305) 323-8506

Howdocharitablegiftsdirectlyimpactthelivesofyourpatientsandfamilies?

Charitable giving is far more than financial support. It is the catalyst that transforms children’s lives and gives families hope when they need it most.

Every gift helps ensure that every child has access to world-class pediatric careclosetohome,regardlessoftheirfamily’sabilitytopay.Today,morethan 60%ofthechildrencaredforbyNicklausChildren’sHealthSystemarecovered

by Medicaid, making philanthropy an essential investment in our mission.

While Medicaid provides critical access to care, it does not fully cover the costofdeliveringthehighlyspecializedpediatricserviceschildrendeserve.

Philanthropicsupporthelpsbridgethatgap,ensuringnochildisdeniedaccess to the expertise, technology and compassionate care they need.

As Nicklaus Children’s Health System expands its reach across South Florida, philanthropy makes it possible to bring nationally recognized specialists,groundbreakingtechnology,life-savingtreatments,andfamilycenteredcarerightinyourbackyard.Charitablesupportfundsbreakthrough research,advancedmedicalequipment,ChildLifeservices,behavioralhealth resources,familyassistanceprograms,andinnovativetherapiesthatimprove outcomes while easing the emotional burden of care. These investments create healing environments where children can simply be children, and familiesfindcomfort,strength,andhopeduringlife’smostdifficultmoments.

Every philanthropic gift changes a child’s future while strengthening the health of our entire community.

Can you share a recent story that illustrates the difference philanthropy has made for a patient?

Beforehewasevenborn,Gabrielwasdiagnosedwithaseverecongenital heart defect. Determined to give their son the strongest possible start, his parents turned to Dr. David Kalfa and the team at Nicklaus Children’s Heart Institute for specialized care. Shortly after birth, Gabriel underwent an

extremelycomplexneonatalheartsurgerythatincludedreconstructionof his aortic arch, repair of truncus arteriosus, and correction of a narrowed pulmonary artery. He emerged from surgery with excellent heart function andastrongpathforward.Today,Gabrielisthriving.Hisjourneyisapowerful reminder that expert care, supported by philanthropy, gives children like Gabrielthechanceofahealthyfuture.Inthepast,familieshadtoleaveSouth Florida for this level of specialized pediatric care.Today, thanks to Dr. Kalfa andothernationallyrecognizedpediatricspecialists,wecankeepchildrenin South Florida, where they can heal at home.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to make a meaningful impact but isn’t sure where to begin?

I’dencourageanyonewho’sthinkingaboutgivingbacktostartbylearning about the mission and seeing the impact for themselves.Visit the hospital, meetourcaregivers,andhearthestoriesofthechildrenandfamiliesweserve.

Once you see the courage of these kids and the dedication of the people caring for them, it becomes very personal.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that making a difference requires makingahugegift.Thetruthiseverygiftmatters.Whetheryou’resupporting life-savingtechnology,groundbreakingresearch,familyprograms,orsimply helping ensure every child receives the care they need, you’re making a real difference in someone’s life.

There are so many ways to get involved beyond writing a check.You can volunteer, advocate, introduce others to the mission, or simply share why children’s healthcare matters to you. Every act of generosity helps build a healthier future for the children and families who count on us. That’s how meaningfulchangebegins,onechild,onefamily,andoneactofkindnessat a time.

CHARITABLEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2026 61

calendar

SOCIAL Calendar

2026

September 9

South Florida Institute on Aging

Support the South Florida Institute on Aging at SoFIA’s Got Talent at 6 p.m. at the Fort Lauderdale Improv. The evening features live entertainment from volunteers and community partners while helping fund programs that empower older adults and strengthen families throughout Broward County. thesofia.org.

18

30

Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida

eptember

Join Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida at the Emerald Awards Broward luncheon as four exceptional women making a lasting impact in Broward County are honored. The afternoon includes a silent auction, networking, a recognition luncheon, and a panel discussion celebrating leadership, service, and community. 561-676-4642; gssef.org.

20

Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation

The 10th annual Memorial Rehab Adaptive Sports and Recreation Bowl-A-Thon raises critical funds to help individuals with physical disabilities experience the joy of sports, recreation, and community. Proceeds support year-round adaptive programming that promotes inclusion, confidence, independence, and lifelong opportunities to stay active. 954518-5563; memorialrehabbowlathon.org.

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The Jewish Federation of Broward County

The Social Club is a growing community of Jewish adults in their 20s and 30s who gather monthly for events, get-togethers, and social experiences to connect, build lasting relationships, and deepen their engagement with Jewish life. Upcoming events include pickleball, tequila tastings, and singles social hours. jewishbroward.org/Young-Adult.

October 1 Royal Dames

Join the Royal Dames for an afternoon of inspiration, friendship, and purpose in support of lifesaving cancer research.

The gathering celebrates hope, honors progress, and helps fund the discoveries that will change lives for generations to come. royaldames.org.

OCTOBER

2

ArtServe

3

Community-Based Connections

In Memory Of, ArtServe’s members’ show, opens with a reception on October 2 and remains on view through December 4. The exhibition lends a nostalgic eye to the organization’s member artists as they portray their personal histories. artserve.org/upcoming-events/memory.

Community-Based Connections Inc., which has served underserved populations in Broward for more than 16 years, presents its fifth annual Green Blazer Awards Gala & Celebration at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort.

Honorees include Kirk Brown, Carol Hylton, Brian C. Johnson, Newton Sanon, FPL, and The GEO Group Foundation. communitybasedconnections.com.

3

Women In Distress Women In Distress hosts its third annual Leaves of Change event in Southwest Ranches.

The evening brings live music, food, drinks, and fall festivities while raising funds to help survivors of domestic violence. 754-3394748; widbroward.org.

10

16

FLIPANY Chefs Up Front, presented by the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort and Encore, invites guests to a private chef’s table where a renowned local chef prepares a five-course meal. Every menu is a surprise. Dinner is preceded by a reception and silent auction. Proceeds benefit FLIPANY’s nutrition and wellness programs. chefsupfront.org.

17

Chapman Partnership

The 2026 Chapman Partnership Illuminations Gala takes place at the JW Marriott Marquis Miami, highlighting the organization’s mission to serve those experiencing homelessness. Gala chairs are Jose and Heide Dans and Eddie and Maryam Borrego. chapmanpartnership.org/gala.

Nicklaus Children’s Hospital

The Diamond Ball begins at 6 p.m. at the JW Marriott Marquis, bringing together hundreds of supporters for an evening dedicated to advancing pediatric care for children and families across the region. nicklauschildrens.org/DiamondBall.

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SOCIAL Calendar 26 The Jewish Federation of Broward County

David Posnack JCC

Kosher chefs, restaurants, and markets are invited to put their signature recipes to the test and compete for the title of Best Kosher Chili. The event features a performance by country singer Joe Buchanan. dpjcc.org/programs.

23

Museum of Discovery and Science

Presented by Bank of America, the 30th annual Wine, Spirits & Culinary Celebration marks its pearl anniversary. The evening honors founders Steve Halmos and Keith Koenig, features distinctive tasting experiences, and benefits the MODS STEMobile outreach programs. mods.org/30wine.

24

Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation

The Red Gala is Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation’s annual fundraising event, bringing together philanthropists and community leaders for an evening of dining, entertainment, and impact. The 2026 event features a private performance by Goo Goo Dolls, with proceeds benefiting Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. 954-265-7224; ABeltz@mhs.net.

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November 2 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County

ovember

18

The Jewish Federation of Broward County’s Business & Professionals Society presents its annual Law & Leadership Reception, bringing together legal professionals for an evening of networking, relationship-building, and conversations exploring the profession’s most pressing challenges. jewishbroward.org/ Professionals.

This signature annual golf tournament at The Club at Weston Hills unites community leaders and supporters to benefit local youth. The event features championship golf, contests, awards, and prizes, raising funds to support mentoring relationships that empower children to reach their full potential. bbbsbroward.org/ swing-for-kids-sake.

7

South Florida Community Health Foundation

Cocktails for a Cause brings an evening of cocktails, light appetizers, and live music to the Jankov Home, 2307 Sea Island Drive, Fort Lauderdale, from 6 to 9 p.m. Proceeds support free and low-cost healthcare for South Florida youth and families soflochf.org.

December 1 Jack & Jill Center

14

Lighthouse of Broward

The 12th annual Dining in the Dark, presented by the Josephine S. Leiser Foundation, brings a cocktail reception, silent and live auctions, dining, and dancing with the band ReaXtion to Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort. Funds raised support programs for the blind and visually impaired. JLopez@lhob.org; TMerritt@lhob.org; lhob.org.

14

Royal Dames

The Tiara Ball, the Royal Dames’ signature fundraising event, brings the community together for an evening of elegance, generosity, and hope while raising funds for groundbreaking cancer research. royaldames. org.

16

Women In

Distress The 13th annual golf tournament hosted by the Thomas Family Foundation and David Sobocinski sells out each year as golfers gather at Coral Ridge Country Club to help provide safety, shelter, and hope for survivors of domestic violence through Women In Distress. 754-339-4748; widbroward.org.

Friends of Jack & Jill Center’s 25th annual Light Up Downtown returns with seasonal festivities and the lighting of a 30-foot Christmas tree, all in support of Broward’s children and families. jackandjillcenter.org.

2

United Way Broward

4

Broward Partnership

5

Ann Storck Center

The Magnolia Luncheon at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino recognizes women of dignity, strength, and perseverance. It brings together women of all ages, races, and philanthropic interests from South Florida who are raising essential resources, addressing complex challenges, and creating longlasting social change. unitedwaybroward.org/events.

Kick off the holiday season at Broward Partnership’s annual Breakfast for Champions of the Homeless. From 7 to 9 a.m., guests enjoy breakfast, networking, and celebrity waiters while supporting programs that help individuals and families experiencing homelessness. 954-779-3990; bphi.org.

The Deck the Volleyballs Tournament brings teams together for a day in the sun supporting children and adults with developmental disabilities. bit.ly/DeckTheVolleyballs2026.

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SOCIAL Calendar 5

2027

Center for Hearing and Communication

South Florida’s largest annual Winter Wonderland with Signing Santa comes to Plantation’s West Regional Library. Deaf and hard of hearing children and their families enjoy crafts, face painting, gifts, and a story with Santa and Mrs. Claus in American Sign Language. Families also connect with support through CHC-FL’s partnerships. chchearing.org.

January 10

J.R. Dunn / Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County

Since 1996, Dunn’s Run has united the South Florida community in support of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County. Founded by Jim Dunn, the event has raised more than $3.6 million for local youth. Celebrate its 30th year in Deerfield Beach. dunnsrun.com

25

Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation

10-11

Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation

12

Children’s Harbor

13

Nicklaus Children’s Hospital

Children’s Harbor’s Winterfest Boat Parade Watch Party offers front-row views from one of the Intracoastal’s most coveted locations, along with food, an open bar, and an evening supporting teens in foster care. childrensharbor.org.

february

99.9 KISS Country broadcasts live from Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, sharing patient stories while raising funds for lifesaving care. Tune in and donate to help provide hope and healing for children and families throughout South Florida. 954265-3454; JJohnstone@mhs.net; kisscountrycares.com.

Nicklaus Children’s welcomes the community to join Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra for the second annual Coach Spo’s 5K, benefiting Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and the Miami Heat Charitable Fund. give.nicklauschildrens.org/events/coachspo-s-5k.

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The 33rd annual Conine All-Star Golf Classic is one of South Florida’s premier charitable golf tournaments, raising critical funds for the Conine Clubhouse, which offers free lodging for families whose children are receiving care at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. ABeltz@mhs.net; conineallstargolfclassic. com.

29

Women In Distress

Hosted by Women In Distress, the ninth annual Women’s Empowerment Forum at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts features a powerful keynote speaker and networking while raising funds to empower survivors of domestic violence. 754-339-4748; widbroward.org.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County The Big Thank You Breakfast celebrates the volunteer mentors at the heart of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County. The annual event recognizes outstanding Bigs, supporters, and staff with awards while honoring the mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. bbbsbroward.org/bigthank-you-breakfast.

6

February 5

Lace up for the HERO 5K Run/ Walk at Nova Southeastern University. Every stride supports the mission to protect children and strengthen families. kidinc.org.

4KIDS

Hearts United in Hope invites South Florida’s philanthropic and community-minded women to a Galentine’s luncheon hosted by BLU by ThriveWell from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa. 4kids.us.

5

Kids In Distress

7

David Posnack JCC

Walk to give summer back to children with cancer. The event raises money for Sunrise South Florida programs, which provide summer day camp, year-round programming, and inhospital activities for children with cancer and their siblings, all free of charge. dpjcc.org/sunrise.

Handy

february

Moonrise brings a night of dancing to the sands of Fort Lauderdale Beach in support of Handy Cares, which provides mental health services and empowers Broward County youth to thrive. handyinc.org/events/moonrise-2027.

19

6

FLIPANY

This event brings together runners, walkers, and families to support FLIPANY’s work expanding access to healthy food, nutrition education, and wellness programs across South Florida.

Whether you run, walk, sponsor, or donate, you’ll help fuel programs that feed, educate, and empower children, families, and seniors in under-resourced communities. flipany.org.

Pace Center for Girls Broward

Bringing together more than 350 individuals, businesses, and philanthropic partners, the Believing in Girls Empowerment Luncheon is filled with inspiration, connection, community, and hope. Through stories of triumph and success, the afternoon highlights the journey of discovering the greatness in every girl. pacecenter.org/locations/florida/broward.

Ann Storck Center Celebrity Chefs brings more than 25 restaurants and 500 community members together for a night of food, fun, and giving back for the disability community. The 2027 theme is Passport to Possibility. annstorckcenter.org/celebritychefs.

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calendar

SOCIAL Calendar April 8

March 6

The Jewish Federation of Broward County

Children’s Harbor

In Hawaiian culture, “ohana” means family. Not simply the family you are born into, but the family you choose and the people who choose you right back. OHANA is an evening benefiting teens in foster care and young adults who call Children’s Harbor home. childrensharbor.org.

The Jewish Federation of Broward County’s Business & Professionals Society presents its Real Estate Event, bringing together industry professionals for an evening of networking, meaningful connections, and insights into the trends shaping South Florida’s real estate landscape. jewishbroward.org/Professionals.

10

4KIDS

Thirty Years Transforming Lives brings 4KIDS supporters to Boca West Country Club in Boca Raton from 6 to 10:30 p.m. for an evening celebrating 30 years of rescue, restoration, and transformed lives. 4kids.us.

17 6

MARCH

Goodman Jewish Family Services of Broward County

Community leaders, philanthropists, and advocates gather for the Goodman JFS Gala for GOOD: A Sapphire Celebration. Marking 65 years of impact in Broward County, the evening features inspiring stories, entertainment, auction experiences, and dining while raising funds for individuals and families throughout the community. jfsbroward.org.

6

South Florida Community Health Foundation

Mimosas for a Mission brings mimosas, light bites, and community spirit to the Jankov Home, 2307 Sea Island Drive, Fort Lauderdale, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Proceeds support free and low-cost healthcare for South Florida youth and families. soflochf.org.

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Kids In Distress

The 21st annual Duck Derby Fest returns with a Duck’chella: Waves & Beats theme, live music, food, games, and the famous rubber duck race.

Adopt a duck and help transform lives. kidinc.org.

17

Voices for Children of Broward County Voices for Children of Broward County hosts its annual Soaring for Children Gala at The Venue Fort Lauderdale. This year’s Sweet 16 theme features a Candy Land-inspired evening supporting children in foster care, because every child deserves a sweet childhood. voicesbroward.org.

may

24

United Way Broward

The Mayors’ Gala brings together public and private sector leaders to invest in solutions that strengthen the community for generations to come. The evening includes a cocktail reception, silent and live auctions, dinner, and live entertainment. unitedwaybroward.org/events.

May

Early May | Lighthouse of Broward Music, community, and philanthropy come together at the seventh annual Heroes event, presented by American Heritage Schools and benefiting Lighthouse of Broward’s services for the blind and visually impaired. The evening includes a cocktail reception, silent and live auctions, and a performance by student musicians. lhob.org.

1

Women In Distress

Women In Distress’ 20th annual Starfish Evening of Impact brings together more than 500 community leaders for an evening of cocktails, dinner, and philanthropy at The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale Beach, raising critical funds for survivors of domestic violence.

754-339-4748; widbroward. org.

14

21

Museum of Discovery and Science

The celebration turns golden with a luncheon at the Broward County Convention Center marking MODS’ 50 years of big ideas, bold discoveries, and unforgettable experiences.

Celebrate the museum’s journey and look ahead to a new era of science, learning, and imagination. mods.org.

July 8

Pace Center for Girls Broward

At the Taste of Italy Dinner/Live Auction from 6 to 9 p.m. at Casa D’Angelo Ristorante Fort Lauderdale, enjoy exceptional cuisine, wine, and experiences hosted by Chef Angelo and Denise Elia, owners of Casa D’Angelo. Expect a four-course dinner and a live auction with coveted wine and sought-after experiences. pacecenter.org/locations/florida/broward.

October 11 4KIDS

Tee up for a cause at the 18th annual South Florida Orphans Classic and Auction from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Coral Ridge Country Club in Fort Lauderdale, which pairs golf with a premier shopping experience. 4kids.us.

Handy

At the 22nd annual Scholars Breakfast Celebration & Awards from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Pier Sixty-Six, Handy honors graduating scholars who have aged out of foster care alongside community champions and the transformative power of education, mentorship, and opportunity. handyinc.org/events/ scholars-2027.

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CHAMPIONS OF CHARITY

Wellness Through Giving For Casbah Spa’s founders, giving back is the ultimate form of wellness

BY LAINE DOSS

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For nearly 25 years, Casbah Spa has been a place where clients come to unwind, recharge, and escape the pressures of everyday life. But according to co-founder Nicole Maggio, the Fort Lauderdale spa has always been about more than massages, facials, and beauty treatments. Together with business partner and lifelong friend Tresa Stiles, Maggio has built Casbah around a simple philosophy: wellness should extend beyond the treatment room and into the community.

“Giving back has been part of Casbah from the beginning,” Maggio says.

That commitment was inspired by Stiles’ father, Terry Stiles, who impressed upon the partners that businesses have a responsibility to support the communities that help them succeed. Nearly a quarter century later, that lesson remains one of Casbah’s guiding principles.

Over the years, the spa has donated countless gift certificates, spa treatments, and fundraising packages to schools, nonprofit organizations, and charitable events across South Florida. Maggio says the requests became so frequent that the team eventually had to create a formal system to make sure nothing fell through

“We had to start keeping track of who we said yes to so we could make sure we were helping as many people as possible.” the cracks.

“We never say no,” she says. “We had to start keeping track of who we said yes to so we could make sure we were helping as many people as possible.”

In addition to financial contributions and donated services, the partners regularly volunteer their time, often sending team members to charitable events or creating experiences that help nonprofits raise money through auctions and raffles.

One cause, however, has become especially meaningful.

For the past 13 years, Casbah Spa has partnered with Arc Broward, whose mission is to empower people with disabilities to grow and thrive.

Each year, Casbah closes its doors to the public for one magical evening to welcome the contestants of the Miss Arc Broward Pageant. Before taking the stage, the young women are treated to a special spa night. Along with hair styling, manicures, makeup, and other pampering services, the evening becomes a celebration filled with music, dancing, and unforgettable moments before the pageant, all provided by Casbah’s staff.

“It’s about making them feel beautiful,” Maggio says.

The evening isn’t just for the contestants. While the young women enjoy their spa experience, their parents and caregivers receive massages and something even more rare — a few precious hours to relax.

“The moms don’t have a chance to breathe,” Maggio says. “Imagine caring for someone with a disability every day. For three or four hours, they know their children are safe, and they can simply enjoy a moment for themselves.”

For the Casbah team, it’s one of the most rewarding nights of the year.

“Our staff cry happy tears every year,” Maggio shares. “It’s incredibly special.”

The spa’s charitable mission reflects Maggio’s broader view of wellness.

In a world filled with endless obligations, she believes people often forget to care for themselves. “Wellness isn’t just about what happens inside our treatment rooms,” she notes. “It’s about what happens to a community.”

That philosophy also shapes how Casbah introduces new clients to self-care. Maggio says she’s happy to give away a facial to someone who has never stepped inside a spa if it helps them discover the value of taking an intentional hour for themselves. “People don’t give themselves permission.

Especially older generations. Taking time for yourself isn’t selfish — it’s necessary.”

For Maggio and Stiles, who have been close friends since their teenage years and have built Casbah side by side for nearly 25 years, their success has never been solely measured by business growth.

“I feel good at night when I’ve taken care of someone,” Maggio says.

“Success isn’t measured by what you do for yourself. It’s what you give back to others.” ■ CHARITABLEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2026 71

CHAMPIONS OF CHARITY

Finding Home In conversation with Cristine Hernandez, Vice President of Development at Chapman Partnership

Chapman Partnership has spent decades on the front lines of homelessness in Miami. Here, Hernandez reflects on what’s changed and where the organization is headed.

What’s one number you wish more people knew?

More than 50% of the people we serve are families.

Homelessness isn’t just an issue affecting single adults; it impacts households with children who

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are struggling to make ends meet and simply need opportunity and support to regain stability.

What does Chapman do that no other nonprofit in

“More than 50% of the people we serve are families. Homelessness isn’t just an issue affecting single adults; it impacts households with children who are struggling to make ends meet and simply need opportunity and support to regain stability.”

South Florida is doing?

Chapman Partnership is the largest emergency housing provider in South Florida, serving every population experiencing homelessness, from newborns and children to young adults, families, and seniors. We are also the only emergency housing provider in the region that keeps families together throughout their shelter stay, making family preservation a top priority.

We offer a comprehensive continuum of services, including employment support, housing navigation, an on-site medical clinic through our partnership with Jackson Health, and a first-of-its-kind Spiritual Life and Wellness Program that provides access to faith-based opportunities alongside wellness programming that supports the whole person.

If you could get every major nonprofit leader in the county in a room for one hour, what conversation would you force them to have?

I’d challenge them to discuss the power of partnership. The most meaningful community change happens when nonprofits, philanthropy, government, and the private sector work together instead of in silos. Collaboration is the key to creating lasting solutions for our most vulnerable neighbors.

What would genuinely surprise people who think they already know what you do?

Many people are surprised to learn that we’re far more than an emergency shelter.

Where do you want Chapman to be in ten years?

Over the next decade, we hope to expand opportunities for clients to earn livable wages by creating an

‹

What initiative are you most excited about that hasn’t gotten much attention yet?

We’re excited about expanding CPWorks, our bridge-to-employment program. Currently serving more than 30 participants, CPWorks provides professional experience, workforce development, and a clear pathway from homelessness to stable employment and permanent housing.

employment agency that serves people experiencing homelessness throughout our community. Our vision is to provide direct pathways from poverty and unemployment to meaningful careers, financial stability, and lasting housing.

The biggest challenge is securing the sustained investment and cross-sector partnerships needed to scale these opportunities and meet the growing demand. ■

Left Top: Chapman Dorm. Above: Chapman North Building.

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FLIPANY is disrupting the way health and wellness support is offered to communities that have been historically ignored. We serve nutritious food, encourage healthy eating and get people to move, but our work is so much more: We “sit at the table” with families and kids, and work tirelessly to inspire them to transform their lives with healthy meals and consistent physical activity.

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May 21, 2027

A Golden Luncheon: Celerating 50 Years

Summer - Fall 2027

Summer Community & Family Celebrations

November 13, 2027

A Golden Finale Dinner: Looking Towards 50 More Hosted by Jon and Katy Ferrando

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CHAMPIONS OF CHARITY

The Art of Access

The numbers that prove culture belongs to everyone

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For more than 50 years, the Hollywood Art and Culture Center has served as an accessible catalyst and incubator for South Florida artists and performers, activating and elevating creative work through contemporary art exhibitions, artist studios, performances, film, and education.

“The Center operates with the mindset of a community center that is welcoming and approachable,” says Executive Director Jennifer Homan, “but leads with museum and cultural institutional quality works, instructors, and artists.”

In the coming year, Hollywood Art and Culture Center expects to connect with 65,000+ residents and visitors through: • 350 art class and workshop sessions • 150 theatrical performances • 950 film screenings • 35 art exhibitions • 400+ artists activated and 200 instructors and art professionals employed • Programs priced at $5 or less for the majority of attendees “The Center’s work is rooted in arts access through free and lowcost programs, scholarships, school partnerships, senior programs, artist residencies, youth internships, and public events to reduce participation barriers and expand access to cultural, institutional-quality arts experiences across South Florida,” Homan says.

The Hollywood Art and Culture Center is one of the only cultural institutions to provide programming

› Right: The Cuisine for Art Kick Off Event

across all art mediums, according to Homan. The Center’s campus spans four blocks in downtown Hollywood. It includes contemporary art galleries in the 1924 historic Kagey Home, Artist-in-Residence studios in the Art School, the 500-seat Hollywood Central Performing Arts Center (HCPAC), Cinema Paradiso Hollywood’s 72-seat art-house theater, and the new Hollywood Arts Hub, an arts education and event space that opened on the Center’s 50th anniversary in November 2025.

“The Center fosters participation, encourages dialogue, and builds stronger relationships across audiences of all ages, connecting people to one another and to the cultural assets that enrich our community,” Homan explains.

The Center assumed operations of Cinema Paradiso Hollywood in June 2025 to expand its presence in South Florida showcasing visual and performing arts. The addition of Cinema Paradiso Hollywood allows for a vibrant schedule of independent films, festivals, and new programming events.

Through this expansion, a Center Film Salon will launch to elevate South Florida’s cinema community by providing local artists with access to resources, professionals, technology, and equipment through the new Digital Media Lab. The Center Film Salon will engage more than 100 emerging and established filmmakers through partnerships with schools, universities, and film festivals, while developing a Film Fellow to support new documentary production.

Aspiring, emerging, and established filmmakers will have the opportunity to connect with peers and mentors while participating in workshops covering sound design, editing, music production, animation, and motion design.

“The arts define humanity, asking the question of our societal purpose and serving to strengthen community bonds through shared experience,” Homan says. “Arts programs enhance mental well-being through emotional expression, foster creativity and innovation, promote critical thinking and empathy through exposure to diverse perspectives, and are an economic growth sector driver for the community.”

Homan adds: “We are committed to building bridges at a time when understanding, empathy, and human connection are needed more than ever.” ■ CHARITABLEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2026 77

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Scan the QR code or visit voicesbroward.org to learn more, make a gift, or get involved.

Helping Children in Foster Care Experience Stability, Joy, and the Childhood They Deserve.

For 15 years, Voices for Children of Broward County has helped make the foster care experience better for children and youth across Broward County. Voices serves as a trusted safety net when urgent needs arise or extra support is needed. It provides tangible items such as clothing, baby needs, comfort items, and everyday essentials, while also creating enrichment experiences that give children opportunities for joy, connection, normalcy, and childhood. Behind the scenes, Voices helps coordinate needs, remove barriers, and follow through so children receive support that strengthens stability and helps move them closer to permanency.

Every gift helps Voices respond quickly and meaningfully when a child in foster care is in need.

Voices for Children of Broward County | voicesbroward.org | 954.367.9185

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CHAMPIONS OF CHARITY ‹ Chairman of the Humane Society of Broward County Board, Christy Gumberg, with PAWS Vice President, Margaret Meldeau

Paws for a Cause Fun, furry, and fiercely committed: Inside the group putting Broward’s compassion into action.

For nearly three decades, a small circle of animal lovers has grown into one of South Florida’s most spirited philanthropic communities. PAWS — Pets Are Worth Saving — channels that passion into real support for the Humane Society of Broward County, from adoptions to therapy dogs to programs for older adults.

We sat down with PAWS President Liz Brown to talk fundraising, friendship, and the moments that make it all worth it.

PAWS functions as both a fundraising arm and a social community. How did that dual identity come to be, and why does it work so well?

People join PAWS because they love animals, but they stay because they become part of something bigger. We raise critical funds for the Humane Society, but we’ve also built a community of compassionate people who genuinely enjoy working together.

There’s a special energy at our events because everyone is there

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for the same reason — to help animals. That shared purpose creates lasting friendships, and when people feel connected, they’re inspired to do even more.

Can you share a moment — a specific animal, a specific event, a specific volunteer — that captures what PAWS is really about?

One moment that really captures what PAWS is all about is our participation in the VCA Walk for the Animals, the Humane Society of Broward County’s largest annual fundraiser. This past year, our PAWS Pack was the event’s top fundraising team, raising an incredible amount of support for the Humane Society.

While we’re proud of that accomplishment, what stands out even more is seeing our members rally together, asking friends and family to donate, walking side by side, and celebrating our shared love for animals.

The Humane Society of Broward County offers programs that go well beyond adoption, from animal-assisted therapy to crisis response dogs to Memory Mews for older adults. How does PAWS help fuel the reach of all of that?

Many people know us for helping animals find loving homes, but the Humane Society’s mission extends far beyond adoption. Through fundraising, PAWS helps provide the financial support needed for many of the Humane Society’s lifesaving programs and community services — from low-cost veterinary care and humane education to animalassisted therapy, and programs like “Memory Mews” that bring comfort and companionship to older adults. › What does it feel like to watch an animal come through those doors and eventually leave with a family?

It’s difficult to put into words. Every animal who comes through our doors has a unique story, and each one is given the chance to heal, be loved, and start a new chapter. Watching an animal receive the care and compassion they need, and then see them leave with a family who will love them forever, is incredibly rewarding.

PAWS President Liz Brown and Gary Brown

Those moments remind us that hope changes everything — and they’re only possible because of our supporters, members, staff, and volunteers who make this work possible.

If someone reading this wants to make a difference for animals in Broward County, what is the single most meaningful thing they can do right now?

Get involved. Whether it’s making a donation, becoming a PAWS member, volunteering, adopting a pet, or simply sharing our mission with others, every act of kindness creates a ripple effect. PAWS stands for Pets Are Worth Saving, and those aren’t just words — they’re the belief that inspires everything we do.

When our community comes together around that shared belief, we’re able to give thousands of animals the compassion, care, and second chances they deserve.■ ‹ Kfier Cohen, and PAWS Vice President, Ashley Arinus

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CHAMPIONS OF CHARITY ‹ Lania Rittenhouse, Malena Mendez, and Dr. Sherika Newman

‹ Photo Credit: Dream Focus Photography

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A Big Difference Four hours a month can change the course of a child’s life. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County has spent decades proving it — and its leaders are just getting started.

e sat down with President and CEO Malena Mendez to reflect on what the Growth Award recognition means and where the organization goes from here.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County earned the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Growth Award for program excellence — what drove that recognition, and what does it signal about where the organization is headed?

Every year, the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Nationwide Leadership Council selects agencies for excellence in the organization’s signature youth mentoring program. Out of more than 230 agencies across the country, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County (BBBSBC) is one of 60 organizations to receive this honor for 2025.

The Growth Award recognizes agencies that have demonstrated strategic growth in the number of mentors (“Bigs”) and youth (“Littles”) matched through the program, year over year. We showed 28.79% growth in our services to earn this award.

In the past year, we served 1,333 youth and grew our services by 28.79%.

The Board of Directors and staff ’s commitment to expanding mentorship opportunities and increasing the number of Big/Little matches ensures that even more children have access to life-changing relationships. This achievement reflects the power of mentorship and the impact of building a brighter future for the community.

What’s a story that has stayed with you — a Big and Little whose relationship reminded you exactly why this work matters?

Dr. Sherika Newman is a former Little who had a son when she was a teenager. Her Big, Beth E. Linzner, helped her navigate the pregnancy, and Dr. Newman raised her son as a single mom. That didn’t hold her back from receiving an education and pursuing a career. She is now a medical doctor in Atlanta and was the keynote speaker at BBBSBC’s 4th Annual The Big Thank You Breakfast presented by Bank of America on January 21 at the Miramar Cultural Center.

She is truly an inspirational woman and has the mentorship she received through BBBSBC to thank for her successes.

The two remain close, and they are celebrating Dr. Newman’s 50th birthday together this year.

For someone reading this who has never considered becoming a Big, what would you want them to know about what the experience gives back to the mentor?

Becoming a Big changes both the mentor’s and mentee’s lives. It is one of the most enjoyable, rewarding, and fulfilling experiences you’ll ever have because you can help shape a child’s future for the better by empowering

them to achieve. The best part is Bigs and Littles have fun together, participating in activities they have a mutual interest in and introducing one another to new interests. You learn from one another while bonding.

We realize that life is busy and making a commitment can be daunting, but we only request that Bigs and Littles spend a minimum of four hours together monthly and commit for one year, although many matches stay intact for much longer and spend more time together each month.

During the 2025-2026 school year, we served 1,372 children through 65,856 mentoring hours, equating to an extraordinary $2.4 million in community value.

If you could paint a picture of Broward County 10 years from now, shaped by the work BBBS is doing today, what would it look like?

BBBSBC currently serves approximately 1,400 Littles annually. We have 581 Littles on the waitlist who are ready to be matched with a Big, as well as more applications to process. We are on a “Path to 3,000,” meaning we want to serve 3,000 youth per year, and even sooner than 10 years from now, we hope to achieve this goal. ■ CHARITABLEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2026 83

CHAMPIONS OF CHARITY ‹ President & CEO, Linda Parker

Building a Safer Tomorrow

Women In Distress President and CEO Linda Parker on 50 years of service, a $15 million housing campaign, and why the second year matters as much as the first.

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or 50 years, Women In Distress (WID) has been Broward County’s only state-certified domestic violence center, and its work has evolved as the threats survivors face have grown more complex.

President and CEO Linda Parker says today’s clients are navigating rising housing costs, financial insecurity, technology-facilitated abuse, and longterm trauma, which has pushed the organization’s response well beyond crisis intervention into shelter, counseling, legal advocacy, children’s programs, and prevention education reaching thousands each year.

As Parker puts it, the goal has never been simply to help survivors escape violence — it’s to help them build new lives.

We spoke with Parker about WID’s work, including the Building a Safer Tomorrow campaign, and the survivor whose story she carries with her.

Last year, WID provided more than 50,000 safe emergency shelter nights and answered nearly 18,000 hotline calls. What do those numbers represent to you on a human level?

Behind every number is a person making one of the most difficult decisions of their life. Every hotline call represents someone reaching out for hope, often at a moment of fear or uncertainty. Every shelter night represents a family that slept safely instead of in danger. We never lose sight of the fact that these aren’t statistics — they’re mothers, fathers, children, friends, neighbors, and coworkers whose lives are forever changed because someone answered the phone, opened a door, or simply said, “You’re safe now.”

One of the most frequently cited reasons survivors return to their abusers is financial dependence, including access to safe housing. How did that reality shape

the vision behind Building a Safer Tomorrow?

We know that leaving an abusive relationship is only the first step. Staying safe requires stability, and stability begins with secure housing. Building a Safer Tomorrow was created because too many survivors are forced to choose between returning to abuse or facing homelessness.

We believe no one should have to make that choice.

By expanding transitional housing, we’re addressing one of the biggest barriers to long-term safety and giving survivors the time and resources they need to rebuild their lives with dignity.

Your emergency shelter provides up to three months of housing. The new transitional housing facility would give survivors up to two years.

What can happen in that second year that simply isn’t possible in the first three months?

The first three months are about crisis stabilization — finding safety, addressing immediate needs, and beginning the healing process. The second year of our transitional housing program is where lasting transformation happens.

Survivors can complete educational and job training programs, secure stable employment, rebuild their finances, find quality childcare, address trauma through counseling, and establish permanent housing. Instead of simply surviving, they’re able to create a foundation for long-term independence.

That additional time can change the trajectory of an

entire family’s future.

The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation committed $1.5 million as a match challenge, and 100% of WID’s board has already pledged to the campaign.

What does that level of institutional confidence say about the moment you’re in?

It’s an extraordinary vote of confidence in both our mission and our vision for the future. The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation’s transformational leadership, combined with unanimous support from our Board of Directors, reflects a shared belief that this is a once-in-ageneration opportunity to address one of the root causes of survivors returning to abuse. It also sends a powerful message to our community: together, we can create lasting change, but it will take all of us working toward the same goal.

The vision behind Building a Safer Tomorrow is that no victim of domestic violence should ever return to an abuser because of a lack of safe housing. How close are you to making that a reality in Broward County?

We’re closer than we’ve ever been, but there is still important work ahead.

We’ve raised $12 million of our $15 million campaign goal to purchase and repurpose choice housing units in Hollywood and Miramar. Building a Safer Tomorrow represents a transformational investment in the future of survivors and our community. This project

will result in dozens more families achieving safety and independence each year. The need is clear, the vision is strong, and the momentum is growing. With continued philanthropic support and community partnership, we can significantly expand access to safe, affordable transitional housing and move closer to a future where housing is never the reason someone returns to abuse.

Can you share a moment — a survivor, a story, a call — that stays with you and reminds you why this work cannot wait?

Elaine was a survivor with a complicated history and came to us pregnant and high risk. Elaine was pregnant for the first time and in her late teens.

She was very scared and had no family support to assist her. While she was at WID, she was able to get prenatal, daycare, and other assistance, and she found a job working remotely, which allowed her to work toward sustainability. She stayed at WID for nearly six months, and by the time she left, she had an apartment and was able to get support for her son. Every few months, she sends me a picture of her children and tells me about what they are doing and how grateful she is for the support she received from us.

To find out more about WID’s capital campaign and strategic philanthropic opportunities, contact David Hayton, Chief Development Officer, at 754-339-4748 or dhayton@ widbroward.org. ■

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CHAMPIONS OF CHARITY

More Than a Meal

Over 20 years in, FLIPANY is rewriting what community health support means.

L

Lynne Kunins made a promise in 2005. An open gym program serving children of incarcerated parents had lost its funding, and she told those kids she would find a way to keep it going. She launched FLIPANY that same year with an operating budget of $106,000.

More than two decades later, that promise has become one of South Florida’s most effective engines for community health.

FLIPANY now runs on more than $8 million and has served over 16 million meals, pushing more than $39 million in federal food program dollars into the neighborhoods that need them most.

However, Kunins still measures the work one soccer season or one cooking class at a time, and she still insists that joy belongs in the equation. ‹ Left: FLIPANY President & CEO, Lynne Kunins

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‹

alongside nutrition.

“Every FLIPANY program we run today is built to provide the essential ingredients for a healthy life,” Kunins says. “Our teams are not just distributing food or running a soccer drill; they are offering people the same path back to themselves that I was given — connection, respect, role models, motivation, and resources.”

Kunins was raised in what she describes as “an affluent home by parents who were emotionally and physically abusive.” In her early teens, she was sent to a residential treatment center that was later exposed for its abusive practices. Through her late teens, she struggled with drug addiction and attempted suicide. Her move to Florida in 1991 began the way back, and a run of business ventures eventually landed her in fitness and nutrition.

“My own journey to health and self-determination is not a footnote to FLIPANY; it’s the foundation,” she says. “When someone is struggling, they do not need a lecture; they need a friendly hand, a doable plan, and someone who believes they can get there.”

FLIPANY’s mission language commits the organization to disrupting how health support reaches historically overlooked communities.

“Disrupting the status quo means refusing to accept the storyline that health disparities are inevitable and that social justice is unachievable,” she says. “It looks like problem-solving, one

Above: Community gardens and classroom nutrition programs are part of FLIPANY’s broader approach to community health.

neighborhood resource at a time. It looks like unrelenting effort to move resources that make healthy choices possible to underserved neighborhoods.”

The distinction shows up in how programs get built.

FLIPANY does not deliver reduced versions of what wealthier neighborhoods receive, Kunins explains.

“At FLIPANY, we go into communities that have been historically overlooked, and we build real programs there — not scaled-down versions of what wealthier neighborhoods get, but full programs where kids can genuinely thrive and reach their full potential,” she says.

It also explains why the organization refuses to stop at food.

“A meal alone or a trip to the food pantry does not change a life,” she says. “Our mentored physical activity programs, nutrition education programs, and wellness initiatives all work together because sustaining a healthy life requires self-determination — determination to move their bodies, determination to show up for the group, determination to feel better by eating better, and determination to support healthy choices for others.”

FLIPANY’s approach to community health is holistic, connecting all the necessary ingredients to building a healthy life one community at a time.

“Disruption is a mindset,” she says. “We are saying that a child’s zip code and a family’s income should never decide how much opportunity that child has. We are providing opportunities in places where the struggles are real and resources are limited, and none of that is the fault of the children living there.” ■

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CHAMPIONS OF CHARITY

› Children participate in hands-on science activities through MODS’ STEMobile outreach program.

50 Years of Discovery

How the Museum of Discovery and Science turned 15 million curious visitors into a half-century of momentum.

or 50 years — dating back to its beginning as the Discovery Center — the Museum of Discovery and Science (MODS) has transformed science into a journey of wonder. “Our legacy has been providing awe-inspiring, immersive experiences for more than 15 million children and adults,” says Joseph P. Cox, MODS President & CEO. 92

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Throughout the years, MODS has remained Broward’s leading source for connecting people to inspiring science, achieving this mission through informative and innovative exhibits, programs, and films.

“Innovative and cutting-edge experiences are a hallmark of MODS. Flight simulators in our To Fly exhibit gallery

challenge visitors to take control of aircraft, while our immersive 7D Theater combines dramatic 3D imagery with full sensory effects featuring the film “Inspiration Takes Flight” from Academy Award-nominated MacGillivray Freeman,” says Cox. MODS’ new Everglades Theater is the latest cuttingedge experience featuring Lilly,

an AI-powered otter, as the interactive guide to learning about the environment.

In 2025, MODS installed a HoloTheater, the first custombuilt theater of its kind in the U.S. “Our AutoNation IMAX 3D Theater — the largest IMAX screen in Florida — features dual laser projection and a booming 12.1 channel immersive sound system and is one of only five in the U.S. equipped with 15/70mm film projection for an unparalleled viewing experience,” says Armando Mena, MODS Chief Operating Officer.

Ask anyone who visited MODS as a child what they remember, and the answer often arrives before the question is finished. It is standing tall in the atrium, and it has been there since 1994.

“Our iconic, signature exhibit is the Great Gravity Clock,” says Cox. “This 52-foot-tall kinetic energy sculpture has dazzled visitors soaring high in our atrium, all while keeping time. It’s one of only three that were ever created.”

Other visitors reach further back in their memory, to the Orange Grove in the Museum’s original early childhood gallery.

To many adults who visited the Museum as children, the Orange Grove provides warm memories. MODS reimagined the gallery in 2023 to create the new Discovery Spot for early learners, keeping the Orange

Grove as an iconic element.

That kind of continuity is not accidental, and it is rarely free. Behind every major educational initiative such as a fleet of STEMobiles that travels across Broward, free shows for students from Title 1 schools in the Keller Science Theater, and the reimagination of the exhibit galleries themselves, there is a donor who decided a child should have the experience.

“Donors are the foundation for everything we do for children,” says Meredith Feder, MODS Deputy Director.

“The Discovery Spot is presented by longtime partner JM Family Enterprises, along with support from numerous corporations, foundations and government donors in our community. As one of the Museum’s educational content pillars, early childhood education reflects our institutional strength and the community’s needs. With donor support, the Discovery Spot has become the most beloved exhibit gallery in the Museum to advance early learning,” says Feder.

The pattern holds across five decades. Philanthropy accounts for nearly 30% of the museum’s operating budget and generated the $33 million that opened MODS in 1992, fully funded and without capital debt.

Since then, more than $80

› Imaginative construction play at The Discovery Center in 1998.

“For 50 years, philanthropy has been the backbone of the Museum’s growth and success,” says Cox. “Philanthropic partnerships will enable us to continue growing to meet the needs of South Florida families.” million in philanthropic support has gone toward capital projects, including a new satellite location, the Deerfield Beach Nature Center, opening in early 2027, and the first-ever MAGNA-TILES national traveling exhibit.

“For 50 years, philanthropy has been the backbone of the Museum’s growth and success,” says Cox. “Philanthropic partnerships will enable us to continue growing to meet the needs of South Florida families.”■

‹ High school interns in MODS’ EcoExplorers CHARITABLEMAG.COM | SEPTEMBER 2026 93 internship program.

Uplifting

the Human Spirit

For more than five decades, WestCare The Village South has been transforming lives across South Florida through behavioral health, child welfare, housing, and community support services. Together with partners, donors, and community leaders, we are building stronger families, safer neighborhoods, and healthier futures.

When Hope Needs a Champion, WestCare Is There.

To learn more about WestCare The Village South, please contact Dustin Forman, Director of Community Engagement at Dustin.Forman@westcare.com Standing (Left to Right): Dustin Forman, Director of Community Engagement Danny Blanco, COO, WestCare Florida Sitting: (Left to Right) Gloria Rojas, VP of Government Relations WestCare Florida Rory Levine, VP of Broward Operations

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W SHES CHANGE

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GoodPRESS 1

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF ANNE STORCK CENTER

1. Volleyball action on the beach 2. Players in action 3. A2 2nd Place Winners - The System; Neil Adams, Q Chan Nor, Paige Alsten, Matt Coyne, Cori Smothers 4. A1 Division 1st Place Winner - The Avengers - Steve Escobar, Rafa Stahl, Danielle Lemone, Julissa Moreno, Joe Antonetti, Camilla Gomez, Livan Moreno 5. A1 2nd Place Winner- All Smiles; Claudia Resquin, Hugo Vargas, Gabriel Gonzalez, Julia Kushniruk, Saki Naivana, Justin Ortiz

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VOLLEYBALL CHALLENGE RAISES FUNDS FOR ANN STORCK Ann Storck Center, a Fort Lauderdale-based private nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, hosted its 40th Annual All Heart Volleyball Challenge on the sand in Pompano Beach, on June 13.

The annual event raised more than $10,000 and awareness for the Ann Storck Center, which accommodates 96 permanent residents and serves more than 300 clients daily through an array of critical care, learning and ability-focused programs.

4 Resource | Convener | Implementor of Innovative Health Initiatives | Community Partner

Changing Lives One Meal at a Time

599 SW 2nd Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301 954.829.1014 info@sfhc.org

Donate at sfhc.org 96

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800.611.6631

ROYAL DAMES OF CANCER RESEARCH

Luncheon & Fashion Show THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

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LAUDERDALE YACHT CLUB

1725 SE 13TH STREET | FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33316 For more than 65 years, the Royal Dames of Cancer Research has been dedicated to funding innovative cancer research that transforms lives.

For tickets and sponsorships, scan the QR code or go to https://rdfall26.givesmart.com Or contact Royal Dames at www.royaldames.org or 954-546-0868 A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7532) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. REGISTRATION #CH/273. FOR TAX PURPOSES CONSULT YOUR TAX PROFESSIONAL.

CHARITABLEMAG.COM LMGFL.COM| SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 2026 2026 81 97

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Contact Jewish Family Home Care Today 954-908-5677 | info@jfcares.org | jfcares.org

Laura Eaton-Jankov, APRN, FNP-BC South Florida Community Health Foundation (SoFloCHF) laura@ultamed.com | (954) 488-4625

Tell us a little about yourself and your work in healthcare.

My career in healthcare has taken me from nursing and direct patient care to clinical research, FDA regulatory consulting, and independent practice.

Today, I’m an Autonomous Family Nurse Practitioner (APRN, FNP-BC) and founder of UltaMed in Oakland Park, where I provide primary care, women’s health, LGBTQ+ care, and wellness services. These varied perspectives have shaped my approach to patient care and deepened my understanding of where our healthcare system falls short.

What inspired you to establish the South Florida Community Health Foundation?

I want to help all patients who walk through my doors. Many people delay or go without care because of cost, circumstance, or simply not knowing where to turn. I created SoFloCHF around a simple belief: essential healthcare should be accessible to everyone, regardless of financial circumstances.

What does that look like in practice?

We identify a need and find a direct way to meet it.

One of our first initiatives provides affordable sports physicals and EKG screenings for student athletes.

Looking ahead, we envision programs supporting diagnostic services and other areas where people face barriers to care.

What is your vision for SoFloCHF? I want to grow the Foundation into an organization that improves thousands of lives across South Florida.

By building strong partnerships with healthcare professionals, schools, businesses, and community leaders, we can broaden our programs and bring quality healthcare to more people.

What does philanthropy mean to you?

For me, philanthropy is putting what you have – your knowledge, time, resources and relationships – to work for others. SoFloCHF allows me to turn decades of healthcare experience into something larger than my individual practice and, ultimately, leave my community healthier than I found it.

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CHAMPIONS OF CHARITY

‹ Left: Kelley Morris, MHA, President, Memorial & Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundations

What Philanthropy Makes Possible

A hospital where no family is turned away, and a community determined to keep it that way.

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Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital stands as one of South Florida’s leading pediatric safety-net hospitals, caring for every child who walks through its doors regardless of a family’s ability to pay. Reimbursement covers a portion of that care, but not everything that shapes a child’s experience or a family’s journey.

That gap is where philanthropy steps in, turning donors into true partners in the hospital’s mission.

Their support brings new technology and innovative care to patients, funds specialized programs and research, helps families through difficult times, and creates space for children to still feel like children, even while receiving treatment.

Every gift extends what reimbursement alone cannot provide. Whether supporting a family, advancing care, or offering a child a single moment of joy in a hard season, donors help make extraordinary care possible for every child, close to home.

Here, Kelley Morris, MHA, President, Memorial & Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundations, discusses what philanthropy makes possible, from bringing nationally recognized pediatric programs home to South Florida, to protecting the small moments of childhood in the middle of difficult treatment.

South Florida families once traveled to Boston or Philadelphia for the most complex pediatric cases. Talk about what it means that so much of that care is now available here at home.

Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital has grown into a destination for pediatric care, offering nationally recognized programs in heart care, cancer, neuroscience, fetal care, minimally invasive surgery, rehabilitation, and neonatal and pediatric intensive care.

That means so much more than convenience. Children can remain close to their families, friends, and schools while parents stay connected to the people

supporting them through an incredibly difficult time.

That kind of growth has taken years of commitment from physicians, caregivers, community leaders, and donors.

Philanthropic support has helped us expand programs, invest in technology, and bring new treatments to children who once would have had to leave South Florida to receive them.

Beyond the medicine, what does the hospital do to protect a child’s actual childhood during a long stay?

Children deserve to be children, even when they’re in the hospital. That’s why we at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital think about every aspect of the patient experience, not just the medical care.

We want children to feel as comfortable, safe, and supported as possible while they’re here. Our Child Life specialists use play therapy to help children cope with procedures and reduce anxiety.

Therapy dogs, art and music activities, family spaces, celebrations, and other small moments of normalcy help kids simply be kids, even in the middle of difficult treatments. We’re committed to caring for the whole child and these experiences aren’t extras, they’re an important part of healing, and many of them are made possible through the generosity of our donors.

What has surprised you most about the way this community shows up for its children?

What continues to inspire me is that people from every corner of our community want to help. Some give significant philanthropic gifts, while

others volunteer, sponsor events, organize fundraisers, or make their first donation because they’ve been touched by a child’s story. They all understand that every child deserves exceptional care. There’s a tremendous sense of shared responsibility here.

What is the most exciting thing happening at Joe DiMaggio Children’s right now?

It’s hard to choose just one because there is so much happening across the hospital, but one recent milestone really stands out. Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital recently implanted the Venus P-Valve in a child with a congenital heart condition as part of a select clinical trial.

The valve can help restore blood flow without the need for traditional openheart surgery for some patients. It’s an important step forward because it gives children with complex heart conditions another treatment option. It also speaks to the expertise of our physicians, and the confidence families and researchers have in our hospital to bring new treatments to children who need them most.

What excites me most is that moments like this are becoming the norm. We are creating more opportunities for children to receive promising new treatments here in South Florida instead of having to travel elsewhere. As medicine continues to evolve, our goal is to make sure children and families in our community have access to those advances as quickly as possible. Philanthropy helps us move that work forward by supporting research, new technology and the programs that continue to expand what’s possible for our patients. ■

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CHAMPIONS OF CHARITY

A Crown with a Cause How the Royal Dames of Cancer Research became one of South Florida’s most enduring philanthropic forces.

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For more than six decades, the Royal Dames of Cancer Research has maintained a distinguished presence within South Florida’s philanthropic community, bringing together accomplished women committed to advancing innovative cancer research and shaping the future of healthcare.

Founded on the belief that philanthropic investment can drive scientific discovery and improve patient outcomes, the organization has established a remarkable legacy through visionary leadership, extraordinary generosity, and an enduring commitment to community service.

Today, under the leadership of President Sophia Mylona, the Royal Dames continues to exemplify the highest standards of philanthropic excellence. Few organizations demonstrate a comparable level of impact, raising and contributing approximately $1 million annually while operating without any paid employees and relying entirely on the dedication of its volunteer leadership and members.

“None of what we accomplish would be possible without the extraordinary dedication of our members, who are prominent, highly successful leaders within our community,” Mylona says. “With no paid staff, we raise and donate ~$1 million annually because our members approach philanthropy with the exact same fervor, strategic rigor, and expectation of excellence that drive their private business ventures.”

With more than 200 accomplished members, the organization represents a diverse and influential network of leaders in philanthropy, business, healthcare, real estate, finance, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement.

Beyond fundraising, members serve as dedicated ambassadors, advocates, and trusted ‹ Left: President Sophia Mylona

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‹

connectors, strengthening relationships and fostering collaboration throughout South Florida’s business, social, and philanthropic communities.

“Behind the scenes, they, alongside their husbands and partners, generously leverage their professional expertise, deep connections, and resources to build relationships, open doors, and organize high-impact events,” Mylona says.

At the heart of the organization’s mission is its longstanding partnership with Nova Southeastern University, where philanthropic investments support a wide range of innovative cancer research initiatives.

“We are exceptionally proud of how our funding has served as a vital catalyst for groundbreaking cancer research at Nova Southeastern University,” Mylona says.

That support has helped advance two significant scientific milestones at the university. “Funding supported the advancement of highly specialized small-molecule drugs capable of crossing the bloodbrain barrier,” she says. “This breakthrough opens crucial new therapeutic pathways to directly target and treat highly aggressive, lethal brain tumors like glioblastomas.”

Investment has also moved a second line of research forward. “Our investments accelerated the development of novel anti-angiogenic agents designed to systematically slow tumor growth,” Mylona says.

“These compounds work strategically by cutting off the blood supply to tumors while minimizing harm to surrounding, normal cellular structures.”

Signature fundraising events sustain that work, including the Spring and Fall Luncheons, with the Fall Luncheon set for October 1, 2026, and the Tiara Ball Gala on November 14, 2026, the organization’s

Above: Royal Dames Members and Community Leaders

premier annual fundraising event.

Alongside charitable contributions and strategic partnerships, these efforts provide vital resources for research focused on cancer prevention, early detection, treatment advancements, and improved patient outcomes, accelerating medical innovation while enhancing the quality of healthcare available throughout South Florida.

For members, the gala carries meaning well beyond the evening itself. “The Tiara Ball Gala is far more than a fundraiser; it is a powerful celebration of what motivated, successful women can achieve when pooling their collective resources, networks, and energy,” Mylona says. “Every woman who joins today steps into a proud 65-year tradition of mutual support, uniting prominent community leaders who apply their professional acumen to advance the critical mission of funding cancer research.”

As the organization looks toward the future, it remains steadfast in its mission to support transformative research initiatives, expand community engagement, and uphold a tradition of service, collaboration, and generosity that will continue to benefit generations to come.

“Ten years from now, the Royal Dames of Cancer Research will have expanded our legacy as a premier philanthropic force by achieving a more diverse and robust revenue stream through strategic corporate partnerships and dedicated legacy endowments,” Mylona says. “Ultimately, our vision is to deepen our service to the community by launching dedicated fellowship grants that attract and support top-tier oncology research talent, ensuring the Royal Dames remain at the absolute forefront of the fight against cancer.” ■

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Their Voices Matter

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After 15 years and more than 1,000 children served each year, Erica Herman reflects on what it means to be a safety net for children in foster care in Broward County.

SEPTEMBER 2026 | CHARITABLEMAG.COM

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Erica Herman leads Voices for Children of Broward County, which marked its 15th anniversary this spring and supports more than 1,000 children in foster care each year. The president and CEO talks about listening closely, showing up consistently, and what it takes for a child to feel like they belong.

Voices marked its 15th anniversary this spring.

When you look back, what accomplishment are you proudest of?

When I look back over the past 15 years, what I am proudest of is the role Voices now plays in Broward County’s child welfare community. We are a trusted safety net for children in foster care, responding to urgent needs, filling gaps, and helping create moments of stability, comfort, and childhood.

Whether it is clothing, baby items, bedding, a teddy bear in court, or an experience a child may not otherwise have, our work is about making sure children are not lost in the process. We want them to know their needs matter, their experiences matter, and their voices are heard.

Voices makes the foster care experience better for more than 1,500 children a year in Broward County.

What does that look like on the ground for children?

For children, it can look like having clothing that fits, bedding of their own, baby items, a birthday gift, or a teddy bear in court on a difficult day. It can also look like a special experience, support during a transition, or knowing that someone

is paying attention to what they need. Behind the scenes, Voices is often the connector.

We help coordinate needs, follow up, remove barriers, and make sure that when something is identified for a child, it moves toward action.

For us, making the foster care experience better means helping children have what they need, when they need it, while also creating moments of comfort, joy, and childhood along the way.

What question do you wish more people asked you about this work, and what would your answer be?

I wish more people asked, “What helps a child in foster care feel like they belong?”

Belonging is built through both big and small things. Services, placements, therapy, and case plans are important, but so are the everyday needs that help a child feel safe and settled, like clothing that fits, bedding of their own, baby items, or essentials in the home.

Experiences matter too. Children deserve to participate in activities, try new things, celebrate milestones, and have people show up for them. Those moments are not extras; they help create dignity, stability,

confidence, connection, and a sense of belonging, too.

Finish this sentence for me: Fifteen years from now, Voices will have succeeded if…

Fifteen years from now, Voices will have succeeded if children look back on their time in foster care and remember that people showed up for them. Not just in the big moments, but in the everyday ones, too.

My hope is that Voices continues to be part of those moments. The teddy bear in court.

The clothing that helps a child feel confident.

The person who follows through when a need is identified.

What do you want readers to do after they put this issue down?

I want readers to remember that children in foster care are part of our community, and every one of us has a role to play in making sure they feel seen, supported, and cared for.

There are so many ways to show up. You can make a gift, sponsor an experience, volunteer, connect us to someone who can help, or simply ask what is needed most.

Every act of generosity matters because it helps meet a real need for a real child. ■

‹ Left: The organization’s annual back-to-school event at Old Navy.

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Make everY DaY wOrth Savoring

Dine Out LauDerDaLe restaurant MOnths august 1st – septeMber 30th, 2026 Make a splash and discover a new favorite restaurant during the annual Dine Out Lauderdale. For two delicious months, participating restaurants across Greater Fort Lauderdale serve up specially curated prix fixe menus and deals worth diving into.

Dock and dine along the region’s scenic waterways at one of its many waterfront restaurants. Savor fresh seafood with an ocean view, discover hidden neighborhood gems

taste test a preview Of this Year’s participating restaurants 106

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or settle in for truly unique culinary experiences at one of the destination’s Michelin-acclaimed restaurants.

With participating restaurants spanning the destination’s 31 municipalities from Hollywood and Pompano Beach to Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Dania Beach, and more, Dine Out Lauderdale makes it easier for locals and visitors alike to explore more of Greater Fort Lauderdale’s culinary scene.

MAASS • Nubé Rooftop • Lola’s on the Water • Rodizio Grill Brazilian Steakhouse • Aruba Beach Cafe • Oceanic • Union Kitchen & Bar • Beach Terrace Restaurant • Diplomat Prime • Del Mar Fort Lauderdale Browse the full list at VisitLauderdale.com/DineOut

the LuxurY tO chOOse YOur Own aDventure

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