philanthropy They did, with hearts and stars and swirls: Know You Are ALWAYS Loved & NEVER Alone! Dance! Sing! Love! Be Who You ARE! Love Heals Hope Builds & Inspiration Changes Lives Forever! WE CARE! Dennis’s favorite came from his brother: Within these walls, we will witness the rebirth of the human spirit. “To me that captures what we’ll be doing,” Dennis says. “These children—born innocent and then having suffered the way they’ve suffered—we’re giving them an opportunity for a rebirth.” Graci took a photo of the messages and plans to hang it on the second floo . For the kids with the rawest wounds who are new to the child-welfare system, the ones who might arrive in a squad car, taken from a dangerous situation, the residential section, Dennis explains, “allows us to create models for best practices when children are first removed. Because the sooner we can get them into services that can actually heal the trauma, the better.” In the lead-up to the grand opening, the McGillicuddys are also deeply involved in defining and hiring ideal foster parents, who will contribute to the clinical studies. “The child comes to your home and has an invisible suitcase,” Graci explains. “What the foster parent has to figu e out is what’s in that invisible suitcase that is causing them to act and react. Part of it is to question, not ‘What’s wrong with you?’ but ‘What happened to you?’” All Star welcomes sincere couples to apply for foster parenting. The McGillicuddys’ work won’t end in January. “I’m going to be here every day,” says Graci, the mother of 2 children, who now anticipates adding scores more under her wing. “It’s going to be a happy place,” she says.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE. Every Day. For almost 30 years, the team at FirstService Residential has worked tirelessly to enhance the value of every property we manage and the lifestyle of every resident in our care. As the North American property management leader, we know what it takes to create great communities that residents are proud to call home. We start by putting the right teams in place – Sarasota property experts who deliver genuinely helpful service. Then we back them up with the tools and resources that only the leading property management company can provide. That’s how we make a difference, every day, for great communities like yours. To make a difference in your community, contact Jake Howse at 941.203.7889 or visit bit.ly/SarasotaScene.
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