West Palm Beach, FL : As the exclusive nonprofit support of the Palm Beach County Guardian ad Litem volunteer child advocate program, Speak Up for Kids has seen its fair share of abuse and neglect cases involving child victims. For over a decade, their work has ensured security, permanence, and normalcy for foster children, which has yielded thousands of stories from children documenting first-hand how alone and forgotten they often feel, especially when milestones, including birthdays, come and go without celebration or fanfare.

In 2017, the Speak Up for Kids Board of Directors introduced the Gift-A-Birthday program to honor local children involved in dependency cases. “Conversations around child victimization, dependency proceedings, and foster care are nebulous and overwhelming for most people,” says Coleen Lacosta, Speak Up for Kids Executive Director. “Leaving those who want to help to feel as if the problem is just too big. Gift-A-Birthday presents an opportunity for anyone to get involved and effect change.” A $25 donation allows Speak Up for Kids to provide a child a card, cake, and small gift to forward normalcy and a measure of remembrance and acknowledgment.

“It is the small things, the milestones we each celebrate, that fall through the cracks for these children. We will not allow that to continue,” says Celeste Jackson, Chair for Gift-A-Birthday. “We intend to raise enough funds to ensure all 1,600 children in our care have a birthday celebration.”

On April 8, 2021, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM, the public is invited to celebrate a birthday party of epic proportions hosted by Speak Up for Kids at The Pavilion – 101 S. Flagler Drive West. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now. “We expect a sold-out event, so the earlier you purchase, the better,” says Jackson.

Although Speak Up for Kids accepts birthday sponsorship year-round, this focused Gift-A-Birthday event allows all of Palm Beach County to stand together and in unison say to victimized children, “We celebrate you!”

http://businessnewsthisweek.com/business/palm-beach-countys-biggest-birthday-celebration-benefits-local-often-forgotten-children/

https://gotowncrier.com/2020/12/foster-children-given-the-opportunity-to-buy-a-gift-for-a-special-person/

A local coalition of holiday elves from Speak Up for Kids, CMI Electrical, Marine Plumbing and the Royal Palm Beach Target store joined forces on Monday, Dec. 14 for Better to Give, an epic shopping event for 100 children involved in dependency and foster care.

“I continue to be in awe of our community,” said Coleen LaCosta, executive director of Speak Up for Kids. “I recognize how blessed we are to do the work we do, but without the support of individual and business contributions, our impact would not be as great as it is.”

Though many find it a chore or take for granted the ability to buy a gift for a special person during the holiday season, children in foster care do not often get the opportunity to buy for someone they love. With Better to Give, each child was partnered with a shopper and given $50 to shop for anyone who has impacted their life in a profound way.

The children searched the aisles to choose gifts for foster parents, case managers, siblings, parents, grandparents and their guardians ad litem. They were then ushered into the wrap room, where Target elves and volunteers were on hand to help them choose the perfect wrapping paper and bows, expertly wrapping the presents to make the gift extra special.

“Last year, I helped a little boy shop for his foster parents, and I watched as his foster dad shed tears of gratitude,” volunteer Dorothy Alvarez recalled. “I knew I had to participate again this year, and now I am excited about next year’s Better to Give.”

LaCosta said that the program is needed now more than ever.

“The pandemic has certainly made this year a whirlwind, but COVID-19 could not halt generosity in Palm Beach County or take the cheer out of the holiday season for the children we serve,” she said. “Though their smiles were hidden behind masks, the joyous sparkle in their eyes remained undeniable.”

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — ‘Tis the season for giving back and this year, our friends at Schumacher Automotive Group are giving back to the community in a big way.

The Schumacher family is awarding $70,000 to deserving charities in our area.

Amanda Schumacher says they hope this “Holiday Give Back” will help our community during what has been a very challenging year.

"To be able to say we’re here. We’re here for you not just to sell cars, but here because my husband and I live here, our families are here, and our friends are here and we really do believe in the community and empowering it," Schumacher said.

Some of the charities receiving $5,000 gifts this week include another friend of ours, Big Dog Ranch Rescue, as well as Wounded Veterans Relief Fund and Speak Up for The Kids.

In all, 14 nonprofits will be getting a $5,000 donation as part of this program.

It’s a gift they are all very grateful for this holiday season.

https://cbs12.com/news/morning-show/schumacher-automotive-group-donates-70k-to-local-charities

During this season of Thanksgiving, we would like to introduce you to some of South Florida’s critically important charities and the passionate leaders who guide them. We are thankful for for the good work they are doing in a wide variety of areas from protecting our youth and advocating for single mothers to feeding the hungry or providing safe housing. Each charity is making an eternal difference in our community or the world in some way. We urge you to learn more about them and find a place where you can pitch in or offer encouragement.

THANK YOU GOOD NEWS FLORIDA FOR INCLUDING SPEAK UP FOR KIDS IN THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE. WE ARE HONORED TO BE AMOUNG OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND LOOK FORWARD TO HOW WE WILL IMPACT OUR NEIGHBORS FOR THE BETTER.

CHECK OUT THE DIGITAL MAGAZINE HERE:
https://digital.goodnewsfl.org/2020/november/

Twenty new Dell computers were donated to bridge the technology gap for Palm Beach County child victims of abuse.

West Palm Beach, FL, November 05, 2020 --(PR.com)-- As the exclusive nonprofit support of the Palm Beach County Guardian ad Litem Program, Speak Up for Kids knows well the provisional shortfalls within the dependency system and how going without access to various items stymies a child’s potential. The list of needs for children involved in foster care proceedings can be overwhelmingly long ranging including basic, daily-use items such as toothbrushes, personal hygiene products, clothing, and school supplies. “I always get emotional when anyone outside of the foster system develops an understanding of the challenges faced by child victims of abuse,” says Coleen LaCosta, Executive Director for Speak Up for Kids. “But, when they take massive action by creating a project aimed at improving outcomes for kids, I am left speechless.”

When we talk about school supplies, this goes beyond paper, pens, and pencils, and extends to the use of technology, even in K-12 academic settings. What has left LaCosta speechless this time is the heartfelt advocacy and support of the West Palm Beach Kiwanis Club. In a service project spearheaded by 18 year West Palm Beach Chapter Kiwanis Club member, Cherie Boone, 20 Dell computers were donated to Speak Up for Kids in an effort to bridge the educational and technological gap faced by so many children involved in "the system."

“Our Kiwanis chapter is devoted to children and various aspects of the dependency, foster, and adoptive communities and gear many of our serve projects towards agencies who make a difference within those areas,” says Boone. When asked what prompted her to focus support on Speak Up for Kids, Boone said, “I am compelled to help those most vulnerable. These are children, who in the absence of a global pandemic, were in the most dire situations as it relates to normalcy and access. Their circumstances, coupled with COVID made it imperative for us to organize and assist.” Boone knows the successes and generational impact of intervention with child victims as her daughter is a foster parent who adopted from the foster care system. “Service to children is woven into the fabric of our family,” says Boone.

Florida state agencies, including the Department of Children and Families (FDOC) have not been exempted from nationwide budget tightening and were, in fact, told to hold off on planned spending due to shortfalls. Children, however, continued to enter dependency and foster care and the need for essential provision was increased.

According to the School District of Palm Beach County, students are required to use technology to appropriately prepare for the future. To accomplish this, they must be able to execute academic projects, presentations, and learning activities using dynamic technology. It cannot be taken for granted the direction the educational arena has taken especially in answer to COVID-19 where students and teachers transitioned to virtual learning, technology-driven platforms. Although this "wired," mixed media learning environment improves engagement and knowledge retention, enhances individual learning and collaboration, and allows for the use of essential, 21st Century skills, it served to highlight disparities especially within dependency populations. Boone says, “As an organization, West Palm Beach Kiwanis hopes this gift bridges the gap for those who need it most.”

“Words cannot express the gratitude we have for Cherie and the West Palm Beach Kiwanis Club. It is genuinely like an early Christmas,” says LaCosta. “Twenty children will be better able to complete assignments; some may use this gift to complete college applications. What I know for sure is that the Kiwanis Club surely took to heart the commitment to ‘Speak Up for Kids.’”

https://www.pr.com/press-release/824775

https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/20/08/r17282651/local-child-welfare-leader-champions-foster-kids-with-lived-experience

Palm Beach County, FL, August 28, 2020 --(PR.com)-- Michelle Canaday, Circuit Director for the 15th Judicial District of the Florida Guardian ad Litem Program, is the perfect example of what happens when someone speaks words of life and encouragement to a child. Canaday, who is the product of the Wisconsin foster care system, remembers a childhood where the overarching expectation for girls was that they become wives and mothers. At 11 years old, she had a chance interaction over a game of cribbage with a distant male family member who we will call John and who had just completed law school. Canaday reflects, “What you say to children can impact them in such a way that it changes the trajectory of their life.” During their game, John said to her, “You’re a really smart girl. You should consider going to college and doing something with your life.” Canaday held on to that conversation and used it as fuel to propel herself forward through multiple trials.

Canaday oversees the Palm Beach County Guardian ad Litem Program, a corps of greater than 600 volunteer child advocates who represent, in court, the best interests of children involved in abuse, abandonment, and neglect cases. At any given time, our county has between 1,500 and 1,700 children whose lives, through no fault of their own, are hanging in the balance as they attend court proceedings where the fates of their parents, themselves, and in many cases, their siblings are to be determined. The process usually begins with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) alerted to a suspicion of abuse or neglect. DCF sends an investigator who assesses the situation and, if the claims are found to hold merit, intervention is determined, up to and including removing the child or children from the home for their own safety. A dependency court case is opened where each party’s interest – except those of the children - are represented by a cadre of attorneys. Guardians ad Litem are so crucial because they are assigned to represent the best interests of the children involved in these cases and serve as the judge’s set of community eyes and ears focused only on the children. “I think destiny led me to this work and every one of my life experiences, though difficult at the time, served as preparation,” says Canaday who has been at the helm for the past five years.

By all accounts, Canaday should not be the person she is today. As a youngster, her family life proved challenging at best and she was placed in the foster care system at the age of 15. Foster care is a temporary living situation for children whose parents cannot take care of them and whose need for care has been brought to the attention of a local child welfare agency. A teen mom who graduated high school at 16 just before giving birth to her first child, with little support from her daughter’s father, Canaday remained determined to do the most with her life. Hanging on to that distant conversation with John so many years prior, Canaday applied for entrance to the local community college. Because of her age, she needed special clearance from the dean of the school as 18 was the required age for acceptance. Not to be dissuaded, Canaday filed the appropriate appeals and was accepted to the school. She worked, took care of her daughter, and attended classes, continuing always to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Again, John’s words continued to echo in her head through each obstacle.

Next, she was presented with the dreaded financial aid packet. “This was thirty plus years ago, so there was no FAFSA online, internet, and everything at your fingertips. I was handed a huge packet to be completed by hand. And the worst part was that I need financial information from my parents,” recalls Canaday. “Hello! I do not have parents.” Worse was there was little assistance offered by the school’s financial aid office. Canaday set about tracking down her mother who surprised her by providing the documents necessary to fully – and painfully - complete the application which thankfully aided in securing a much-needed Pell Grant. She was off and running.

It was towards the end of her first semester that Canaday began to feel the compounded pressures of adulthood, parenthood, and college-life. Canaday also found she was pregnant with her second child. Because she was already struggling with balancing all the components of her life and found she would have to postpone completing school until she could see a way forward.

When asked if, when faced with what seemed insurmountable odds, she maintained faith that she would make it through Canaday says, “I had dropped out of school and knew it would take seven years for me to complete college, then law school and that seemed impossible. I figured I would go to paralegal school because I could make money even though it wasn’t really what I wanted. I was speaking with a treasured confidante who pointed out to me that seven years would pass regardless of what I was doing and suggested I look at the larger picture; I could settle or I could put in the time and the work and just go big.” Canaday went huge. She credits her daughter, Nicki, with corralling the younger children in the evenings while she attended classes. “I cooked dinner and she made sure everyone ate and completed homework. We were really a team,” says Canaday. “I could not have done it without her.” As Canaday talks about her children, you can hear the adoration in her voice, and you can clearly see that they served as her "why."

Canaday interned at the Attorney General’s Office in Broward County and then accepted a position with Children’s Legal Services where she served as the voice for children involved in both justice and civil welfare proceedings. She worked in that capacity for 12 years, introducing her to all facets of the child advocacy and cementing her desire to do more to ensure children had every opportunity to thrive. When Canaday was initially approached about the Palm Beach County Guardian ad Litem Circuit Director position, she declined because she felt that she could better serve children in the courtroom, as a daily, vocal advocate, ensuring their interests were represented, rights maintained, and justice served. She changed her mind after several conversations with her husband and number one cheerleader, David Kinigson, who encouraged her to consider that although she would miss direct courtroom advocacy, as the Circuit Director she could influence outcomes for thousands of children through program and case oversight. “David is an amazing support. He knows my heart and is absolutely the wind beneath my wings,” says Canaday, who has been the Circuit Director for five years and could not be happier or more fulfilled in her work.

So, what ever happened to John, the cribbage partner turned unknowing inspiration? After completing law school and securing a position with Children’s Legal Services, Canaday decided to seek out John. She could not find him on Facebook, so she checked LinkedIn and was able to connect with him. She sent him a message thanking him for his kind words over the cribbage board so many years earlier and shared with him how that one conversation, that one small interaction, made such a profound difference in her life. She recalls him being extremely humbled by her acknowledgement and happy that he had such a direct impact on her. John currently serves as a regional attorney for a New England child advocacy agency.

Today, Canaday is happily married to her wonderful husband David, her children Nicki, Dustin, and Dakota are in their 30’s and though none of her children followed her footsteps in the legal profession, each is tremendously successful in their chosen field. She is also the grandmother of three boys, ages 18, 14, and 3, and has achieved a balance and an abundance she only dreamed about. “I thought this life was reserved for other people.”

Although Canaday continues to be shocked by the horrors parents inflict upon their children, she remains “...more encouraged by the heart and drive of those who choose to work in child advocacy.” What continues to drive Canaday? “At the end of each day, I want to know that my work has made someone else’s life better.”

About Speak Up for Kids of Palm Beach County
Speak Up for Kids of Palm Beach County, Inc. is the exclusive 501(c)(3) fundraising arm for the Guardian ad Litem Program of Palm Beach County, Florida. We champion best-interest child advocacy through the recruitment, training, and retention of court-appointed volunteer child advocates. These “guardian angels” are committed solely to each child’s emotional, educational, and physical well-being throughout dependency court proceedings as the only 100% objective voice. Through effective advocacy the cycles of abuse, violence, and crime are being broken one child at a time, and children’s futures are being rewritten.

Contact Information:
Speak Up for Kids
Coleen LaCosta
561-408-7779
Contact via Email
speakupforkidspbc.org

Read the full story here: https://www.pr.com/press-release/820002

Press Release Distributed by PR.com

https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/20/08/r16959391/palm-beach-countys-biggest-birthday-celebration-benefits-local-vulnerable-children

On April 8, 2021, Speak Up for Kids is set to host the Gift-A-Birthday extravaganza, touted as Palm Beach County's biggest birthday celebration, all proceeds will benefit the almost 1,600 local child victims of abuse and neglect.

West Palm Beach, FL, August 06, 2020 --(PR.com)-- On April 8, 2021, Speak Up for Kids is set to host the Gift-A-Birthday extravaganza, the brainchild of local author, communications strategist, and mother of two, Shaw Thomas. Touted as Palm Beach County’s biggest birthday celebration, all proceeds will benefit the almost 1,600 local child victims of abuse and neglect.

Shaw Thomas was introduced to child welfare and the societal implications of abuse, abandonment, and neglect through her work with various South Florida organizations. Through her many service efforts, she was learned about the work of the Guardian ad Litem Program, a league of approximately 600 volunteer court-appointed child advocates serving as the voice for victims of maltreatment.

“I saw, in a very real way, how the budget shortfalls realized by the Guardian ad Litem Program had a direct impact on the safety, security, normalcy, and permanency goals of the children the system set out to serve,” says Thomas. When a dedicated group of volunteer advocates decided to form the Speak Up for Kids of Palm Beach County nonprofit with an exclusive focus on raising supplemental funding for the Guardian ad Litem, Thomas was at the table as a founding member, dedicated to achieving 100% advocacy for all children involved in dependency proceedings.

Known in her professional circles as a solution-oriented leader, Thomas created Speak Up for Kids "Gift-A-Birthday" program as a call to action. “To be truly impactful, conversations around child welfare and foster care must include normalcy for victims. That includes celebrating a child on his or her birthday,” says Thomas, “and anyone can make that happen with a $25 donation.”

“Conversations around child victimization, dependency proceedings, and foster care are nebulous and overwhelming at best for most people, leaving those who really want to help feeling as if the problem is just too big,” says Coleen LaCosta, Speak Up for Kids Executive Director and local victims’ advocate. “Gift-A-Birthday presents an opportunity for anyone to get involved and effect change.”

Once Thomas, LaCosta, and the Speak Up for Kids Board of Directors met to cement plans, they decided unanimously to name local financial and fundraising powerhouse, Celeste Jackson as the Honorary Chair for Gift-A-Birthday. Jackson, whose fundraising efforts span greater than 20 years and has benefited multiple causes, had a chance meeting with LaCosta greater than 10 years ago. That encounter morphed into a decade long friendship, various events, and countless fundraisers all to benefit the most vulnerable in our population.

The public is invited to celebrate with Speak Up for Kids on April 8, 2021 at The Pavilion – 101 S. Flagler Drive West – from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now. “We expect a sold-out event, so the earlier you purchase, the better,” says Jackson.

“I cannot tell you how many children have shared with me their heartbreak over not ever being celebrated,” says LaCosta. Jackson echoes that sentiment, “It is the small things, the milestones we each celebrate, that fall through the cracks for these children. We will not allow that to continue.”

Through ongoing financial support, Speak Up for Kids champions the efforts of the volunteer child advocates of the Guardian ad Litem Program (www.GALPBC.gov) and the numerous child victims they serve. For more information on Gift-A-Birthday, other Speak Up for Kids events, to request sponsorship information, or to find other ways you or your organization can help, visit www.speakupforkidspbc.org.

Contact Information:
Speak Up for Kids
Coleen LaCosta
561-408-7779
Contact via Email
speakupforkidspbc.org

Read the full story here: https://www.pr.com/press-release/818438

Press Release Distributed by PR.com

https://www.palmbeachpost.com/lifestyle/20200804/county-students-can-give-foster-kids-stronger-voice

Students Speak Up For Kids provides students opportunities to serve and speak up for the children involved in Palm Beach County’s dependency court system.

Creating birthday cards for foster kids. Writing notes of encouragement. Virtual tutoring.

These are a few of the many projects schoolchildren can participate in to help foster children through a new community program by Speak Up for Kids of Palm Beach County.

Speak Up for Kids is excited to launch Students Speak Up For Kids, a new program encouraging student-led, project-based advocacy benefiting children in the foster care system. Meaningful volunteer opportunities are available to students of all grade levels in Palm Beach County.

“Students Speak Up For Kids captures the true spirit and commitment Speak Up for Kids has made to our children and youth,” said Executive Director Coleen LaCosta. “This program meets a community need by expanding our reach and serving all students in Palm Beach County.”

LaCosta was honored to receive a Positive Youth Impact Grant from the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties to help launch this program.

Trish Zenczak joined the Speak Up for Kids team to roll out the program. Zenczak became a foster parent in 2000 in order to give back to all those who so generously mentored, fostered and cared for her through childhood.

Her experience as a group home resident and her passion as a foster mom has led her down the path of adoption and guardianship and now, advocacy. She believes that “everyone can do something” and is excited to offer her experience to help empower Students Speak Up For Kids.

Students Speak Up For Kids provides students opportunities to serve and speak up for the children involved in Palm Beach County’s dependency court system. The goal is to promote positive youth development. Student-led advocacy teaches giving, builds upon unique talent and leadership skills, and ultimately fosters a cohesive community of inclusion and understanding among students in their schools and in their neighborhoods.

“We have found students to be passionate, energetic and eager to make a difference in their communities,” said Fiona Wade, director of development for Speak Up for Kids. “High school students are actively reaching out to Speak Up for Kids seeking meaningful community service opportunities and requesting a pathway to partner with a nonprofit in order to differentiate themselves as college and employment applicants.”

Students Speak Up For Kids created three easy ways to get involved: individual projects, group projects and campus chapters. Students are free to use a premade toolkit or design their own advocacy campaign. The group encourages creativity for endless possibilities. Students can easily submit their volunteer hour log and receive a comprehensive summary from the program.

Some elementary level projects include hand art for Celebration of the Hands during Florida Children’s Week (the hand pictures hang at the Capitol); coloring and writing notes of encouragement; and making birthday cards for foster kids (there are 1,700).

Middle-schoolers also can join in on their own projects, such as creative art projects, such as Illustrate Special Topics in Foster Care; creation of cards and posters to thank volunteer child advocates; content writing to be featured on the Students Speak Up For Kids blog; and creation of social media posts and awareness.

Teens and high school students seeking to service their communities can read virtually to foster children; become virtual tutors to foster kids; help in online content creation and blogging; create student news and video segments on morning announcements; and distribute flyers in their community.

There also are group projects for students to experience, such as 10 10 10 — where for 10 days, 10 people together complete 10 Speak Up For Kids activities; creating a seasonal sport event table and participating in SGA (Student Government Association) engagement and leadership projects.

Students Speak Up For Kids also offers a grade-level appropriate presentation and activity on foster care awareness. Teachers have the opportunity to lead their own class awareness project guided by a toolkit. Parents can join in on the new program via family projects.

Those interested in Students Speak Up For Kids should be on the lookout for school-to-school challenges, which are in the works — especially during Child Abuse Prevention month.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Debra Ervin DATE: July 29, 2020 Phone: (850) 922-7213

Debra.Ervin@gal.fl.gov

ALAN ABRAMOWITZ RE-APPOINTED AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE STATEWIDE GUARDIAN AD LITEM OFFICE

[Tallahassee] - Governor Ron DeSantis has reappointed Mr. Alan Abramowitz as Executive Director of the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office, for a three-year term that began on July 2, 2020.

The Guardian ad Litem Program represents abused, abandoned and neglected children in Florida’s dependency system, and Abramowitz has been Executive Director since 2010.

In announcing the re-appointment, Governor DeSantis wrote to Abramowitz, “Your appointment is evidence of my utmost confidence in your ability to serve with excellence and distinction.”

“I am honored to serve Governor Ron DeSantis and the children of the State of Florida,” said Abramowitz. “I am motivated and inspired by the children we serve, the volunteers that offer their time and energy to give children a voice, and the staff who work as part of a multidisciplinary team to make a difference in the lives of abused and neglected children. I want to thank the Governor and the Legislature for their unwavering support of the Program’s best interests’ model of representation. Their commitment to shaping laws to give child advocates the tools to more effectively advocate for children’s safety, permanency and well being has been outstanding."

Abramowitz, who served in the Florida National Guard and the United States Army, is Board Certified in Juvenile Law. He has a passion for working with volunteers, having previously served in the Peace Corps as a volunteer.

Abramowitz received his bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University, his master’s degree

from the University of Central Florida and his law degree from Florida State University.

To learn more about the Guardian ad Litem Foundation, or to become a volunteer, visit www.flgal.org or call 1-850-922-7213

See our Annual Report for 2019 Here!

NEWS PROVIDED BY
Netreputation
June 05, 2020, 14:24 GMT

Philanthropist Sam Lehrer Miami and republican state legislator Tommy Thompson discuss charity interests in Palm Beach, FL.

PALM BEACH, FL, UNITED STATES, June 5, 2020 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Philanthropy is especially important during uncertain times. Sam Lehrer Miami has been a Florida philanthropist for years. His hard work and dedication to those less privileged than him led him to speak with republican state legislator Tommy Thompson on charity interests in Palm Beach, FL. The event took place on Admirals Cove and was sponsored by Scripps.

Sam Lehrer Miami has worked with countless organizations around the globe to improve the lives of those in need. His family has volunteered at the Little Yellow School House in Isla Mujeres, Mexico, for decades, he contributes to the Navy SEAL Museum, and donates his time and resources in countless other ways. Sam Lehrer Miami has now set his focus on raising awareness for charitable organizations in Palm Beach.

"Palm Beach is already home to countless respected charitable organizations," Sam Lehrer Miami said. "Our goal is to raise awareness for these charities, so people know where they can securely donate or where they can safely reach out for help."

Sam Lehrer Miami explained that he and state legislator Tommy Thompson discussed which charities are some of the shining stars of Palm Beach. Sam Lehrer Miami noted the Speak Up for Kids of Palm Beach County, Inc., as a charity that does impressive work for foster kids throughout the area. He explained that the region's St. Catholic Charities also offer assistance to people with varying difficulties, whether they're in need of food, legal help or a variety of other needs. Charity Car Donations is another organization that Sam Lehrer Miami says people can trust, whether they're in need of help or donating.

"These organizations are all extremely professional and trustworthy," Sam Lehrer Miami said. "So many times, we want to give to charities, but we just don't know exactly where our money is going. Thankfully, Palm Beach is home to countless reputable charities that aren't just giving your donation dollars to CEOs."
Sam Lehrer Miami explained that there was no better time to meet with Republican State Legislator Tommy Thompson, as people across Palm Beach, around the country, and around the globe are in need of help during these trying pandemic times.

"From the Kids Cancer Foundation to Alzheimer's Community Care and the Big Dog Ranch Rescue, our region is full of outstanding charitable organizations," Sam Lehrer Miami said. "Whatever your interests or passions may be, there's a place for you to donate in the Palm Beach area and make a positive impact on your local community."

Caroline Hunter
Web Presence, LLC
+12019825138
email us here

https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/518738966/sam-lehrer-miami-and-republican-state-legislator-tommy-thompson-discuss-charity-interests-in-palm-beach-fl

By Town-Crier Editor - May 5, 2020

On Tuesday, May 5, Palm Beach County Commissioner Gregg Weiss will issue a proclamation designating the month of May as National Foster Care, Speak Up for Kids and Guardian ad Litem Month in honor of the hard work and dedication exhibited on behalf of vulnerable children across the county.

There are 20 Guardian ad Litem circuits in Florida, with Palm Beach County the 15th Judicial District. The Palm Beach County Guardian ad Litem Circuit Director is Michelle Canaday, while the Executive Director for Speak Up for Kids is Coleen LaCosta. Together they work tirelessly to advance child advocacy.

In addition to the Palm Beach County Commission, the towns of Lake Park and Juno Beach, as well as the cities of Boynton Beach and Belle Glade, have either already issued proclamations or have agreed to do so this month. In May 2021, Speak Up for Kids will host its inaugural Celebration of Advocacy Luncheon to honor volunteers and community leaders in the continued effort to protect and speak up for children.

“In prior years, just about every city in our county signed proclamations in support of the Guardian ad Litem Program. Our ask this year is a bit different,” LaCosta said. “We asked the county as well as each city to sign a proclamation highlighting May as National Foster Care Month in addition to recognizing the work of Speak Up for Kids and the Palm Beach County Guardian ad Litem. The support has been tremendous.”

Canaday said that she is glad to see the continued support in these uncertain times.

“We are looking for opportunities to engage with each city in Palm Beach County to forward our mission of ensuring each child involved in dependency court proceedings is afforded a Guardian ad Litem; in essence, a voice in the court system representing only the child’s best interest,” Canaday said. “With greater than 300 children currently awaiting a volunteer, the need is great, but we continue to be encouraged by the outpouring of support and the opportunity to build awareness.”

Speak Up for Kids is the exclusive nonprofit supporting the efforts of the Palm Beach County Guardian ad Litem Program and the close to 700 volunteer child advocates who provide oversight and support to children while also serving as their voice in the court system.

The work of volunteer child advocates and their associated nonprofit supports generate a savings to the State of Florida of almost $20 million, estimating it would take an additional 450-plus employees to perform the work of the statewide network of Guardian ad Litem volunteer advocates. In Palm Beach County, that is a savings of greater than $1 million in salaries and mileage reimbursement costs alone.

Speak Up for Kids and the Guardian ad Litem Program work hand-in-hand to not only train and appropriately equip volunteer advocates, but to also locate potential foster and forever families, and provide funding for activities so children in the system can participate in activities comparable to their peers, including sports, birthdays and music lessons; all allowing for normalcy during the most chaotic time in their young lives.

If you are interested in volunteering, visit www.galpbc.org.

https://gotowncrier.com/2020/05/county-issues-proclamation-recognizing-may-as-national-foster-care-speak-up-for-kids-guardian-ad-litem-month/

https://www.echofineproperties.com/echoshowcase-supporting-kids-in-the-most-difficult-time-of-their-lives/

Agent Sophie Schneeberger, Hidden Gems of Palm Beach County introduces us to Speak Up for Kids Palm Beach County…

Speak Up for Kids gives abused, abandoned, & neglected children someone to Speak Up for their best interests in court…

Facilitating their development, ensuring their right to a safe & permanent home, & building their future…

On any given day there are 1200 to 1400 local child victims of abuse, abandonment or neglect in need of an advocate to speak up for them…

Supports the Guardian ad Litem Program-Palm Beach County, Florida to advocate for & protect the lives of children in the dependency (including foster care) system…

Looking for help from the community financially & through volunteers…

Share this video with family & friends looking to help change a child’s life for the better!

Contact Coleen LaCosta to learn how you can help!

 561.408.7779

Coleen@SpeakUpForKidsPBC.org

Contact Sophie for all of your real estate needs!

 561.808.4114

Sophie@EchoFineProperties.com

What’s Your Florida Home Worth? Check Out Your Home’s Value?

bit.ly/homevaluesPalmBeachesFL

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https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20191227/foster-parents-next-millennial-trend-local-advocates-hope-so

By Kristina Webb 

Posted Dec 27, 2019 at 4:54 PM

As Palm Beach County sees a growing need for foster parents, advocates are working to draw more millennials into the system.

BOYNTON BEACH — The trio of children known as “Z3” are everything you would expect from three siblings age 4 and younger: buoyant, chatty, eager to learn and excited by everything.

But it wasn’t always this way. Zachariah, 4, Zendaya, 3, and 2-year-old Zariah started their lives neglected — and found their way into the foster system.

That’s where they met the women who would change their lives: 36-year-old Michelle Senior and her partner Monica Peoples, 46.

Together they would turn the children’s lives around, making them “the happiest babies they’ve ever seen,” according to one foster care advocate.

The foster system in Palm Beach County is looking for more people like Senior and Peoples: Millennials or close to that age range — typically defined as people born between 1981 and 1996 — who want to become foster parents.

It’s a demographic Diana Reese, foster home recruiter with Speak Up For Kids of Palm Beach County, hopes to reach more in the coming years.

“I’ve had some luck with social media with the millennials, but they don’t often search out info until they’ve heard about the need somewhere such as in the news, ... or met us at an event, or if I’ve randomly emailed or posted places,” she said.

While some festivals have boosted numbers, it can take years of “nurturing” to turn those relationships into foster families, Reese said.

Of the 1,200 children in out-of-home care in November in Palm Beach County, nearly 44 percent were age 4 or younger, according to the most recent Department of Children and Families data available.

Of all the children in out-of-home care in Palm Beach County, 372 are in licensed foster care, according to DCF. Another 542 are with an approved relative, and 139 are with an approved nonrelative. About 150 are in group care or have another living situation.

Sixty-one children age 17 and younger entered the foster care system in Palm Beach County in November, DCF data show. More than half were placed in out-of-home care because of their parents’ drug abuse. Other reasons include domestic violence, inadequate housing and inadequate supervision.

From tragedy, a calling

The reasons people become foster parents are just as varied as the reasons children end up in foster care.

Michelle Senior and Monica Peoples began thinking about fostering as their seven biological children — Michelle has three, Monica has four — got older.

“The house got quieter and we were like, ‘Hmmm,’” Michelle said.

But the process seemed daunting at the time, and they worried they would get too attached.

Then their situation changed, in a way that would shatter their lives and leave them looking for a way to put the pieces back together.

Peoples’ son, James DeAngelo Peoples, was shot and killed on Dec. 8, 2016, outside a Chevron gas station in Delray Beach by Delinord Dumercy, who reportedly was jealous James was dating his ex-girlfriend. Dumercy on Dec. 13 was found guilty of second-degree murder with a firearm in James’ death. Dumercy’s attorney has filed a motion for a new trial.

Both Michelle and Monica fell into a deep depression following their son’s death. They started an online fundraiser to help cover funeral costs. With the $1,000 left over, they decided to go on Facebook and look through local groups to find families that needed some financial help over the holidays.

That’s how they met Zachariah’s first foster mom. They fell in love with the spunky little boy to whom they brought Christmas presents just weeks after James’ death, and Monica, who had lost her job following her son’s slaying, offered to babysit Zachariah on weekends.

Soon the foster mother began taking care of Zendaya, and Michelle and Monica found their house filled on weekends with the giggles of both toddlers.

This went on for several months, with Monica and Michelle taking on greater roles in the youngsters’ lives.

In early 2017, the foster mother’s son brought the kids over to Monica and Michelle’s for what was supposed to be a run-of-the-mill weekend. He warned Michelle as he arrived that Zachariah had a scratch on his face.

But what Michelle saw on the little boy was much more than a scratch. Zachariah appeared to have been seriously injured. A photo taken by Michelle on that day shows one of his eyes swollen shut, a gash on his face, the flesh red and puffy. His eyes are filled with fear.

The couple rushed Zachariah to the hospital with Zendaya in tow. They called the foster mother, who said the boy had fallen and that they should leave the hospital. By then, police had responded to the emergency room to file a report.

“She kept coming up with excuses,” Michelle said, still furious two years later. “I said, ‘Have you lost your [expletive] mind?’”

A caseworker came and picked up Zachariah and Zendaya. They would not return to that foster family, Michelle and Monica were told. Then they were asked the question they knew was coming: Would you consider taking in these two children in need?

Their answer was “yes,” but not without some hesitation. The couple already lived in cramped quarters in Boynton Beach. But they couldn’t say no to the sweet children who had swiftly stolen their hearts over the past few months.

And soon the siblings would be joined in Michelle and Monica’s home by their little sister, Zariah, whose foster father was arrested around Thanksgiving 2017 for protesting ICE, Michelle said.

“It was a lot,” she said, sighing.

But something told them it was meant to be.

“We feel like it was James’ way of not wanting us to dwell on his death,” Michelle said. “By the time they got here, we didn’t have time to grieve.”

‘They’re my everything’

This past National Adoption Day, Michelle and Monica made it official and adopted Zachariah, Zendaya and Zariah — Z3 as they lovingly are known, and @welcome2thezoocus on Instagram — into their family.

The biological parents of the three siblings since have had two more children, who are placed with family members.

The couple see a little bit of James in the trio.

“They all have a piece of him,” Michelle said. When the adoption was processed, each child got a new middle name: DeAngelo for Zachariah, and DeAngela for Zendaya and Zariah.

That helps them to focus on the positive instead of the harsh reality, like the two trials it took to find their son’s killer guilty, and the uncounted times they’ve had to watch the surveillance video of James being gunned down.

The timing couldn’t have been better for Michelle and Monica, who say the children’s arrivals came just when they needed something to take their minds off James’ death.

“Without them, I don’t know, Christmas would be nonexistent,” Michelle said.

Monica said the children saved her life, pulling her from despair after James’ death.

“I wouldn’t be here,” she said. “I’d be dead. They’re my everything.”

Both said the foster care system isn’t easy to navigate, but it helps to have someone experienced to guide you. And though the process can seem intimidating, the rewards have outweighed any challenges, the couple said.

“They came and they saved us,” Monica said.

The biggest issue they faced was resources: time, money, advice. But once the children were in daycare and the paperwork was processing, “It was good,” she said.

“It was rewarding because you’re giving them a life, you’re giving them a home, you’re giving them a family,” Monica added. ”... We were actually given a blessing from something so bad, so terrible, but, I mean, it was worth it.”

There are still hurdles that have popped up along the way. When the couple adopted the trio, they lost a daycare subsidy and the costs skyrocketed, something they didn’t expect.

With six children at home, the couple’s latest challenge is finding a larger house to rent -- one that can better accommodate their brood.

“Some mornings you see their smile and you just understand why you do what you do,” Monica said.

‘Doing the right thing’

For other millennial foster parents, the journey may begin with fertility issues. That was the path for 27-year-old Maureen of Palm Beach County. She and her husband, David, tried for several years to conceive a child.

Maureen declined to give her last name to protect her foster son’s privacy.

The couple tried first to conceive naturally, then sought help from an in-vitro fertilization specialist.

Her heart broken after two miscarriages, the couple turned to another path to parenthood: fostering.

She too has discussed the resource challenges faced by foster parents.

“We had two days to prepare for our first foster placement,” she wrote on her blog, The Magical Mundane Life. “We knew his age, race and diaper size.”

She painstakingly documented her fertility struggle on social media, where she has tens of thousands of followers across several platforms. More than 10,000 people follow her on Instagram @themagicalmundanelife, and 30,000 people subscribe to her YouTube channel, where she logs near-daily video diaries covering almost every aspect of her life.

Her video announcing the couple’s decision to become foster parents has been viewed more than 18,000 times.

Including her foster son in her social media presence is tricky. His name and face cannot be published. He occasionally appears in her videos, but what’s seen typically is a chubby arm here, a thick little thigh there, most often the back of his blond head. In still photos, his eyes are blocked out with a bar.

And she refers to him only by his nickname: “Bubba.”

Maureen has addressed on her blog any concerns about getting “too attached” to her foster child.

“Think about all the people you love, your mother, father, spouse, child, friend,” she wrote. “Are you afraid you’ll get too attached to those people?”

In a blog post titled, “Foster Care Is Incredibly Hard,” Maureen wrote that she has to “fight” regularly for her foster son’s future.

“Foster care is hard but having the knowledge that I’m doing the right thing, that I’m right where I’m suppose to be, that I’m showing God’s love, that I’m caring for innocent children, that’s worth it,” she said.

kwebb@pbpost.com

@kristinawebb

The Royal Palm Beach Village Council agenda on Thursday, Nov. 21 included four items associated with the continuing Tuttle Royale development on the south side of Southern Blvd., just west of State Road 7. Over the past year, items related to Tuttle Royale have dominated the council’s time.

The council began by approving Tuttle’s request to rezone two tracts of land for Royal Palm Beach public ownership. Totaling 13.44 acres, the land is designated for future recreational use.

The next item was a request to allow smaller unit sizes, offset by additional amenities offered to residents, at a 401-unit multifamily parcel on just over 29 acres.

Similar to what happened when the request was discussed at the Planning & Zoning Commission meeting, it included a presentation that led to both comments and questions from the council. Developer Brian Tuttle’s argument was that the market is not demanding the apartment sizes called for in the village’s code.

Councilman Jeff Hmara noted they have already approved similar requests twice.

“Because I dissented both times on those, I will do it again, because the units are so small,” Councilwoman Selena Samios said.

Mayor Fred Pinto also weighed-in to provide context on the issue.

“We’ve had other projects and units like this developed in the village. The marketplace is driving the size thing,” Pinto said. “These projects have been very successful. Amenities that come with that not only enrich the sub-area, but overall it really enriches the community.”

The request to allow the 401-unit plan, including smaller unit sizes, was ultimately approved 4-1, with Samios dissenting.

Also approved were variances for parking and a site plan reducing a landscape buffer requirement of 15 feet to 5 feet, due to there being a separation of a total of 25 feet when the easement space is included.

Tuttle addressed the council noting plans to open the recreation space to the general public for events.

“We are potentially buying out 1.8 acres of the recreation site. One of the options we will present is in the activity center, we are thinking of putting one to two acres of recreation space in the middle of that site. That would be open to the public,” Tuttle said. “We may have concerts or yoga, or different types of events for them to come and enjoy.”

Also at the meeting, the council heard volunteer recruiter Christie Geltz give a passionate presentation on behalf of the Guardian Ad Litem program. The program is designed to provide volunteer advocates for children who are separated from their home environment because of abuse, neglect or abandonment.

“I wanted to come out and introduce what we do and what we hope to accomplish,” Geltz said. “There are more than 1,700 children in foster care in Palm Beach County. We are the advocate and the voice for that child through the court system.”

Geltz further explained that volunteers sign up to be personal advocates for individual children. These volunteers become a stable presence in representing kids at school and with physicians, in addition to supporting them in court.

“Volunteer commitment is about 10 or 12 hours a month. I am hoping the community hears this and wants to jump in full blast. I would love to see you all get involved. We have 630 volunteers and more than 1,700 kids in foster care,” Geltz said. “Everything in [the child’s] life has been uprooted. Children are going through school and graduating because they have someone watching out for them.”

Samios mentioned that another way the community can help is to select the option to turn over the fees for attending jury duty to the program instead of receiving a personal payment.

“That’s a blessing for us,” Geltz said. “We are state funded. We don’t have the budget to go out and hire people to go out for funding, so we have a nonprofit called Speak Up for Kids. We are always looking for charitable donations, whether they are toys or books or games or sneakers, because these children are leaving their home a lot of times with nothing.”

For more information on the Guardian Ad Litem program, visit www.galpbc.org.

In other business:

• Pinto shared information on the Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency’s transportation plan, which looks out to 2025.

“There was a spirited discussion that went on. The bottom line is by Dec. 12, the TPA must submit its updated plan, otherwise we are going to be defunded for certain projects,” Pinto said. “Our strategic planning really needs to be strategic. We don’t want folks 20 years from now to look back and say, ‘What were they thinking?’”

• The council also discussed a public request to post information about underage drinking. It was decided not to present an ordinance, since both the state and county already have ordinances regarding the sale of alcohol to underage buyers. Ultimately, the council opted to have staff draft a resolution to be presented at a later meeting so the council could show its support for local groups to reach out into the community on the issue.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 26, 2019

MEDIA CONTACT
Savannah Kelly
savannah@volunteerflorida.org
(850) 556-9799

Volunteer Florida Announces $370,000 in Funding for Florida Nonprofits
 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Volunteer Florida announced that $370,000 in Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF) grant funding has been awarded to 22 nonprofit and service organizations throughout the state. Together, these organization have also secured $370,000 in local funding, bringing the total investment in Florida communities to $740,000.

“Volunteers play a critical role in our communities and without them, many of the goods and services that we know today would cease to exist,” said First Lady Casey DeSantis. “I applaud Volunteer Florida’s efforts to ensure that Florida’s nonprofit organizations have the resources they need to be successful in our communities.”

Volunteer Florida's VGF program, which is funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service, helps organizations use skills-based volunteers to serve Florida students, families and communities. Skills-based volunteerism expands the impact of organizations by leveraging the experience and talents of professionals, such as teachers, IT consultants, accountants and attorneys.

“Skills-based volunteers are an integral part of many nonprofits as they help extend the reach and capacity of organizations to meet their missions,” said Volunteer Florida CEO Clay Ingram. “Since 2014, Volunteer Florida has been able to empower 50,943 skills-based volunteers to serve 746,487 hours, a value of nearly $17 million to the State of Florida, through the VGF program.”

The following organizations received VGF funding for the 2019-2020 program year:

Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church ($15,000) – Bay County
The Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church will recruit and utilize at least 400 volunteers who will help rebuild Hurricane Michael-damaged homes.

Big Bend Hospice Foundation, Inc. ($15,000) – Leon County
Big Bend Hospice will recruit 450 volunteers who will conduct Valor Ceremonies to honor the organization’s veteran patients.

Girl Scouts of Gateway Council, Inc. ($15,000) – Duval County
Girl Scouts of Gateway Council will recruit 500 volunteers who will lead STEM, financial literacy and life skills programs to Girl Scouts in north Florida.

Girls on the Run of the Big Bend, Inc. ($20,000) – Leon County
In their third year of funding, Girls on the Run of the Big Bend will recruit 400 volunteers to fulfill the organization’s mission of inspiring girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun experience-based curriculum that creatively integrates running.

Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratories, Inc. ($15,000) – Wakulla County
The Gulf Specimen Marine Lab, Inc. will recruit 400 volunteers who will lead environmental education tours, assist with sea turtle releases, collect and identify marine specimens, care for marine specimens, participate in educational outreach events, and create educational exhibits at the Gulf Specimen Marine Lab in Panacea, Florida.

House of Hope ($15,000) – Martin County
House of Hope will recruit 400 volunteers that will contribute a total of 3,000 volunteer hours. Volunteers will assist the organization with various volunteer projects and duties in the organization’s food pantries, gardens and centers.

ICU Baby, Inc. ($15,000) – Miami-Dade County
ICU Baby will recruit 400 volunteers who will provide support to families with babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) at Baptist Health System’s South Miami Hospital and Holtz Children’s Hospital at UM/Jackson Memorial Medical Center.

Junior Achievement of Greater Miami ($15,000) – Dade County
Junior Achievement of Greater Miami will recruit 400 volunteers who will visit K-12 classrooms and interact with students and educators, sharing business knowledge and real-life experiences that relate to the lessons of Junior Achievement's programming.

Junior Achievement of South Florida ($20,000) – Broward County
In their third year of funding, Junior Achievement of South Florida will recruit 400 volunteers who will instruct and mentor eighth grade and high school students and teach financial literacy, substance abuse prevention, and workforce readiness.

Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast ($15,000) – Palm Beach County
Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast will recruit 400 volunteers who will teach Junior Achievement curriculum in classrooms.

Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine ($15,000) – Polk County
Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine will recruit 400 volunteers that will provide clinical and operational support at their clinics.

Manna Food Bank ($15,000) – Escambia County
Manna Food Bank will recruit over 400 volunteers that will help the organization provide emergency food assistance and specialty programs to those in need in northwest Florida.

New Hope for Kids ($20,000) – Orange County
In their third year of funding, New Hope for Kids will recruit 400 volunteers who will work with children and adults dealing with grief and loss.

Performing Arts Center Trust, Inc. (The Adrienne Arsht Center) ($20,000) – Miami-Dade County
In their third year of funding, The Adrienne Arsht Center will recruit 400 volunteers who will tutor, mentor and engage more than 60,000 students from Miami-Dade County Public Schools as part of the center’s free art education program.

St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum ($20,000) – St. Johns County
In their third year of funding, the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum will recruit 400 volunteers who will educate the public about the maritime history of Florida.

Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital ($15,000) – Broward County
The Sawgrass Nature Center and Wildlife Hospital will recruit 400 volunteers who will aid in fostering environmental stewardship.

Schott Memorial Center, Inc. ($20,000) – Broward County
In their third year of funding, Schott Communities will recruit 400 volunteers who will lead and assist with nutrition, mental health, and exercise activities for special needs clients at the organization’s center in Cooper City, Florida.

Seniors on a Mission, Inc. ($20,000) – Duval County
In their third year of funding, Seniors on a Mission will recruit 400 senior volunteers who will assist local nonprofit organizations in Jacksonville through various activities, such as sorting clothes and stuffing envelopes.

Speak Up for Kids of Palm Beach County, Inc. ($20,000) – Palm Beach County
In their third year of funding, Speak Up for Kids of Palm Beach County, Inc. will recruit 400 volunteers who will serve as child advocates, making sure that the child’s best interests are met during dependency cases in Palm Beach County.

St. Lucie County Oxbow Eco-Center ($15,000) – St. Lucie County
The Oxbow Eco-Center will recruit 400 volunteers who will serve to support the multi-faceted Riverlution Program and assist with education and outreach throughout St. Lucie County.

The School Board of Broward County, Florida ($15,000) – Broward County
The School Board of Broward County will recruit 400 volunteers who will complete service projects at over 100 school-sites throughout Broward County.

Volunteers in Service to the Elderly ($15,000) – Polk County
Volunteers in Service to the Elderly will recruit 400 volunteers to provide supportive services to more than 4,200 seniors, age 70 and above, to help them live safely and independently in their own homes.

Funding for the VGF program is awarded through a competitive application process. To learn more about this funding opportunity and others, please sign up for the Volunteer Florida newsletter by clicking here.

###

About Volunteer Florida
In 1994, Volunteer Florida was established in Florida Statutes to manage national service programs, such as AmeriCorps, and advocate for volunteerism throughout the Sunshine State. Since then, Volunteer Florida has evolved to serve as the state’s lead agency for mobilizing volunteers and coordinating donations before, during and after disasters, including managing the Florida Disaster Fund. After 25 years, Volunteer Florida remains committed to promoting volunteerism in Florida, and recently launched the state’s official volunteer opportunities platform, Volunteer Connect. Through our work, Volunteer Florida delivers high-impact volunteer programs and opportunities that engage Floridians, transform communities and make the state a better place to live. For more information, please visit www.volunteerflorida.org.

https://www.volunteerflorida.org/volunteer-generation-fund-funding-2019/?fbclid=IwAR3oOhTWVaEhEj-R6kdVHHg9t9di3mIHKj7T7uJVjef872-ULNcAcRh1kGE

For Immediate Release: 

SPEAK UP FOR KIDS OF PALM BEACH COUNTY NAMED “2019 TOP-RATED NONPROFIT” by GreatNonprofits

Award based on Outstanding Online Reviews 

WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA (November 6, 2019) –Speak Up for Kids of Palm Beach County announced today it has been named a “2019 Top-Rated Nonprofit” by GreatNonprofits, the leading provider of user reviews of charities and nonprofits. 

Speak Up for Kids of Palm Beach County provides advocacy for 1600+ abused and neglected children in Palm Beach County, resulting in newly funded positions at the Guardian ad Litem Program as well as funding for children to support their well-being, normalcy activities, clothing, shoes, birthdays, school supplies and more!

“We are honored to be named a 2019 Top-Rated Nonprofit,” says Coleen LaCosta, Executive Director, Speak Up for Kids. “We are proud of our accomplishments this year, including our Targeted Initiatives: Therapeutic Court, Early Childhood Court, and Foster Palm Beach.” 

The Top-Rated Nonprofit Award is the based on the rating and number of reviews that Speak Up for Kids received from volunteers, donors and aid recipients. In the words of one Guardian ad Litem Volunteer Child Advocate, “Speak Up supplies the little extras that mean so much to a child that has been removed from his family and feels totally alone. I have gone to them for the extra gift of the high school graduation ring, or scholarship money to send a young girl to a very special conference in Washington. When we have a child who would benefit by having riding lessons, art lessons, music lessons, or even the musical instrument that is not available by any other means. SPEAK UP FOR KIDS works continually raising enough money to make sure that the children who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned have what they need.”

“Speak Up for Kids is a great example of a nonprofit making a real difference in their community,” said Perla Ni, CEO of GreatNonprofits, “Their award is well-deserved recognition not only of their work, but the tremendous support they receive, as shown by the many outstanding reviews they have received from people who have direct experience working with Speak Up for Kids of Palm Beach County.” 

GreatNonprofits is the leading website where people share stories about their personal experiences on more than 1.6 million charities and nonprofits. The GreatNonprofits Top-Rated Awards are the only awards for nonprofits determined by those who have direct experience with the charities – as donors, volunteers and recipients of aid.  

About Speak Up for Kids of Palm Beach County
Speak Up for Kids of Palm Beach County, Inc. is the exclusive 501(c)(3) fundraising arm for the Guardian ad Litem Program of Palm Beach County, Florida. We champion best-interest child advocacy through the recruitment, training, and retention of court-appointed volunteer child advocates. These “guardian angels” are committed solely to each child’s emotional, educational, and physical well-being throughout dependency court proceedings as the only 100% objective voice. Through effective advocacy the cycles of abuse, violence, and crime are being broken one child at a time, and children’s futures are being rewritten. 

About GreatNonprofits 
GreatNonprofits is the leading site for donors and volunteers to find stories and ratings of nonprofits. Stories on the site influence 30 million donation decisions a year. Visit www.greatnonprofits.org for more information. 

Media Contacts 
Fiona Wade 
Fiona@SpeakUpForKidsPBC.org
561-355-3799 

Perla Ni
Great Nonprofits
650-249-3792
perlani@greatnonprofits.org

In Palm Beach County there are nearly 1,600 children involved in dependency court proceedings, a situation that no child should have to face – especially not alone.

There are nearly 300 children every year who still need a voice. These children need a gal (Guardian Ad Litem) to speak up for their best interest. 

The Florida Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Program in Palm Beach County is a partnership of community advocates and professional staff providing a powerful voice on behalf of Florida’s abused and neglected children. Guardian ad Litem Volunteers (GALs) are trained, court-appointed advocates for children who have been abused,  abandoned, or neglected. 

Speak Up for Kids is a not-for-profit organization whose sole purpose is to support the Guardian ad Litem program in Palm Beach County by funding projects and needs that are not supported through other sources. This is why Speak Up For Kids exists. 

Speak Up For Kids is currently collecting toys for their Holiday Toy Drive. “We collect for 1600+ children – all children in care, we are the only agency that does that. We do have a gift guide when people are looking for suggestions, but anything is welcome!” Children range in age from newborns to 18 years old. 50% of the children Speak Up for Kids cares for are under 5. You can reach out to Coleen LaCosta directly at coleen@speakupforkidspbc.org to find out how you can make a difference this holiday season.

Speak Up For Kids Palm Beach County, Inc. is a non-profit located in West Palm Beach. You can find out more ways to help (volunteer, donations and more) at www.speakupforkidspbc.org.

https://www.pbparenting.com/2019/11/07/holiday-toy-drive/?fbclid=IwAR2fnLBzIj5rexnG5QSM1JRhqXGOXKbbTUEbozYDH08NbPYa4EQpSahWkQc

HERE WE ARE IN THE CHANNEL 20 PROGRAM GUIDE FOR NOVEMBER 2019