Healing, Hope and Home for Every Child

Healing, Hope and Home for Every Child

Healing, Hope and Home for Every Child

Healing, Hope and Home for Every Child

Healing, Hope and Home for Every Child

Summer 2011

Phone: 954-420-5030 Fax: 954-420-5034 www.sosflorida.com

Help Our Kids Get Back to School!!!

You Can Get Our Kids Back to School!

SOS provides a family and support system to help our children catch up in school and get good grades, but they need help to “fit in” and have the same opportunities as every other child in their class. After all, if a child is too worried about fitting in, they aren’t going to care about doing well in school.

The simplest things like a new backpack, their favorite color folders, fresh school uniforms, shoes that fit, and a chance to be a part of school activities makes our kids look forward to going to school, seeing their friends, and learning. You can give them these gifts by joining our Back to School Campaign this year.

Let’s ensure our boys and girls face the new school year with hope and confidence to succeed.

See the Back Page for ways you can help!

What did you think about the first day of school?

Will my clothes be cool? Will I have the “right” backpack or notebooks? Where are we going on our class trip?Who will ask me to the dance?Will everyone sign my yearbook?

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What do Foster kids think about the first day of school?

Will anyone notice my clothes?Will I have a backpack and pencils to do my work?Will anyone notice I can’t go on our class trip?What will I tell my friends when I don’t have a yearbook to sign?

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This past spring, SOS was proud to recognize outstanding volunteers Jay DiPietro and Brandon Anderson with nominations for this year’s Men With Caring Hearts Awards. The annual event honors men who have improved the quality of lives around them through their work with local charities.

Congratulations to Jay DiPietro who won the Oustanding Service Award for his long-time efforts on behalf of our Village and many other local charities!

Jay heads a family of nine children and 24 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Even with his family commitments, he finds time to give back, inspire and encourage others to give and get involved. He has been a volunteer at SOS since 2003 and has served on the Board of Directors since 2006. As the long-time Chairman of the Club Managers Association Seminole Region Charity Golf Tournament, he has been instrumental in raising over $4 million for South Florida charities, including $1.1 million for SOS. Jay is truly deserving of this honor.

We are honored to recognize Brandon for his outsanding accomplishments with his nomination for the Youth in Philanthropy Award.

Brandon is a high school junior at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High who volunteers his time as a member of the SOS Junior Auxiliary amongst many other school clubs and local charities. He gives 200% of himself while maintaining a 5.4 GPA in six Advanced Placement classes and running Varsity track and cross country. We are so proud of you, Brandon.

Pictured: Left - Jay DiPietro; Right - Brandon Anderson

SOS Volunteers Recogized as “Men with Caring Hearts” Our Volunteer Programs have been

revamped and new opportunities are now available.

Mentors share their time and hearts a few hours a week with one of our children.

Auxiliary Volunteers dedicate their time to help with family events and SOS community campaigns - opportunities can include spending time with our kids, helping in the office, or working an event.

Volunteer Groups are always welcome to host a service project or activity for our children. Proposals must be submitted 2 months in advance to reserve dates. Application packets are online now at www.sosflorida.com

Join us for our monthly orientation the third Saturday of the month. Sign up online or e-mail Vickie Walter at vwalter@sosflorida.com for more information.

Upcoming Auxiliary Volunteer Projects

How to Volunteer

Auxiliary Volunteers can find out more about upcoming SOS family projects and sign up to help by contacting Vickie Walter at vwalter@sosflorida.com.

Back to School and Ready July - August 2011Opportunities Include: Hosting school supply drives, contacting last year’s hosts to share our wish list, sorting school supplies, assisting with supply distribution.

Village Circle Luncheon September 2011Opportunities Include: Obtaining raffle prizes, following up on RSVPs, guest registration and selling raffle tickets.

What started out as a great love of volunteering their time together, turned into an outstanding project for the employees of Broadspire and an amazing gift to the SOS Children.

The employees of Broadspire, a Crawford Company, in Sunrise dedicated to medical management, joined our Village family in 2010 as a way to bring their energy and enthusiasm together for a good cause. Throughout the year, they chipped in to help paint the interiors of two of our homes, decorate our homes for the holidays, and hosted many drives to help supply our families with necessities like school supplies, toiletries and more. But they knew they could do more and believed that our children needed more.

With only a template to guide them, the staff devoted their free time to create their first annual golf tournament to benefit SOS. They reached out to colleagues in their offices across the nation and to the many clients they serve. With determination in their hearts, they exceeded their goal of raising $10,000.00 - raising a surprising $70,000.00!

“The generosity of the sponsors and attendees was overwhelming for a first-year event,” said Danielle Lisenbey, Broadspire’s Chief Operating Officer for medical management services at the company’s Sunrise facility. “Everyone at Broadspire is thrilled to be able to support such a worthy organization as SOS Children’s Villages - Florida, which works diligently to provide children a home, a guiding influence and the basics of food, clothing and educational support.”

The Broadspire staff celebrated their success with an office party where they had the opportunity to present the donation to our CEO Jeff Zirulnick and two of our children who came to thank them. The presentation also included an additional donation of $2,000.00 in household linens and gift cards collected as gifts from the staff.

“Our SOS family is blessed to have such dedicated and passionate partners as our friends at Broadspire,” says Zirulnick. “Every gift we receive brings each of our children one step closer to a brighter future.”

Pictured: Broadspire COO Danielle Lisenbey presenting their proceeds to SOS Community Relations Manager Vickie Walter and CEO Jeff Zirulnick.

A Partnership Grows To Support Our Children

Upcoming Events You Won’t Want To MissSOS Volunteer CelebrationAugust 13, 6 pmSun Life StadiumOur family invites our Volunteers to a tailgate party and a Marlin’s Game to say thank you. RSVP to 954-420-5030 by August 5th required. Parking not provided.

Village Circle LuncheonSeptember 27, NoonRitz-Carlton, Fort LauderdaleINVITATION ONLY. Village Circle members are invited to our annual luncheon in appreciation of your generosity. This year’s speaker will be author, speaker and former Head of the Hearst Newspaper Group and foster child Bob Danzig. RSVP will be required.

19th Annual Cigar NightOctober 17, 6:30 pm Anthony’s Runway 84Runway 84 dedicates their annual Cigar Night to the children of SOS this year. The evening includes cocktails, a family style Italian dinner and auctions. Tickets $250. Call 954-420-5030 for information or reservations.

Graduation 2011This June, seven of our teens celebrated their high school graduation from Monarch High School. Even as these young adults celebrated this significant milestone in their lives, they know it is not their final goal. They have all been accepted to college to pursue higher education and shape their dreams.

Ernst

KandiceJonathan

Jamie

Jamie lived at SOS for two years. While at the Village he had the opportunity to live with his older brother and be close to his two younger siblings. After turning 18, Jamie opted to move out of the Village and relocated to Tampa. But he has never lost touch with his SOS family. He will be attending community college in the fall.

Kandice has lived at SOS for just over three years. She is one of the few children at SOS with no siblings; however, she enjoys spending time with her foster brothers and sisters at SOS. She will be attending UWF in Pensacola in the Fall. She has aspirations to work at the Capitol in Washington, DC, someday serving our great nation.

Jonathan has lived at SOS for nearly one year. He will be attending FIU in the fall. An only child, he will remember his staff and the kids in his home the most when he leaves the Village.

Ernst lived at SOS for nearly two years. He is planning on majoring in political science at FSU this fall and dreams of running for the state senate in the future. He will always remember the SOS support team who has consistently backed him in his pursuit of a good education. The best advice he has ever received… “To focus on himself so that he has the chance for a better future.”

Shriley

MaxMarc

CongratulationsNatasha

SOS Alumnus Natasha left our Village to pursue her ambitions of going to dental school. Along the way, she discovered a sincere desire to help others in need as she was once helped. This wish took shape in a new dream that took flight this past June when she earned her Masters Degree in Public Health. This summer she is in Africa, one step closer to fulilling her quest.

Shirley grew up at SOS, living in our Village for more than 15 years. She is headed to Broward College in the fall and aspires to become an interior designer. She is also focused on her singing, performing in church and at open mic nights.She readily admits that she would not be the person she is today without the support of her SOS family. While still quiet and reserved, today she is less shy and is willing to do what she has to in order to take care of herself. She is determined to “never give up on anything.”

Max grew up at SOS with two younger sisters and older brother. An athlete and an academic, Max maintains an average 4.3 GPA in school and was able to relax and enjoy his senior year thanks to his hard work. He is headed to Broward College in the fall.

Marc lived at SOS for four years with his sister Barbara. He plans to continue his education at Palm Beach College this fall, studying Radiology. He is currently sharing an apartment with his sister, who graduated from high school two years ago.

Title Sponsor

Presenting Sponsor

Diamond Sponsor

Ruby SponsorsLeslie Alexander Foundation

Konica Minolta Business Solutions

Sapphire SponsorsCaring Friends of the Children

Mr & Mrs Arthur FalconePechter Family Foundation

Emerald SponsorsNCCI Holdings

Seminole Casino - Coconut Creek

Amethyst SponsorsMr & Mrs Howard Belford

Garnet SponsorsMr Keith Henry -

Bateman, Gordon & SandsFritch Family Foundation

Mr & Mrs Barry Glick

Media SponsorLife Publications

SOS Celebrates a Night in Rio

SOS Children’s Villages – Florida hosted their annual gala, “A Night in Rio,” on Saturday, May 7 at the Boca Raton Resort & Club. More than 300 family and friends came out to dine, dance and enjoy the festive evening to celebrate the foster care neighborhood and the many vital services that have helped to raise a generation of foster children. Thanks to the guests’ generous participation in the evening’s auctions, more than $335,000 was raised for the Village, which will provide funds to help maintain SOS homes and children’s programs.

The SOS children themselves were a highlight of the evening. The Village Choir entertained the audience again this year, both singing and dancing to “The Climb,” a song they chose to share their delight and thanks for the many triumphs they overcame at SOS. Alumnus Danielle St. Hilaire also gave a poignant address sharing her story of life in foster care, both before and after her arrival at SOS as well as life today as an independent young woman. Like many of the SOS Alumni, Danielle still receives support, encouragement, and guidance from the SOS After Care Program that continues to provide the security of family to former foster children who are now on their own.

Special guest Victoria Rowell was honored at the gala. The actress, author and children’s advocate grew up in foster care and knows first hand the obstacles a child faces in the system. Her own determination, strength and the support of a few powerful role models helped her rise to success on television and in print. She continues to serve as an advocate to foster children everywhere. For these efforts, the Village presented Victoria with the SOS Spirit of Home award presented by Wheelabrator.

The evening also honored St. Andrews student Amanda Ager with the Youth in Service award for her efforts to comfort and care for children in need through Project Night Night - delivering hundreds of care packages to South Florida children.

To see more photos of our gala evening, visit our gallery at http://sosflorida.smugmug.com. Visit the Village online with our new video at www.youtube.com/sosflorida.

“You are the reason I have a place to call my own, you are the reason I maintain a job and attend school. You are the reason I am alive and well and not a statistic. You are the reason I succeed and continue to do so and I want to personally thank you.”

-Danielle St. Hilaire, SOS Alumnus

A Night in R io1 2 3

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1: Ed Guarini, Gala Co-Chair Lisa Guarini, Gala Co-Chair Andrea Cannon, Jeffrey Cannon; 2. Radcliffe Bailey, Sharon DiPietro, Victoria Rowell, SOS Board Member Jay DiPietro ; 3. SOS Alumni Kandice Hart, Rocki Rockingham, Darrel Branch; 4. Irving & Linda Gefen, SOS Board Member Vicki Weinstein, Donna Lamm, Vic Weinstein, Jeffrey Lamm; 5. Andrea Cannon, SOS Board Member Linda Sapienza, Lisa Guarini; 6. SOS CEO Jeff Zirulnick, SOS Board Member Leslie Barber, Victoria Rowell, Ken Barber; 7. SOS Board Member Nick Catania, Carla Catania, Hildy Sarbone, SOS Board Member/Coconut Creek Mayor Lou Sarbone; 8. Amy & Richard Berg, Lisa Pechter; 9. Paul & Lana Goldberg, Jeffrey Cannon, Nia Smyrniotis, Jim Politz; 10. Rachel Mittler, Amy Waxman, Adrianne Foland, Stuart & Cindi Krost, Margie Kaye, Chelsea Krost, Josh Shapiro, Rachel Golden; 11. SOS CDO Debbie Levine, Mindi & Hank Rudan; 12. Nancy Brown & Jeff Reggitt; 13 Brent & Lucy Colston; 14. SOS CEO Jeff Zirulnick presents the Spirit of Home Award to Honoree Victoria Rowell.

NONPROFIT ORGUS POSTAGE

PAIDFT LAUD, FL

PERMIT NO 2014

3681 NW 59 PlaceCoconut Creek FL 33073

This Summer... Help an SOS Child Get Ready for Back to School

What Can You Do To Get 74 Kids Back to School This Fall?

Mechanical Pencils

5 Subject Spiral Notebooks

Erasable & Regular Pens

Two-inch Binders

Highlighters

Protractors

Colored Pencils

Construction Paper

Poster Board

Tri-fold Project Boards

Composition Notebooks

Pocket Dictionaries

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Pocket Thesaurus

Pocket Folders w/Prongs

Rulers

Glue Sticks

Regular and Scientific Calculators

Backpacks - Jansport preferred

Soft-sided Lunchboxes

Earphones

USB Flash Drives

$20 gift cards for Walmart Target, or Payless Shoes

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Shop for Wish List Items Take advantage of Back to School Sales and pick up a few school supplies for the SOS Kids.

Host a School Supply DriveGet your friends and neighbors together for a volunteer project to collect school supplies !

or Make a Donation inside or online.

2011 Back to School Wish List