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Archive for the ‘Fundraising & Support’ Category

Florida’s Children First Launches “CHILL” Virtual Fundraiser to Support Critical Work with Foster Youth

FLORIDA’S PREMIERE YOUTH ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION BRINGS NAPA TO YOU,
AS IT GOES VIRTUAL TO HELP YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE

Florida’s Children First (FCF), an award-winning non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the rights of at–risk children and youth in the foster care system, is hosting the CHILL Virtual Wine Tasting fundraiser on July 29, 2020 at 6pm (EDT). While South Floridians continue to social distance, this event provides a safe venue for FCF to raise critical funds that support their mission of helping kids in and aging out of foster care, many of whom have been dramatically impacted by the pandemic.

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JAFCO Kids Enjoy Winter Holiday Party

December 24th, 2015   No Comments   Fundraising & Support

More than 175 children and families celebrated the miracle of Chanukah at the annual snow-filled party at the JAFCO Children’s Village in Sunrise. Children’s right attorney Howard Talenfeld and his wife Julie Talenfeld sponsored the party, as they have for the past eight years.

Miami Herald 12-24-15

Child Advocacy Group Florida’s Children First to Host Broward Fundraiser, Advocate Awards

Florida’s Children First, the state’s premier advocacy organization for at-risk children, will host the Florida’s Children First 2015 Broward Reception tonight – Thursday, February 26 – from 5:30-7:30PM at the Riverside Hotel (620 East Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301). The organization will honor child advocates in Broward at its annual fundraising and awards event. Community and business leaders, and all other persons concerned about the future of Florida’s children, especially abused, abandoned and neglected children and youth, will be in attendance.

Among those being honored this year are Child Advocate of the Year Senator Eleanor Sobel; Corporate Partner of the Year G4S; and Tracey McPharlin Pro Bono Counsel of the Year Stacie Schmerling. The Youth Advocate of the Year is Lamont Dennis.

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Florida’s Children First to Host Two Fall Events for Foster Children Advocates

Florida’s Children First, the state’s premier foster child advocacy organization, will host its annual fundraisers and awards events in Orlando and Sarasota this fall. The events will celebrate recent successes in the Florida Legislature, and the child advocates who help the state’s at-risk kids throughout the year.

Florida’s Children First 2014 Orlando Reception will be held on Thursday, September 18, 2014, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at the Law Offices of Broad & Cassel.

Florida’s Children First 2014 Sarasota Reception will be held on Thursday, October 2, 2014 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at the Sarasota Yacht Club (1100 John Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, FL 32436).

Continue reading for honorees and event details…

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Advocacy Group Florida’s Children First Honors Community Heroes at Palm Beach Foster Children Event

December 2nd, 2011   No Comments   Advocacy, Fundraising & Support

Florida’s Children First, a statewide organization dedicated to protecting foster children and other at-risk youth, recognized Palm Beach County individuals for their tireless work to advocate for the state’s most vulnerable citizens at its annual Palm Beach Fundraising and Awards Reception at Boca Raton’s Bridge Hotel November 29.

Jim Sackett, FCF Executive Director Christina Spudeas, Richard Slawson

Emcee Jim Sackett, FCF Executive Director Christina Spudeas and Richard Slawson

More than 50 of the area’s prominent business and community leaders, as well as individuals and families concerned about Florida’s foster care youth were in attendance to support the organization and its cause, including recently retired WPTV News Channel 5 Anchor Jim Sackett.

Sackett served as Emcee for the evening’s award ceremony, including a special award he presented to a former foster child, Earle James, who he once profiled in a “Thursday’s Child” segment 10 years ago. Earle overcame a difficult background of abuse and loss to become an advocate for children, speaking at parent and youth workshops. His father, Michael, who adopted Earle after seeing the “Thursday’s Child segment” accepted the “Youth Honoree of the Year” award on Earle’s behalf.

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Florida’s Children First Orlando Fundraiser Honors Those Who Help Foster Children

September 24th, 2011   No Comments   Advocacy, Fundraising & Support

Florida’s Children First, a statewide organization dedicated to protecting foster children and other at-risk youth, recognized Orlando individuals for their tireless work to advocate for the state’s most vulnerable citizens at its annual Fundraising and Awards Reception. About 80 of the area’s prominent business and community leaders, as well as individuals and families concerned about Florida’s foster care youth were in attendance to support the organization and its cause, raising nearly $5,000. Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Jeff Faine and Orlando Sentinel writer and foster parent George Diaz among those recognized.

The 2011 Orlando Child Advocates of the Year were Jeff Faine and Susan Khoury. Jeff is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers center and founder of The Faine House, a special home for youth aging out of the foster care system offering young adults a safe place to live while they complete their education or pursue career training.

Susan has been a Guardian ad Litem program director for the Orange County Bar Association for the past 23 years. She supervises more than 13 staff members who recruit, train and support approximately 700 lawyers in Orange County who volunteer to represent the best interest of children in the Orange County juvenile courts.

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Florida Bar News – Tracey McPharlin honored for child advocacy

Florida’s Children First honored child advocate and attorney Tracey McPharlin at its annual Palm Beach Child Advocate Awards Reception.

The event had approximately 100 attendees and raised more than $27,000, which will go toward FCF’s child advocacy efforts across the state.

McPharlin passed away just 10 days after the ceremony on November 6, 2010, in Ft. Lauderdale following a battle with cancer.

Read the entire Florida Bar News story here

Florida’s Children First Annual Child Advocate Awards Set for February

December 15th, 2010   No Comments   Advocacy, Fundraising & Support

Florida’s Children First (FCF), the statewide legal advocacy organization focused on protecting the legal rights of at-risk and foster care children, will hold its annual Child Advocate Awards and Reception fundraiser this coming February.

The event will be at the Tower Club on Thursday, February 24. It typically draws more than 300 prominent attorneys, child advocates, elected officials, judges, community and business leaders, and others concerned about the future of Florida’s children, especially abused, abandoned and neglected children and youth.

This past February, the event honored Mr. Jesse H. Diner, showcased several foster care success stories and raised $100,000 for the organization.

Leaders hope to match or beat the fundraising milestone – and awareness generated for the state’s most vulnerable citizens.

“As President of the Florida Bar, Jesse was a true leader in advancing the rights of foster children and their legal representation in Florida,” said FCF President Howard Talenfeld. “This year, we hope to recognize another equally staunch advocate for children’s rights.”

To learn more, or to make a contribution, call 954-796-0860 or send an email to fcf@floridaschildrenfirst.org.

Sun-Sentinel Society Scene Covers Florida’s Children First Event

March 12th, 2010   No Comments   Fundraising & Support

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel gave major play to the recent Florida’s Children First fundraiser and event honoring Florida Bar President Jesse H. Diner. See the coverage here.

The annual event, held in Fort Lauderdale, raised more than $100,000 for foster children, vulnerable citizens and programs statewide. In attendance were child advocates, attorneys, judges and others involved in supporting children’s needs.

Snapshots of Foster Care Generosity: Florida’s Children First Attendees Give Their Money and Time

March 6th, 2010   No Comments   Fundraising & Support

When more than 300 attorneys, child advocates, judges and honorees gathered for the Fort Lauderdale Child Advocate Awards and Reception of Florida’s Children First (FCF) in February, they represented the scope of statewide legal advocacy focused on protecting the rights of at-risk and foster care children.

Florida Bar President Jesse Diner and Howard Talenfeld

Florida Bar President Jesse Diner and FCF President Howard Talenfeld

They also represented the depth of the Florida legal community’s commitment to protecting society’s most vulnerable citizens.

FCF’s annual Broward event recognized attorney and Florida Bar President Jesse H. Diner for his support of legislation designed to obtain counsel children in foster care and the dependency system, and support for important recommendations of the Florida Bar’s Legal Needs of Children Committee.

Anchorwoman Kristi Krueger and FCF Exec. Dir. Christina Spudeas

Anchorwoman Kristi Krueger and FCF Exec. Dir. Christina Spudeas

Attendees heard how Mr. Diner has been a staunch champion of the passage of legislation to provide attorneys and zealous advocacy for foster children — and how such representation would effectively reduce or eliminate the powerlessness children face when entering the legal system.

He also has backed the Florida Bar Association’s effort to recruit and train pro bono lawyers to represent these children.

Honoree Jesse Diner, Adele Stone, and Broward Judge John Luzzo

Honoree Jesse Diner, Adele Stone, and Broward Judge John Luzzo

Florida’s Children First is supported by sponsors Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate; Regions Bank; United Automobile Insurance Group; Boardroom Communications Inc.; White & Case; American National Bank; President’s Fest in the Park; among others.

To learn more, or to make a contribution, call the Broward office of Florida’s Children First at 954-796-0860 or send an email to fcf@floridaschildrenfirst.org.

Broward Judge Andrew Siegel, FCF Board Member Julie Talenfeld, and David Singer

Broward Judge Andrew Siegel, FCF Board Member Julie Talenfeld, and David Singer

From its Website, Florida’s Children First’s  staff, board members, volunteers and advocates devote their time to ensure that each child in care or in an at-risk situation will have a voice that is heard when decisions are made.  We use legislative and policy advocacy, executive branch education and advocacy, training and technical assistance to lawyers and Guardians Ad Litem representing children, public awareness, and filing of amicus briefs as strategies to improve child serving systems.

Florida’s Children First Honors Attorney, Florida Bar President Jesse H. Diner

March 1st, 2010   No Comments   Fundraising & Support

Diner Lauded For Commitment to Legal Representation for Foster Children; Event Celebrates Success Stories, Raises $100,000 for Advocacy Statewide

Fort Lauderdale, Florida — Florida’s Children First (FCF), the statewide legal advocacy organization focused on protecting the legal rights of at-risk and foster care children, honored Mr. Jesse H. Diner and several foster care success stories at its Child Advocate Awards and Reception in February.

The event, held in Fort Lauderdale, was attended by more than 300 attorneys, child advocates, elected officials, judges, community and business leaders, and others concerned about the future of Florida’s children, especially abused, abandoned and neglected children and youth. The event raised some $100,000 for the organization.

“As President of the Florida Bar, Jesse has utilized his position as Florida Bar President to advance the rights of foster children to legal representation in Florida,” said FCF President Howard Talenfeld. The other foster care honorees included Michael Lewis, who was honored as the Young Adult Honoree, and Linsey Brewster-Jenkins and Alexeve Jenkins, who were honored as FCF’s Foster / Adoptive Family of the Year. “They serve as a role models and inspiration for any of us who strive to improve how Florida’s vulnerable children are treated.” (more…)

Florida’s Children First to Honor Attorney & Advocate Jesse H. Diner at Broward Reception Feb. 24 at Tower Club

Florida Bar President Jesse H. Diner Instrumental in Seeking Legal Representation for Foster Children

Florida’s Children First (FCF), the statewide legal advocacy organization focused on protecting the legal rights of at-risk and foster care children, will honor at its upcoming Child Advocate Awards and Reception Mr. Jesse H. Diner, President of the Florida Bar, who has made advancing the rights of children a major emphasis in Florida.

jesse-dinerFCF’s annual Broward event will recognize Mr. Diner for his efforts supporting legislation designed to obtain counsel children in foster care and the dependency system, supporting the recommendations of the Florida Bar’s Legal Needs of Children Committee. He has championed the passage of legislation that would provide attorneys for foster children, ensuring foster children receive “the same zealous advocacy adult clients expect of their lawyers,” he has written.

He also has supported Florida Bar’s efforts in recruiting pro bono lawyers to represent these children. (more…)