By Robyn A. Friedman
City & Shore Magazine
About 750 people walked the red carpet Friday (2/26) at the 6th Annual South Florida Community Care Network Non-Profit Awards, hosted by the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and presented by 2-1-1 Broward.
The sold-out event, which raised $140,000, included a red carpet arrival (complete with Junkanoo dancers), awards ceremony, luncheon and after party, all to celebrate Broward County’s non-profit organizations and their leaders —people who often work behind the scenes with few thanks for their contributions and achievements.
“2-1-1 Broward is proud to shine the spotlight on all of the great work of the Broward County non-profits that have such a tremendous impact on our community,” says Sheila Smith, president and CEO of 2-1-1 Broward, which provides a 24-hour helpline to connect individuals and families in the community with the service providers they need.
This year’s winners of the 6th Annual South Florida Community Care Network Non-Profit Awards are:
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Non-Profit Organization of the Year
HANDY
WLRN Non-Profit Organization Staff Leader of the Year
Emilio Benitez, ChildNet
Russo Battista Law Group Non-Profit Board Leader of the Year
Nancy Daly, Habitat for Humanity
Greenspoon Marder Non-Profit Organization of the Year – The Arts
Fort Lauderdale Children’s Theatre (award accepted by Janet Erlick, executive artistic director)
SunTrust Bank Non-Profit Organization of the Year – Collaboration
United Way of Broward County Commission on Substance Abuse (award accepted by Kathleen Cannon, president and CEO)
Brown & Brown Insurance Non-Profit Organization of the Year – Innovation
PACE School for Girls
Calvin, Giordano & Associates Non-Profit Organization of the Year – Rising Star
Taylor’s Closet
Children’s Services Council of Broward County Collective Impact for Youth Award
The FLITE Center (award accepted by Kristen Guerrise, executive director)
OK Generators Lifetime Achievement Award
Frank Sacco, Memorial Healthcare System
Publix Community Choice Award
Take Stock in Children of Broward County
The winners in each category received a statuette and $1,000 for their non-profit organizations. Finalists were awarded $500 each.
Earlier: Our story from the February issue, which includes all the finalists for awards, follows:
It’s awards season. But while actors, directors and others in the film industry receive broad recognition for their achievements, those who volunteer or serve in leadership positions for non-profit organizations often do not. These volunteers are unheralded, often working behind the scenes with few thanks.
Except in Broward County.
On Friday, Feb. 26, Broward County’s non-profit organizations and their leaders will be recognized at the 6th Annual South Florida Community Care Network Non-Profit Awards, hosted by Seminole Hard Rock & Casino and presented by 2-1-1 Broward. The event, which includes a red carpet arrival, awards ceremony, luncheon and after-party, will bring local non-profit organizations and their volunteers front and center to let them know how much the community appreciates their efforts.
“It really is an opportunity to highlight the work of non-profits and celebrate those who are doing phenomenal work and impacting lives in our community every single day of the year,” says Sheila Smith, president and CEO of 2-1-1 Broward, which provides a 24-hour helpline to connect individuals and families in the community with the service providers they need. “They work every day to improve the lives of every resident in our community, and they often don’t get any recognition for what they do.”
This year, winners will be recognized in nine different categories. Each winner will receive a statuette and $1,000 for his or her organization. The other two finalists in each category will be awarded $500 each. Finalists were announced at the Broward Health VIP Announcement Party at Bongos Cuban Cafe on Jan. 14. (See complete list below).
“We are proud to once again serve as the title sponsor for 2-1-1 Broward’s Non-Profit Awards for the second consecutive year,” says John A. Benz, president and CEO of South Florida Community Care Network. “This event serves as the perfect opportunity to recognize and honor all those who work tirelessly to make our community a better and healthier place to live.”
The award categories and finalists are:
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Non-Profit Organization of the Year
HANDY
Junior Achievement
Broward Regional Health Planning Council
Non-Profit Leader of the Year
Emilio Benitez, ChildNet
Andy Fernandez, Firewall Centers
Melanie Geddes, LifeNet4Families
Russo Battista Law Group Non-Profit Board Leader of the Year
Nancy Daly, Habitat for Humanity
Heather Geronemus, Mothers Against Drunk Driving
EJ Spector, The Pantry of Broward
Greenspoon Marder Non-Profit Organization of the Year – The Arts
Fort Lauderdale Children’s Theatre
Business for the Arts
Brazilian Voices
SunTrust Bank Non-Profit Organization of the Year – Collaboration
United Way of Broward County Commission on Substance Abuse
Rebuilding Together Broward County
ArtServe
Brown & Brown Insurance Non-Profit Organization of the Year – Innovation
PACE School for Girls
Morning Day Community Solutions
Harvest Drive
Calvin, Giordano & Associates Non-Profit Organization of the Year – Rising Star
Taylor’s Closet
South Florida Community Land Trust
Parkland Buddy Sports
Children’s Services Council of Broward County Collective Impact for Youth Award
FLITE Center
Child Rescue Coalition
Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention
OK Generators Lifetime Achievement Award
Frank Sacco, Memorial Healthcare System
An additional award category is the Publix Community Choice Award, to be decided by votes received from the community.
The winners in each category will receive a statuette and $1,000 for each of their non-profit organizations. The other two finalists in each category will be awarded $500 each.
The Non-Profit Awards kick off at 11 a.m. at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood. Tickets are $85 for general admission, $75 for FPL CLUB 2-1-1 members and $65 for non-profit staff/government representatives. After Feb. 10, all tickets are $85. For information, or to purchase tickets, call 954-390-0493 or visit 211-broward.org.
Related Articles
Share
About Author
(0) Readers Comments
Digital Edition
PREVIOUS ISSUE
Travel
Live Blog
- After impassioned plea, ex-senator gets $100,000 to open Smitty’s Wings on SistrunkOnetime lawmaker Chris Smith got his $100,000 taxpayer subsidy, but not without a little bit of drama. The former state senator said his wings place would open on Sistrunk Boulevard whether he gets additional taxpayer help or not. But on Tuesday, four commissioners — sitting as the Community Redevelopment...
- Reduce number of active shooter drills in schools, Stoneman Douglas commission urgesFlorida students would be subjected to fewer active shooter drills, under a recommendation by a commission investigating school safety in the wake of the Parkland tragedy. In response to complaints from students and teachers that emergency drills — now required monthly — are traumatizing students,...
The Go Guide
- After impassioned plea, ex-senator gets $100,000 to open Smitty’s Wings on SistrunkOnetime lawmaker Chris Smith got his $100,000 taxpayer subsidy, but not without a little bit of drama. The former state senator said his wings place would open on Sistrunk Boulevard whether he gets additional taxpayer help or not. But on Tuesday, four commissioners — sitting as the Community Redevelopment...
- Reduce number of active shooter drills in schools, Stoneman Douglas commission urgesFlorida students would be subjected to fewer active shooter drills, under a recommendation by a commission investigating school safety in the wake of the Parkland tragedy. In response to complaints from students and teachers that emergency drills — now required monthly — are traumatizing students,...
Shopping & Beauty
- Free entry at museums on Saturday and SundayEnjoy free admissions to museums on Aug. 3-4 with Bank of America’s Museum on Us program. The year-round program offers free entry to more than 200 national arts institutions on the first full weekend of each month with an ID and a Bank of America or Merrill Lynch credit or debit card. Get free...
- Consumer Reports: Trader Joe’s, Publix at top list of best grocery storesConsumer Reports readers weighed in on America’s best supermarkets and Trader Joe’s, Costco and Publix are near the top of the list in the magazine’s 2019 annual subscriber survey, published in the August issue. Readers rated 96 national and regional supermarkets, supercenters and warehouse clubs....
Sun Sentinel Breaking News
- After impassioned plea, ex-senator gets $100,000 to open Smitty’s Wings on SistrunkOnetime lawmaker Chris Smith got his $100,000 taxpayer subsidy, but not without a little bit of drama. The former state senator said his wings place would open on Sistrunk Boulevard whether he gets additional taxpayer help or not. But on Tuesday, four commissioners — sitting as the Community Redevelopment...
- Reduce number of active shooter drills in schools, Stoneman Douglas commission urgesFlorida students would be subjected to fewer active shooter drills, under a recommendation by a commission investigating school safety in the wake of the Parkland tragedy. In response to complaints from students and teachers that emergency drills — now required monthly — are traumatizing students,...
- Woodbridge Ponzi scheme operator gets 25 years for $1.3 billion fraudAfter apologizing to his victims in a Miami federal courtroom, former South Florida businessman Robert Shapiro was sentenced to 25 years in prison Tuesday for masterminding a $1.3 billion fraud scheme that bilked more than 8,000 investors across the nation. Shapiro, 62, learned of his fate after...
