3RD ANNUAL SOARING FOR CHILDREN EVENT MAY 15, 2014
TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE ABUSED, NEGLECTED AND ABANDONED CHILDREN IN THE CARE OF THE STATE IN BROWARD COUNTY
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, April 21, 2014 – Voices for Children of Broward County will host the 3rd Annual Soaring for Children on May 15, 2014 from 6-9 pm, at Events by Grateful Palate in Fort Lauderdale. The event, known for its unique and exciting venues over the years, will take place along the beautiful Intracoastal Waterway and will feature elegant yachts, live and silent auctions, and fine food and entertainment, all while raising awareness and funds for a critical cause.
A highlight of the evening will be honoring Angelica Palank-Sharlet as the 2014 Voice of Distinction for her commitment to the organization and to Broward’s children. Ms. Palank is the Founding Director of The Paul Palank Memorial Foundation, which recently established the Voices for Children’s Endowment Fund with a $100,000 gift. This fund will ensure Voices will continue to serve the needs of abused, abandoned, and neglected children provided by the Guardian Ad Litem program in perpetuity.
Currently, there are over 2,400 children in Broward County who are in the care of the State, many having been removed from their homes, due to abuse, neglect or abandonment. Taken away from their parents or caregivers for their own protection, these children enter the world of foster care and the dependency system with only a bagful of possessions and in need of a stable and nurturing placement.
The Guardian ad Litem program recruits, trains and supervises volunteers who work one- on-one with these children, sometimes for years, to advise the judge on the child’s progress through the system, make recommendations for placements and permanency, and advocate for the child’s best interests. Although state law mandates that each child in the dependency system be assigned a Guardian ad Litem, current levels of funding leave this an unfulfilled mandate.
“Hundreds of children do not have a Guardian to be their voice. It is the responsibility of our organization to ensure adequate funding is available to support the vital work of the Guardian ad Litem Program,” said Attorney and Voices for Children of Broward County Board President Amy Goldin. “We can’t do it without the community at-large, and the Soaring for Children event is our most important fundraiser of the year to help fill this void.”
Ms. Goldin and Soaring for Children Event Co-Chair and Voices Board Member, Arielle Capuano, Esq, expressed gratitude for the generous support of this year’s sponsors: Eaton/Hydraulic Supply Companies, Hunter Douglas, Cruise Industry Charitable Foundation, Setnor Byer Insurance & Risk, UBS Financial Services, Inc. , Kofsky, Hartman & Weinger, P,A., Tindall Growers, Unwin Moore Children’s Voice Fund, The Amazing Women, PNC Bank, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd., Peyton Bolin PL, Lifestyle Media Group, James Ross Advertising & Interactive, Bullseye Strategy, Celebrity Cruises, and Denison Yacht Sales.
Sponsorships are still available and individual ticket prices are $100. An on-line auction featuring unique and exciting offers, as well as raffle tickets for a 7-night Alaska cruise courtesy of Celebrity Cruises, will be featured in advance of the event. Winners need not be present to win. Interested individuals and corporations can make reservations on-line at www.voicesbroward.org or call (954) 915-6949.
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