In true academy awards style, nearly 800 executives, community leaders and members of the non-profit sector attended the sold-out 5th Annual South Florida Community Care Network Non-Profit Academy Awards hosted by Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and presented by 2-1-1 Broward on February 13. The prestigious awards honor the work of Broward County’s non-profit organizations and leaders.

Distinguished winners of each of the 11 award categories were honored for their dedication to Broward County and the impact they have on the community. Winners in each category received an Academy Award statue and $1,000 for their non-profit organizations. Finalists in each category were awarded $500 each. The event raised over $172,000 and $23,000 will be awarded to the finalists on March 20th.

Feeding South Florida was awarded Non-profit Organization of the Year. Evan Goldman, of HANDY (Helping Abused Neglected Disadvantaged Youth) earned the Non-profit Staff Leader of the Year award, and Non-profit Board Leader of the Year was went to Maya Ezrati, of Young at Art Museum.

The Art & Culture Center of Hollywood was named Non-profit Organization of the Year for the Arts,  4KIDS of South Florida with ChildNet won the Non-profit Organization of the Year Award for Collaboration, Take Stock in Children received Non-profit Organization of the Year for Innovation, and the Girl Choir of South Florida was named Non-profit Organization of the Year as a Rising Star.

In other categories,the Impact for Youth Award was given to Firewall Centers, the Lifetime Achievement Award went to Melissa Aiello of Junior Achievement of South Florida, the Child Abuse Prevention & Awareness Award was given to Child Rescue Coalition and the Community Choice Award went to Parkland Buddy Sports.

For more information, visit www.211-broward.org.