The 43rd George Washington Birthday Fundraiser Gala took place on February 19, at the Coral Ridge Yacht Club in Fort Lauderdale. The guest of honor and keynote speaker was Melvin Morris, who received the Congressional Medal of Honor in 2014 for his valorous actions on Sept. 17, 1969, when he led an advance across enemy lines to retrieve a fallen comrade and single-handedly destroyed an enemy force that had pinned his battalion from a series of bunkers. Morris was shot three times as he ran back toward friendly lines with the American casualties, but did not stop until he reached safety.

“This fundraiser allows the Freedoms Foundation Broward County Chapter to provide 100 South Florida students with a $1500 scholarship to attend the Spirit of America Leaders Youth Summit in Valley Forge,” said Abiud Montes, president of the Broward County Chapter. “This four day conference for high school students features interaction with experts on citizenship, democracy, the free enterprise system, the judicial system and the American political process.”

With over 30 chapters nationwide, Broward has the only chapter to provide full scholarships to students to attend the summit. For information, visit www.ffvfbroward.com.