Local

Stand Strong to Bring Nick Vujicic to Florida Schools to Combat Bullying

Bullying has become a pervasive and unwelcome reality among youth today, and not just in schools but in the online world as well. The  2013 CDC Teen Risk Behavior Surveillance report indicates that 19.6 percent of 9th through 12th grade students in the United States were bullied on school property and 8 percent had attempted suicide one or more times in the past twelve months. In Florida, the number is close to the national average. Almost 15.7 percent of 9th through 12th grade students reported being bullied on school property and 7.7 percent reported attempting suicide in the past twelve […]

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South Floridians Send Relief to Nepal Churches and Orphanage After Quake

Just moments after Regan Kramer and her brother Regis, of Weston, stepped off the plane onto U.S. soil on their return trip from Nepal, the calls of concern came in from family members who had heard about the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that killed more than 8,600 people on April 25. The First Baptist Church of Weston members had just visited Pastor Reuban Rai, a pastor who coordinates a network of rural churches in Nepal from his church in Khatmandu. Kramer first met Pastor Rai during a month-long Teen Missions trip in 2007. Now a videographer, she hoped to document Rai’s […]

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Operation Lift Hope is Changing the Homeless Landscape

There is a movement afoot, barely noticed by the community at large, that has been slowly growing momentum over the last few years. This movement represents a monumental change in the entire landscape of services for those who experience homelessness. It is an entire paradigm shift in how we, collectively, are working to end homelessness. Industry experts call this shift a Housing First model, where the primary goal is to quickly identify, assess, and move people experiencing homelessness into permanent housing and then provide services as needed. It is a two-step model of crisis response and rapid re-housing. Locally, as […]

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Volunteer Recognized for Music Program

Tino Negri, of ComForcare Home Care, was recognized as an outstanding volunteer for his dedication to the Alzheimer’s Unit patients at Brookdale Boynton Beach Senior Living on April 15. Negri, who is a percussionist and certified Alzheimer’s educator, marries caring for people and his love for music through an interactive musical program that allows Alzheimer’s patients to interact with familiar music that stimulates their long term memories and lifts spirits. Stephanie Newark, Clare Bridge Program manager, said “We are delighted to recognize this wonderful man with such a big heart who is dedicated and compassionate about what he volunteers his […]

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The King’s Academy Opens New Aquatic Center

During a special ribbon cutting and opening ceremony that included ceremonial laps by the school’s swim team, The King’s Academy opened its new Full-Page Aquatic Center on April 2. The 10 lane, 25 yard x 25 meter pool, with a 3,000 sq. ft. pool house consists of locker-rooms, coaches’ office, concession, and storage areas. For competition purposes the pool will operate a hi-tech Colorado Timing System software with underwater touchpad sensors. It will be used for swim team practices and meets, PE classes, elementary intramural program, swim lessons, summer swim camps, adult fitness classes, lifeguard certification courses, and more. The […]

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Youth Commit to Remain Drug Free at Teen Challenge Carnival

Teen Challenge South Florida Davie Women’s Home hosted their 5th annual “Kick Drugs Out of Our Community” carnival outreach at Liberty Park in Davie last month. This drug prevention and awareness event was free to the community offering food, fun and prizes for guests of all ages. Teen Challenge, along with their many supporters and volunteers, spent the day saturating the community with the love of God and the hope of a better future. Young people of varying ages participated in a “Say NO to Drugs” hat and T-shirt decorating contest, putting their time and talents into preparing entries that […]

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Hope Women’s Center Banquet Celebrates Life

On April 13, Hope Women’s Centers hosted their 28th annual fundraising banquet, “Hope Changes Everything,” featuring American film producer Jason Jones as the keynote speaker. Jones, who worked on the pro-life films “Bella” and “Crescendo” and the film “Little Boy,” which opened in theaters April 24th, shared his personal story of how abortion impacted his life as a teenager. Alexander Star, who first visited Hope as the boyfriend of a client, shared how he now uses his talent for Christ and creates music to challenge his generation. Guests previewed the premier of his music video, “Our Women,” an edgy, honest […]

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11th Annual Place of Hope Golf Invitational Supports Foster Children

Golf enthusiasts with a heart for children raised funds for Place of Hope on March 23 at the 11th Annual Place of Hope Golf Invitational. More than 150 participants made safety and security a reality for a growing number of Florida children. “As of the end of March, nearly 1,200 children were in out-of-home care in Palm Beach County. During the month of February alone, 95 additional children entered the county’s child welfare system,” said Place of Hope Executive Director Charles Bender. “Events, such as this golf tournament, while fun and recreational, play a significant role in helping our organization […]

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Elizabeth Smart Advocates for Abduction Victims and Shares Her Story

Elizabeth Smart, advocate for child abduction victims and recovery programs, recently made an emotionally gripping presentation at this year’s Broward College Speakers Series presented by Hoffman’s Chocolates. During her speech entitled, “Overcoming Adversity: The Elizabeth Smart Story,”  Smart shared her incredible story of perseverance, strength and recovery that not only told her personal abduction story, but also discussed topics such as overcoming adversity, the importance and process of recovery, and not allowing your past to dictate life’s future. Her recovery has led her to start the Elizabeth Smart Foundation with her father and create a partnership with Operation Underground Railroad, […]

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Foster Care Month

View Good News center spread HERE SafePlace 4KIDS Provides Comfort to Kids Entering Foster Care When crisis strikes at home and children are initially removed for their safety and entering the foster care system due to abuse, neglect or abandonment, they experience a flood of emotions. Confusion, fear, anger, grief and uncertainty rush in like a flood as they are often picked up by a police officer at school and must sit in an office beside a caseworker as arrangements are made for their placement with a foster family or in a group home, which can take hours or sometimes […]

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