ReadingPals, a program that connects volunteer tutors with students Pre-K through 3rd grade, has received $14,000 from The Community Foundation of Broward and the City of Fort Lauderdale. The donation will go towards the expansion of ReadingPals to Northside Elementary School and North Folk Elementary School, which are both scheduled to start October 2015. United Way of Broward County will purchase books for the students and all necessary supplies for the volunteers. ReadingPals generates a lifetime love of the written word and strives to improve reading and comprehension skills to ensure children are reading at grade level by the end […]

After the sudden loss of their son a year ago, the Batchelder Family has given new purpose to their lives by starting a foundation in his memory. The family had been on vacation in Lake Burton, Georgia, when 7-year-old Ryan was tragically killed in a boating accident last summer. “We have been blessed with so much love from the people around us, I wanted to give back,” said Meg Fitzgerald Batchelder, Ryan’s mother and Founder of The Ryan Batchelder Foundation. “My husband came up with the idea to fulfill Ryan’s dreams by comforting children in need with the gift of […]

Paco Vélez, CEO of Feeding South Florida, is pleased to announce several recent appointments to the organization’s Board of Directors. Previous members of the board, Harris Siskind has been appointed as board chair, Diana Brooks as immediate past board chair, Benny Gonzalez as board treasurer, and Eddie Rivera as board secretary. New members appointed to the board include Michael Block, Carolyn Bolton and Don Hsieh. “We are very pleased,” said Vélez. “All of these individuals are highly respected members of the professional and local community, and are truly passionate about ending hunger in South Florida.” Feeding South Florida’s mission is […]

Born missing her right arm below the elbow and three fingers on her left hand due to Amniotic Band Syndrome, Lizbeth Uzcategui, a 43-year old resident of Fort Lauderdale, has been wearing a prosthetic since she was three years old. Over the years, Lizbeth has experimented with a variety of prosthetics to maintain her busy and active lifestyle, but prosthetic options that fit her petite size were limited. On July 21, Uzcategui became the first woman amputee to be fitted with the i-limb™ quantum, the newest, smartest and smallest bionic hand. South Florida-based Hanger Clinician Matthew Klein CPO (L) and […]