FLITE Center’s Eighth Annual Heroes Luncheon

FLITECenter(Florida Independence,Training & Education Center), a nonprofit organization dedicated to guiding vulnerable youth and those transitioningoutoffostercaretowardsindependencethroughhousing,education,employment, and comprehensive care coordination,will hostits eighth annual Heroes Luncheonon Friday, April 17, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Local 10’s Eric Yutzy returns to emcee the special event at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort (321 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale).

FLITECenter’sHeroesLuncheon isatributeto theorganization’spartners,funders,and frontline staff who support and dedicate their lives to impacting youth in South Florida’s Transitional Independent Living (TIL) System of Care.

Thisyear’shonoreesandtheirrespectiveawardcategoriesare:

·Albert&BeatrizMiniaciLifetime HeroAward-CaraMalave(posthumous)

·CaraMalaveLegacyAward -ChristineFrederick

·GoreFoundationYouMatterAward–LadiesFishOff

·MemorialHealthcareSystemCollaboratorsoftheYear-BrowardSheriff’sOffice

·Children'sServices CouncilTILSystemof CareHeroAward -Mark&Tiffani Dhooge

·UKGUltimateActsofKindness-JoelSmith

·RippleEffectAward-MavericksHostCommittee:Dan&SusanAhearn,Premier Aircraft, Stefanie Title, and Dr. Heidi Schaeffer

·2026TIL SystemofCareUnsung Heroes:

oShayanDunkley–CamelotCommunity Care

oSarahDemetrius – GulfCoastJFCS

oAsiaMcMillon–HANDYInc.

oRachelVital–HendersonBehavioralHealth

oKaylaShoats–MemorialHealthcare Systems

oJasmineBethell–PACECenterforGirls

oLaQuashaMontgomery–Children'sHarbor

oChristinaSt.Juste–4KidsofSouth Florida

oAnthonyHarris,Jr. - ChildNet

oStaci-AnnLewin– SOSChildren’s Village

oChloeCampbell –SouthFloridaWellnessNetwork

oDavidAlanWaldrep–FLITECenter

oAngelTorry – FLITECenter

FLITE Center is where all transitioning youth and young adults who have faced trauma come seekingwaystobecomesuccessfuladultswithinasafe, nurturingenvironment.

FLITECenteris Broward County’sone stop resource center,reducingbarriers byofferingallsupportive services within one location. FLITECenterofferscomprehensive and seamlessservicedeliveryfor youth and young adults ages 10 to 23 involved in the child welfare system, including youth withspecialandbehavioralneeds, youthfromtheLGBTQcommunity,survivorsofhumantrafficking, youth from the Department of Juvenile Justice, youth who have no high school diploma, those who are unemployed, homeless, or facing any other unfortunate circumstance.

FLITECenter’sHeroesLuncheonis sponsoredbyTheVegsoFamilyFoundation,Memorial Healthcare System, UKG, Jennifer Whittington, Lesser Landy Smith & Siegel PLLC.

Ticketsare$150perperson($100forgovernmentagencyemployees)andareavailablefor purchase online at flitecenter.org/heroes-luncheon.

Formoreinformation,contact JennaFelicianoat(954)995-7021 or jenna@flitecenter.orgor Maria Vo at (954) 540 7825 or maria@flitecenter.org.