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Broward College and Memorial Healthcare System Honored for Helping Families on their Journey to Empowerment
Boca Raton, FL – Long-time community partners that have championed service for survivors of domestic violence — Broward College and Memorial Healthcare System — along with a survivor who now is a small business entrepreneur, were honored at the Women In Distress 13th Annual Starfish Luncheon on May 9 at Signature Grand in Davie raising a record $317,000.
Major sponsors were Premier Sponsor Lorraine Thomas together with Presenting Sponsors JM Family Enterprises/Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC and Ultimate Software and more than 50 sponsors and table hosts, the event drew more than 500 community and business leaders to support free and confidential programs for adults and children affected by family violence. Additional event sponsors included: Broward College, Easy 93.1., Holy Cross, Memorial Healthcare System, Miami Dolphins, Northern Trust, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Kauffman Lynn Construction, Office Depot, and The Thomas Family Foundation.
A challenge grant from the Leo Goodwin Foundation and a contribution from Philadelphia Insurance Company matched donations made at the luncheon up to $20,000, helping Women in Distress (WID) surpass its goal for the event which also included a large silent auction with many unique items up for bid.
Broward College President Gregory Adam Haile, Esq. accepted one of the community awards on behalf of the more than 60,000 students and faculty at Broward College and shared how he personally was affected by seeing family violence as a young child. Nina Beauchesne, Executive Vice President East Operations recounted the many ways Memorial and its employees have provided health services, volunteer leadership and financial support for families served by Women In Distress for more than 20 years.
Each year at the Starfish luncheon, Women In Distress also honors a survivor who is a participant at the agency. This year it was presented to a young woman helped by WID who started a baking business. She is the recipient of the first Marti Huizenga Endowment for Educational Advancement Scholarship and plans to attend a culinary program at Florida International University (FIU). The scholarship endowment was created two years ago by a local couple, Dennis and Lois Doyle, to honor the memory of Marti Huizenga and assist survivors with education and training.
“Our Starfish luncheon is a special opportunity to share the progress we are making as a community in addressing the issues surrounding domestic violence and how deeply it is affecting our families and our children,” said Mary Riedel, President and CEO of Women In Distress.
“It also highlights the need to do more and this year the response and generosity was amazing. More women, men and children are being helped as a result.”
The annual Starfish Luncheon event helps Women In Distress provide free and confidential services in multiple languages to families affected by domestic violence, such as: a 24-hour crisis hotline, emergency shelter, counseling and therapy services, Injunction-for-Protection legal services, prevention and education services for the community and Broward County’s first pet shelter for families affected by domestic violence.
The Women In Distress Jim and Jan Moran Family Center campus is located in Deerfield Beach and includes the Leo Goodwin Foundation Outreach Building. Services also are provided at several site throughout Broward County including the main courthouse in downtown Fort Lauderdale.
Last year, Women In Distress provided more than 33,000 nights of safe shelter, answered nearly 27,000 calls to its 24-Hour Crisis Hotline and provided 21,000 hours of counseling and therapy.
For more information about Women In Distress, visit http://www.womenindistress.org or contact Jacqueline House at 954-760-9800 x 1237 or jhouse@womenindistress.org.
About Women In Distress
Women In Distress is the only nationally accredited, state-certified, full service domestic violence center serving Broward County, Florida. Our mission is to stop domestic violence abuse for everyone through intervention, education and advocacy. We strive to accomplish this mission through a 24-hour crisis line, emergency shelter program, individual counseling, support groups and professional trainings which are aimed at educating the community on domestic violence. More information visit www.womenindistress.org
