Florida’s Children First (FCF), the statewide advocacy organization focused on protecting the legal rights of at-risk and foster care children, recognized Broward County child advocates and former foster children at FCF's 15th Annual Broward Child Advocacy Awards & Reception in Fort Lauderdale. The event raised more than $100,000, which will be used by the organization to help vulnerable children around the state.
More than 200 Broward County child advocates, elected officials, judges and community and business leaders were in attendance.
FCF Executive Director Christina Spudeas along with FCF President and Talenfeld Law Managing Partner Howard Talenfeld led the event with Joe Johnson, creator and host of the nationally syndicated radio show “Beatle Brunch” serving as the evening’s emcee. Talenfeld shared FCF’s many accomplishments during its first 15 years in operation and Derrick Riggins, the Director of Agency Relations for “Youth for Tomorrow,” also addressed the crowd.
"I was inspired by Derrick Riggins and seeing that some of our past Florida Youth Shine members have already become some of our country's most impactful and effective child advocates,” said Talenfeld.
The evening’s 2017 Champions for Children Award was presented to the Children's Services Council of Broward County (CSC). The CSC's mission is to provide leadership, advocacy and resources necessary to enhance the lives of the children of Broward County and empower them to become responsible, productive adults. They have helped more than 150,000 children with 150 proven programs and a network of 100 providers supporting youth by providing funding. The CSC of Broward, under the guidance of Cindy Arenberg-Seltzer, has provided substantial funding to pay for counsel for children in Broward.
Receiving the 2017 Media Advocate of the Year Award was Gia Tutalo-Mote, an Emmy award-winning television producer/reporter who established “Forever Family”. Forever Family news stories and on-air promotions highlight children in foster care who are searching for adoptive families, teens “aging out” of foster care, and issues relating to the American foster care crisis. In addition to overseeing all aspects of Forever Family, she is the host of Forever Family on NBC 6, ABC 7 and NBC 2. Gia is also a frequent radio guest and appears in national television programming. Her work has been recognized and awarded by many state and national organizations.
The 2017 Outstanding Youth Advocate of the Year Award was presented to Brian Thompson. Brian is an 18 year old Senior who will graduate in June from Dillard High School with a 4.7 GPA. Despite a difficult past, Brian has successfully overcome many obstacles. After being introduced to Florida Youth SHINE he found a passion for advocacy. He soon stepped in and started leading the Broward chapter at the age of 16. He later got involved on a statewide level and has shared his experiences with youth around the state about the importance of siblings being kept together and other issues that youth in care face. He continues this work to inform other youth locally about their rights.
“It is because of the generosity and support of our many wonderful sponsors and supporters that we were able to celebrate a 15th annual event and continue to provide services for the state’s at-risk youth,” said Spudeas.
FCF thanks its Statewide Sponsors The Florida Bar Foundation, Synergy Foundation, Guardian Trust, The Shane McGee Foundation and the Paul Palank Memorial Foundation, and its Event Sponsor, Estate of Rosemary Duffy Larson Trust presented by Darran Blake, among the many other wonderful companies and individuals that supported the 2017 Broward reception.
