We are also very involved in our community and are often seen at city commission meetings speaking out for our beach community. Emilio, was the Chair of the Hollywood City-Wide Master Plan that was adopted by the City Commission several years ago. He also sits on the Broward County Children’s Services Council and is the CEO of ChildNet, Inc., the agency charged with protecting Broward's abused, neglected and abandoned children. The Ocean Inn often organizes fundraising events mostly for children's services and community awareness. In addition we are members of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and the Hollywood Beach Business Association.
ChildNet's mission is to protect Broward County's abused, neglected and abandoned children, to assure their safety and to promptly provide them with a permanent, loving home.
ChildNet is a private, not for profit organization created specifically to manage the child protection system in Broward County as part of a statewide program to transfer the responsibility for child protection, foster care, adoptions and related services to community based organizations.
Thanks to the generosity of people in thecommunity, we have been able to give children new clothes and supplies to help ease their transition to Foster Care.
Imagine a child who was abused, neglected and abandoned, moved from home to home and school to school, trying to keep up with his peers. It's hard and often times intimidating. Make a child’s holiday season extra special by donating a gift.
For more information contact: Suzanne Baker ChildNet In-Kind Coordinator 313 N. State Rd 7, Plantation, Florida 33317 954-873-1832
PRESS RELEASE
Plantation, FL – Local foster children will have a brighter holiday season thanks to the generous support from staff and management at Hollywood’s Ocean Inn. The hotel’s second Annual Holiday Party was held on December 5th in the Inn’s courtyard area. The public event attended by state legislators, local business owners and community residents raised approximately $3000 worth in toys and $1500 in cash donations. ( more than $2,000 in donations came in after this Press Release)
All proceeds went to support ChildNet’s Annual Holiday Gift Drive that benefit Broward County’s children in foster care. ChildNet is Broward’s county’s lead agency for Community Based Care that manages the local child welfare system. Suzanne Baker, ChildNet’s In-Kind Coordinator attended the party and was pleased with the outpouring of donations. “This year I was especially concerned that we would not receive the same level of support as in previous years due to the economic challenges that many residents and local businesses are facing,” said Suzanne. Despite the economic downturn, she is encouraged that local businesses like the Ocean Inn have not shied away from giving. “It will mean so much to a child to have a present to open this holiday season,” adds Suzanne.
ChildNet is the private, not for profit organization selected by the state through a competitive process to serve as the local Community Based Care lead agency. As the lead agency, ChildNet manages the local system of services and supports for Broward’s abused, abandoned and neglected children and their caregivers. This system of care was developed with extensive input from local stakeholders and its effective implementation depends upon their continued support. For more information on ChildNet, visit the Web site at www.ChildNet.us or call (954) 414-6000.
Christmas Eve 2008 Two young children were removed from their home, taken from their parents and placed in the care of ChildNet. These siblings woke up Christmas morning to strangers, in a strange place and traumatized by the evenings events. To make things worse they were worried that Santa Claus had somehow forgotten about them or he would not know how to find them.
I'd like to thank everyone so much for your generosity and attendance at the Ocean Inn's Annual Holiday Toy Drive on Friday, December 5th, 2008. It was truly a beautiful evening witnessing the generosity of our community coming together for such a great cause. The night was a huge success. Collectively we raised approximately $7,000.00 in cash donations and holiday gifts to benefit the abused, neglected and abandoned children in the care of ChildNet and Family Central here in Broward County this Holiday Season.
Thanks to the generous donations the staff at ChildNet was able to offer some comfort to these children displaced on Christmas Eve by letting them know they were not to blame and did nothing wrong and that Santa did not forget about them this Christmas morning.
FAMILY CENTRAL, Inc. is the largest not-for-profit family support organization in South Florida, providing an array of services to approximately 70,000 children and families annually.
Family Central’s services include the administration of child caresubsidies to income-eligible working families and foster families, teacher training, child care resource and referral, and the provision of social service/family support to needy South Florida families.
Founded in 1971, Family Central was identified as the central child care agency for Broward County and charged with administering subsidized child care funds.
Donations to Family Central are to provide holiday cheer to disadvantaged children and families in our community.
For more information contact: Mary Monahan Community Affairs Coordinator 840 SW 81st Avenue, North Lauderdale, Florida, 33068 954-724-3859
PRESS RELEASE