Sun Sentinel Doyle Award for Nonprofit Excellence

We are honored to announce that we are the recipients of the Doyle Award for Nonprofit Excellence, an award that spotlights 1 nonprofit per month and the the impact it is making in the community. Our Board of Directors put in hours of hard work to ensure the transformation of students’ lives in Broward County.

As seen in Sun Sentinel, Broward Society:

Firewall Centers’ mission is to instill character values, promote academic success and establishes long-term relationships with middle and high school students through afterschool programming.

Firewall serves 350 low-income middle and high school students at Broward County Public Schools. More than 90 percent of students receive free/reduced lunch at school and come from minority families, with many being supported by single parents.

Firewall’s low 10:1 student-to-staff ratio ensures that students receive the individual attention they need to succeed. Center staff consists of college students that tutor, mentor and coach children, connecting with them in ways that others cannot.

The centers are located within public schools, providing accountability to students by working together with their teachers, parents and counselors. Firewall is not just a program – it’s a family.
Board members are actively involved in building Firewall’s capacity, each bringing unique experiences, qualities and capabilities to the table. One-hundred percent of members financially support Firewall and attend board meetings at least six times annually. Board members also speak to Firewall students on a quarterly basis. Annually, the board evaluates its performance and composition, determining how to best strengthen Firewall as a whole.

“As we work with parents and schools to impact underserved students, we find that it’s not only important to give kids a safe place to hang out, but a place where they’re expected to perform to the best of their ability,” said Andy Fernandez, president and executive director. “Firewall’s approach of walking through life with students ultimately helps them see that with the right help and their own hard work, they can break the cycle of poverty and reach their greatest potential.”

For more information on Firewall Center, call 954-252-0838 or visit http://2zm.dbb.myftpupload.com

April 2015 Newsletter

Meet Christopher,

A sixth grader from the Crystal Lake Middle School center. The transformation he has experienced is the reason why Firewall exists today.

Christopher

Christopher joined Firewall Centers with all F’s and showed no interest in school. He was very angry and would never communicate with the staff no matter how hard they tried. “Before he would just shrug his shoulders when we would ask about his work. Now he cares about his assignments,” said his mentor. The patient and loving support from Firewall staff, positive peer pressure from other students, and the constantencouragement he receives at the Center have helped Christopher alter his attitude over time. Christopher’s grades have gradually improvedand he now keeps track of his daily assignments.

Serve-A-Thon 2015

Our 350 students will give back to their community THIS SATURDAY at:

 

We are so excited that our students have an opportunity to experience serving others through Serve-A-Thon. 

There is still an opportunity to help support these students as they grow in their attendance, behavior, and course performance through the Firewall mentoring program.


 

AT OUR SEVEN CENTERS, WE HAVE HAD VARIOUS COMMUNITY MEMBERS COME AND SPEAK WITH OUR STUDENTS INCLUDING JOSE FLORES, A BUSINESS OWNER THAT HAS LOST HIS ABILITY TO WALK OVER TIME.

Jose and Pompano Beach Student

“You’ll never get where you want to go if you don’t know where you want to go… you have to have a plan.”

After he spoke to the students about his life story and realizing that his life has worth, the students at Pompano Beach Middle asked him about issues they are struggling with, like being bullied, how to become motivated and stay disciplined.

Jose told the students, among other things, that they are “indispensable” and to have confidence in yourself because they have potential.

He also reminded the students how important events that help others, like Serve-A-Thon, are to the community.

“When you’re a leader, it’s important to give back.”

Thank you for supporting Firewall and it’s vision to change the lives of students.

 

Sincerely,

Firewall Centers

 

Firewall Centers Plans to Raise $100,000 by Serving Others

DAVIE, Fla. (April 2nd, 2015)  On Saturday, May 2nd, Firewall Centers’ students, together with their mentors and volunteers will participate in service projects across the community. Through local business and individual sponsors, Firewall Centers plans to fundraise $100,000 during Serve-A-Thon to grow their reach to additional students in Broward County Public Schools.

“We are proud to host this event for a second year not only because it is a tool to provide much-needed funding for Firewall students and their mentoring and leadership development, but also because it is a hands-on opportunity for us to impact our community and intentionally give back to the places we call home,” said Andy Fernandez, founder of Firewall Centers.

The second-year headline sponsor, Regent Bank, raises money in their local branches by sharing Firewall’s vision and the difference that it makes on students’ lives to their customers throughout Broward and Palm Beach County. Their support is critical to the Serve-A-Thon success.

The Leadership Broward Foundation is assisting Firewall Centers in the overall organization and facilitation of the event to ensure that at-risk students in Broward County receive the help they need.

Serve-A-Thon will provide Firewall students, their mentors, staff, and volunteers the opportunity to give back to others at various service project locations including Broward Children’s Center, Hope South Florida, ARC Broward, and Davie Pine Island Park. Service activities will include landscaping, mulching, improving a butterfly garden, and helping to disinfect playground equipment for needy children.