Why is Firewall Centers growing? Because it works!
Each day, more and more people are grabbing a hold of the Firewall vision as they witness transformation in the lives of its students.
One of the world’s largest corporations, AT&T, has caught on to the vision and established a partnership with Firewall, choosing the organization as 1 out of only 47 recipients of its Aspire grant. Recipients like Firewall stood out from thousands of other community-based organizations across the nation when it came to using data to demonstrate the effectiveness and real results of its programs. Firewall has proven that it effectively keeps students who are at-risk of dropping out of high school on a path to receiving their diploma, entering college or vocational school, and heading towards a successful career.
AT&T’s Aspire grant is 2-year grant of $100,000 that will support Firewall’s T.H.I.N.K. Leadership high school program in Davie. AT&T is confident that with its support, Firewall will be able to scale up and reach more students in the community.
Marshall Criser, President of AT&T in Florida, said that “family circumstances, challenges learning and dealing with their peers create issues that obstruct opportunities for up to 50,000 kids in South Florida. At AT&T, we make communities stronger by supporting programs like Firewall Centers that provide opportunities for middle and high school students to reach their greatest potential.”
On September 27th, AT&T representatives Maria Johnston and John Merlino, Town of Davie Mayor Judy Paul and Davie councilmembers, Firewall’s board of directors, the Vice Chairman of the Broward County School Board Laurie Rich Levinson, friends from local schools, churches, businesses and many others gathered as AT&T presented the check to Firewall.
On this day, Firewall Centers presented a plaque to the Town of Davie to recognize their assistance in making the building that houses the T.H.I.N.K. Leadership program a possibility for students. Present were Mayor Judy Paul, Vice Mayor Marlon Luis, Councilmembers Susan Starkey and Caryl Hattan, Housing & Community Development Director Giovanni Moss, and Neighborhood Resource Specialists Jeremiah Chapman and Melanie Lerch.
Firewall also presented plaques to Ed Zymroz of Zymroz Energy, Rosana Cordova of Cordova Rodriguez & Associates, Pastor Chris Baselice of Calvary Chapel Plantation, and John Dellicarpini of JDC Construction for their dedication to Firewall and for the services they provided to get the building up and running.
Following the presentation of the plaques and a brief testimonial from Maria Aguerre, a former Firewall student who is now the Middle School Director of the Davie Center, Mayor Judy Paul cut the ribbon to inaugurate the building.
September 27th was an incredibly special and important day for Firewall, its staff, and the students that it serves. Thank you to all who attended. Your gifts and support make all of the difference and allow Firewall to do what it has been called to do. Your support is changing student’s lives.
