DAVIE, Fla. (May 3rd, 2015) –On Saturday, May 2nd, over 315 Firewall students, their mentors, staff, and volunteers engaged in service projects throughout Broward County as a part of the Serve-A-Thon. This annual event is intended to show all students who attend the after-school program the importance of giving back to their community.
“I used to feel that you only serve others when someone asks for it. Now I think that you need to look for service opportunities rather than having it look for you. Serve because you can, not because you have to,” said Julia Edrnest, Bair Middle School Center student.
Firewall students from Pompano Beach Middle, Blanche Ely High, and Crystal Lake Middle cleaned up the outside landscape, disinfected the playground, and were able to tour the facility at Broward’s Children Center where they service children with extreme and fragile physical conditions. Firewall students from the Indian Ridge Middle Center served at ARC Broward’s Recycling Center. The students cleaned up used monitors, took apart and separated computer parts, and sorted through large bins of technology. At Hope South Florida’s God’s Little Lambs day care center, Plantation Middle and Bair Middle Centers planted trees and shrubs around the property and replaced old mulch in the playground area to be used for children of homeless families. Western High Center students served at Davie Pine Island Park, repainting the parking lots and landscaping around the office space.
“I will always remember seeing the smiling faces on the children that live at Broward Children’s Center. It made me want to serve others more to see them happy,” said Laila Richardson, Pompano Beach Middle School Center student.
Amongst the students were volunteers from Regent Bank, who for the past two years have been the headlining sponsor for Serve-A-Thon. Regent Bank not only met their fundraising goal in a one month period, but surpassed it. Their support was invaluable to the success of the Serve-A-Thon.
Firewall Centers was able to provide its students with the opportunity to serve because of the Leadership Broward Foundation, who organized and facilitated the entire Serve-A-Thon event and all related service projects.
Once the service projects were complete, all the students gathered at Davie Pine Island Park for lunch, games, and dance contests.
