January 2014 Newsletter

FIREWALL BLAZES INTO 2014


We are so excited for what this year has in store for us and all of the kids that we impact every day! For our students and organization, it means a new semester and a clean start.  We have been celebrating our accomplishments of 2013, but now it’s a time for new goals, important resolutions, and a chance to let our FIRE shine like never before!

Plantation Middle

We are so thankful for all of you and the support you have given us, and we are thrilled at the opportunities that 2014 will provide us in transforming the lives of our students and impacting generations to come.


Lifework Leadership

BUILDING TOMORROWS LEADERS!

Over the past month, Firewall has had the pleasure of hosting a variety of local business leaders from Lifework Leadership. Students from three of our Centers were inspired as these successful leaders motivated them with passionate stories of overcoming obstacles, setting goals, and achieving their dreams.

 LIFEWORK LEADERSHIP IS AN ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO TRANSFORMING LEADERS BY CLARIFYING THEIR CALLING; CHALLENGING THEIR MINDS; AND ENGAGING THEIR HEARTS FOR SERVICE.

WATCH THE VIDEO that they put together and read more about their experiences here at Firewall. 


 

 SERVANT LEADER SPOTLIGHT:  CHARLES

Charlie is a 7th grader at Orange Park’s Center. From helping his peers withtheir homework or volunteering to clean up, he has been a great example of a servant leader…

“FIREWALL HAS HELPED ME BY ENCOURAGING ME TO KEEP UP, TRY HARD AND NEVER GIVE UP. THEY LET ME TALK TO MY FRIENDS THEY ARE ALL REALLY NICE AND THEY EDUCATE ME ABOUT GOD AND SCHOOL. WHAT HELPS ME THE MOST IS EVERYBODY HAS A GREAT ATTITUDE AND IS POSITIVE AND THAT YOU CAN TRUST PEOPLE HERE. IT’S A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN FEEL AT HOME AND PROTECTED. I WILL KEEP COMING HERE AND PROBABLY WORK HERE IF I CAN…”

Find out more about Charlie and all of our other Servant Leaders from this school year!

 


 

IMG_8795

EXPERIENCE FIREWALL!

WANT THE INSIDE SCOOP OF STUDENT TRANSFORMATIONS?
EVER WONDERED WHAT REALLY TAKES PLACE AT FIREWALL?
WOULD YOU LIKE TO MEET SOME OF OUR STUDENTS? 
Join us on a Firewall Experience Tour where you will have a hands-on opportunity to see, hear, and feel what we do on a daily basis to impact the lives of our students.
Learn how our loving staff is there for them every day right after school, providing them with the safe environment, academic assistance, and mentoring that they need to not only survive, but thrive.
Our Upcoming Tours:
Thursday,  
January 16th at 6:30pm
Tuesday, February 11th at 6:30pm
Click here to RSVP or see other dates.

December 2013 Newsletter

We hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season so far; filled with friends, family, and good times! Good tidings we bring….to our Firewall family!

christmas playA SPECIAL CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR OUR STUDENTS

On December 5th, we had the opportunity to take a group of 25 students to the Fort Lauderdale Christmas Pageant at First Baptist Church thanks to the gracious donation of a Friend of Firewall. It was an amazing experience for these select students from each of our centers to experience a pageant of this magnitude, and they enjoyed every minute of it.. Throughout the evening, students laughed, engaged, took pictures, and even asked us questions about the story. And going to this pageant wasn’t just great for our students, but also for the staff who came along, as they were able to bond with students as well as with other staff members. Two of our students who will unfortunately be unable to spend their Christmas with their parents who are incarcerated were thrilled at the opportunity to spend this time with their Firewall family. These students were deeply touched by the Christmas story of love, joy, and hope presented so beautifully in the play. What an opportunity this was for the true meaning of Christmas to fill the hearts of our students!

 

WE’VE GOT A NEW & IMPROVED WEBSITE

We are extremely excited to announce the unveiling of our brand new website! Everyday we work hard in all of our centers to spread our FIRE values of: Faith – Integrity – Relationships – Excellence. Now it’s even easier to learn more and stay updated on what’s happening! Four things you’ll love about our new website:

  1. Videos – An exciting library of Firewall testimonies and stories of transformation and hope.
  2. Blog – An ever-growing resource for parents and education providers full of tips and best practices from over 10 years of hands-on experience!
  3. Press – Want to know how your support of Firewall is impacting our community? Read our most recent press releases.
  4. Photos – If a picture tells a thousand words, we have an encyclopedia of students with the opportunity to not only survive but thrive!

 

SERVANT LEADER SPOTLIGHT

Rene

Meet one of our Servant Leaders from the quarter:

Rene – 10th grade, Western High School
When asked about her experience at Firewall Centers she said: “I now realize that this place where I first hated going, turned into A PLACE I LOVE going to. I have become a better student because of Firewall, my grades have IMPROVED since being there… I have also become a BETTER person, I was always afraid to ask for help, I realized I was wrong to think that if I did it on my own I would understand the homework better”

 

As this year comes to an end you can help make 2014 a success for even more students in our community! And don’t forget, thanks to a matching gift every dollar given up to $20,000 until the end of the year will be doubled! Click here to give today.

Thank you for your partnership and Happy Holidays from all of us at Firewall Centers!

 

 

November 2013 Newsletter

This Thanksgiving, we are most grateful for you and your support!

Student -to- Leader Luncheon
We were honored and humbled at the overwhelming support received at our third annual Student-to-Leader Luncheon. On Thursday, November 7th, a record-breaking number of Firewall’s friends gathered at the Signature Grand to raise awareness and funding for our program that empowers students to not only survive, but thrive.

Thanks to a generous $50,000 match from a local family foundation, together with the support of those in attendance, we were able to raise over $100,000 that will allow us to continue to serve our 250 students every day! We want to acknowledge the generosity of Regent Bank for their sponsorship in making this event possible.

The program began with a powerful testimony from Fabiola Cunningham, who has been a Firewall Mentor for two years. She shared how her job as a positive role model and tutor at Firewall has helped her become a better mom to her own children.
Read all about the Luncheon and see pictures here!

IMG_8435 - Version 3

 

Servant Leader Spotlight:  MALACHI

As some of you know, every center chooses a Servant Leader of the Quarter. At Pompano Beach Middle School Eighth grader Malachi shares how Firewall has helped him become a better servant leader.

“Firewall is helping me in many ways. It is helping my academics, my prospect on life, and also my seriousness about school. Before I joined Firewall, I wasn’t really that serious about school. Academically I was a mediocre person. Until my friend told me about this program, I had no idea what to expect. I thought it would just be another thing that I quit on again, but the support I have from the staff has made me a new person. Firewall helps us have responsibility, discipline, and integrity.”

 

Matching Challenge Keeps the Fire Burning!

As the end of the year quickly approaches, we would like to share with you a tremendous opportunity that God has provided for us to end the year strong and help prepare us to transform even more lives next year. Friends of Firewall have come together and committed to match every dollar given to Firewall between now and the end of the year. That means your investment in Firewall’s students right now will automatically be doubled dollar-for-dollar, up to $20,000!

Thank you for your continued prayer and support, as it is vital to furthering our mission of transforming students into servant leaders. You can give online today or send us your contribution to Firewall Centers PO Box 551407 Davie, FL 33355-1407.
Make your end-of-year giving count by doubling its impact, click here to give today!

 

October 2013 Newsletter

Exciting News at Firewall

Did you see us in the
Sun-Sentinel?

Yes, that’s right! On Sunday, the Sun-Sentinel featured Firewall in an article that highlighted our expansion to new Centers at Bair and Plantation Middle Schools. Christine Clock, Innovative Programs Coordinator at Bair Middle in Sunrise, shared: “This mentoring relationship provides a unique platform for … students to increase their grades and develop social skills for success.” At Firewall, our partnerships with local schools are essential in making each year a success for our students. You can read the full article here:
Read the newspaper article here!

What’s New on the High School Campus?
Our High School Center has reached its capacity, but God always provides! Thanks to the generosity of several Firewall partners (Bergeron Properties & Investment Corp., Town of Davie, and Remer Services, Inc.), we have been busy moving an additional building to our Davie High School campus. This modular building will make room for new students to join our Firewall family.

Once students graduate from middle school, they enter our High School Program. This program not only mentors students and helps them with their homework, but it provides them with college prep, financial management, job readiness courses, and assistance in applying for college, financial aid, and scholarships.

We are so thankful for the partners that made our expansion possible! However, as we work on this new building, we are in need of painters, roofers, supplies, and more. Learn more here:
Read our Wishlist here to see how you can help!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Cooking With a Cause!

William and Carmen Rivera first heard about Firewall through their church, Christ the Rock Community Church. “As a child I grew up in the projects in Chicago. My mother was a single mom with seven children. There was a similar organization that helped me during my childhood. Today I am the person that I am because someone used their gift and made a huge impact in my life!” Carmen loves cooking and after hearing about what Firewall does, she knew just how she could get involved.

By making Pasteles (a traditional Puerto Rican dish) and selling them to her friends, she has been able to provide over 2 week’s worth of snacks for all 6 centers; that’s 2,000 snacks! “I want to be a part of bringing hope and give just a little bit back of what was given to me, and I can through my cooking.”

No matter what gift you have, you can use it to make an impact! Thanks to all who have helped with the Snack Drive. Our students appreciate getting a daily snack, and we couldn’t do without your partnership.
You can still get involved CLICK HERE to find out how.

Want to be an ambassador for Firewall like Carmen?

Contact Stephanie at Stephanie@firewallcenters.org!
spacer.gif

 

September 2013 Newsletter

We’re on FIRE!
Davie Middle School CenterSchool is officially back in session! With three brand new Firewall Centers up and running at Bair, Plantation, and Indian Ridge Middle Schools and six Centers total, things have been eventful to say the least!

As one of our new mentors Michael was checking grades last week, he noted how “the students become part of you and part of your heart” and we all agree. We have had the most action-packed first three weeks of school in Firewall History! With an overwhelming response from parents trying to get their students into our program and piles of applications forced onto waiting lists, you might say that we’re on FIRE!

Read more about our event-filled opening week here!

Tree Planting with Davie

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
At Firewall, our mission is to help all of our students recognize their potential and empower them to make this world a better place!

This past week, we were able to do just that as we partnered with the Town of Davie to plant trees and shrubs at Firewall’s High School Center. We had six of our students volunteer to give our Center a new and beautiful look for this upcoming year! This project gave these students the meaningful opportunity to do something for their community and give back. Students showed up ready to work and with such willing attitudes.

It was truly fulfilling to observe them, as they made sure to lay down the dirt and plant each tree in the right place. Not only did they work hard, but they had fun while doing it!

Check out the great pics of the kids working hard here!

We Love our Partners!

We just want to thank the Town of Davie for their partnership throughout the years! At Firewall, we are always looking for such partnerships. Not to be cliché, but “it takes a village to raise a child.”

At Firewall, we are on the front-lines fighting for our kids’ education and future, but we know we cannot win this battle alone… Schools, governments, churches, home groups, corporations, and of course our teachers and parents. We need your help and together we will transform our community!

Find out how we can partner here!

 

August 2013 Newsletter

Join us in welcoming our new Firewall family!

This past month, we have been working diligently to prepare for the opening of our Six Centers last Monday!

Doors have miraculously opened for us at Firewall and we have been able to double our impact on students in schools and communities across Broward County. But with this expansion came the challenge of finding and hiring the right team members. After going through almost a hundred applications, answering phone calls and emails, and weeks of interviewing, we are excited to announce that we have a total of 31 staff! We have:

21 new staff including 2 Firewall students who have been promoted
10 returning staff
Staff
Firewall Staff at Training

These highly educated staff members come from diverse cultural backgrounds, and English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Korean, and Creole are among some of the languages they fluently speak.

On August 13th and 14th, all staff gathered for two days of intensive training that included a dynamic use of video, interactive discussion, and team building activities that equipped staff with new skills and united them so that they can better serve our students. At training, staff got a firsthand feel for Firewall’s core values, its mission to meet student needs and improve their attendance, behavior, and grades, and its vision for the future to transform these students into servant leaders.

We look forward to a successful new school year as our team works together to impact student lives!

 

July 2013 Newsletter

Firewall Gets a Facelift
Everything is new at Firewall! New curriculum, new paint, new carpet, new staff, and in the coming weeks, a new building and a new website!

It is hard to believe that it is almost August! But even though school is currently out of session, the offices of Firewall have been open and busy. We would like to send a warm thank you to Potential Church for their partnership and co-labors of love. Recently Potential donated paint and labor for two incredible work-days at our Davie Centers. About 70 volunteers showed up to weed-whack, tear down walls, prep for a new carpet, and give our middle and high school buildings an overall facelift. A brand new carpet has been donated to our center by the Town of Davie, and several servant leaders from Christ the Rock Community Church came out to install it. We are blessed!
IMG_6629

Things are now looking sharp at our Davie Centers with a fresh coat of paint and plans for expansion. Other highlights include:

School supplies are being sorted for the coming school year.
Program formats are being tweaked.
Our summer staff is working diligently to prepare for August when we will be opening two new programs for a total of six centers!
Our new curriculum is almost finished.
We are about to launch our new weekly blog.
Also, be on the lookout for our new website design coming soon!

We would also like to give a shout-out to our newest team member and Center Director, Stephanie Flores. Her words:
“I’m really honored and excited about the opportunity to serve with Firewall Centers! I’m a native South Floridian and love the diversity it brings. I find it so important to invest and empower our young people but also to teach them lessons on serving and giving back. I look forward to getting to know the students, parents, staff, and partners as we work together to make an impact in our community and world.”

A lot is happening here at Firewall and we are very excited about all the new changes. Some of our new staff positions have been filled, but we are still interviewing. So if you or anyone you know are interested in partnering with Firewall as a staff member, please fill out our online application.

Have a happy summer from all your friends and family at Firewall! One more month until the school bells ring!

 

June 2013 Newsletter

“The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.”
– William James

On Tuesday, May 21, 2013 almost two hundred students, parents, staff, supporters, and volunteers gathered for Firewall’s annual Graduation Ceremony. This year’s ceremony featured four centers marking a momentous occasion in Firewall’s history. But it doesn’t stop there as the Firewall Family expects to start at least two more centers in the Fall!

The ceremony began with an upbeat and celebratory tone. Beach balls were tossed around the crowd as music videos played in the background. There were also shout-outs for each center, break-dancing on stage, and even a bubble machine! Executive Director, Andy Fernandez gave a visionary speech congratulating students for finishing strong and inspiring them to continue pursuing success throughout their lives. Fernandez shared, “We all have the potential to be great, and we want to see every student that walks through our doors be successful.”

IMG_6512

At the event, we congratulated Brandon Esposito, Evelyn Torres, Abner Molina, and Krystal Hernandez on their great accomplishment of graduating from Western High School!

Brandon has been in the Firewall program since the 6th grade. We have been able to watch him grow up into a responsible and hard-working young man. He will be starting Broward College this summer.
Evelyn has attended Firewall since her 7th grade year. Through the ups and downs, we have seen Evelyn blossom and wish her the very best as she starts college in the Fall! We saw her sister Mandy, who was also a Firewall student, graduate from Western two years ago.
Abner has been around the Firewall family since middle school, but officially joined the program as a junior. He has made outstanding improvement, even dual enrolling at Broward College. This has allowed him to take 6 college classes in his senior year of high school. Abner has achieved a 4.0 GPA thus far, and we know that he will be very successful one day as he continues his college education and beyond.
Krystal has been in the Firewall program since her freshman year of high school. Krystal has been through a lot of hardships, but she has managed to be strong and push through with excellent grades. She too will be starting Broward College in the summer. Congratulations, Krystal!

Other highlights included: Volunteer, Intern, and Servant Leader Recognitions. One of our interns, Sara Midence, expressed her heart Tuesday evening: “Here at Firewall, we have grown on each other as a family. Many of us even count Firewall as a second home.” Also presented were Certificates of Achievement and a slide show reminiscing of the past year’s hard work, accomplishment, and fun. Afterwards, families were able to purchase yearbooks, take pictures, and eat cookies!

We want to send a big thank you to all our supporters. This has been an amazing year full of growth and excitement. We could not have done it without the prayers, support, and devotion of you. Thanks to you, students’ lives have been forever changed. You have invested your time and energy into our future. You have spent your life on something that will surely outlast it. And Firewall will never be the same… So thank you!

May 2013 Newsletter

“Success is determined not by whether or not you face obstacles, but by your reaction to them, and if you look at these obstacles as a containing fence, they become your excuse for failure. If you look at them as a hurdle, each one strengthens you for the next… [You see], successful people don’t have fewer problems. They have determined that nothing will stop them from going forward.” – Dr. Benjamin Carson

At Firewall, we have determined that nothing will stop us from going forward. Because a stagnant life is no life at all. Our students have decided to not allow themselves to become victims. They will not be contained within a fence of excuses. Rather, students at Firewall are being trained and strengthened for the hurdles of life. And with each passing hurdle, and each obstacle overcome, our students can look towards a brighter future realizing that they can soar to reach their grandest aspirations. But it is not just about an externally measurable success. It is about the success found within when a youth grasps their potential and chooses to live above their circumstances.

Servant Leader: Arianna

“By being a part of Firewall, my grades are 2,000% better than they would be without it. Almost every day Mr. Gerald helps me with my Algebra work, and Ms. Julia helps me with other subjects when I need it. Every Wednesday when we have curriculum, I learn all types of important life lessons. That is how Firewall has helped me become a better student and a better person.” – Arianna Castro, 7th Grade, Pompano Beach Middle School

Servant Leader: Yalinette

“Firewall has helped me become a better student and a better person. I have been  getting good grades and even helping others students. I help by putting books away, doing my homework, and always trying my best. Firewall has helped me to do better on my homework, and to understand English better. As for me, Firewall is a great place!” – Yalinette Rivera, 6th Grade, Indian Ridge Middle School

These students have determined that nothing will stop them from going forward. Their grades are improving, their character is growing, and their lives are being forever changed.  By 2,000%?  We think so too.

Save the Date!

There’s a only a few more weeks left in the school year, and we are very excited about all that our students have accomplished. To celebrate these lives and achievements, we would like to invite you to our annual Graduation Ceremony which will be held at Calvary Chapel Plantation on Tuesday, May 21 from 6:00-7:00 PM. Please contact us if you would like directions or more information.

 

April 2013 Newsletter

This month at Firewall we would like to share with you, our family, some of the heartfelt and encouraging messages from our Servant Leaders. These students have grown tremendously this past school year, and they have proven themselves servant leaders in and out of the classroom. They have learned what it means to positively impact the lives of others. Here is what they wanted to share:

Servant Leader: Carlos 
“By being a part of Firewall, myself and others have become better students and people. I know from experience what it’s like not being in a great program like Firewall. Last year I was not an excellent student. Now I am always on top of things! This year I have taken notes, asked questions if I have trouble with a problem, study, and pay attention in class. Before Firewall, I was dependent—everything was given to me—I didn’t have to work for it. But now that I’m at Firewall I have learned about having responsibility and that I have to work to achieve stuff. It has made me a better person. I’m proud that I have the title of a Servant Leader.”
– Carlos Sanchez, 10th Grade, Western High School

Servant Leader: Glenda
“Firewall has helped me become a better student and a better person. My mentors have showed me to use the best of my ability for everything I do, even if it is the smallest, least important thing. My mentors have helped me through all my homework so that I can get good grades. I would rather come to Firewall than participate in any school play. This is how Firewall has helped ME be a better student and a better person.”
– Glenda Gonzalez, 7th Grade, Indian Ridge Middle School

Servant Leader: Jahnia
“Firewall has helped me with my homework—especially math! Overall my grades have been boosting, and the mentors are always encouraging me to do better and better and to turn in that work! Firewall has taught me that what I do and learn now affects my future and how God helps us, guiding our way. I really love Firewall and everything it has done for me.”
– Jahnia Romer, 6th Grade, Attucks Middle School

Our mission at Firewall is to positively impact the lives of students—to help transform them into servant leaders. But every year, we as a staff, learn that these students have just as much an impact on our lives. They are inspiring and encouraging, and we can’t help but see a brighter future as they walk out the doors into their dreams. We have hoped to change lives, and our lives have been eternally changed in the process. Thank you for being a part of our crazy family! May your lives also be forever changed and eternally blessed for the love and support you have given.