Author: C&I

July 2016 Newsletter

Our very first summer program at Lauderhill 6-12!

“I didn’t know how to solve equations and I learned it here. It feels so good to go into 6th grade knowing I am better prepared.”
Last month, we served over 35 incoming 6th and 7th grade students for 3 weeks at the Lauderhill 6-12 Panther Preparatory Academy Summer Institute.The students engaged in character building curriculum, completed SMART goals, and participated in hands-on activities to reinforce math and reading.

 Apply today to become a Firewall Mentor!

Firewall Mentors
Firewall Centers mentors:
  • Model positive behaviors
  • Tutor and help with homework
  • Build relationships
For more information and to apply, please visit http://2zm.dbb.myftpupload.com/careers/

Summer Program at Lauderhill 6-12

 

Firewall partnered with Lauderhill 6-12 STEM-MED Magnet School, where we just finished our first program school year, to launch a brand new summer program on June 11th. Serving over 35 incoming 6th and 7th grade students for 3 weeks, the program consisted of a full day of academic and character-building activities.

In the morning, Firewall Mentors delivered hands-on activities that reinforced important academic skills such as mathematics and Language Arts. They also taught life skills to students using Firewall’s character building curriculum and emphasized the importance of servant leadership as students learned about acts of kindness and how each of them could help transform their communities.

Students learned how to set “SMART” (Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely) goals and created their own PowerPoint presentation on a specific goal they wanted to achieve this coming school year. “While doing my SMART goals, I realized what I want to do in ten years is harder than I thought. This is why I need goals,” said Nyrdgie, an incoming sixth grade student. Additionally, students also engaged in innovative projects with their science teachers pertaining to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).

The summer program not only gave students the opportunity to continue their academic success past the school year, but it also helped provide a smooth transition from elementary to middle school for the incoming sixth grade students. One of the students, Anika, believes she can now enter middle school with more confidence thanks to the program. She said, “I did not know how to solve equations, and I learned it here. It feels so good to go into 6th grade knowing I am better prepared.”

The summer program ended June 30th and we are excited to serve Lauderhill 6-12 students again this August!

June 2016 Newsletter

We won!

Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year AwarAndres and Alison Avayu (Piccolo Ristorante, Jennifer Kovach (Jim Moran Institute), Andy Fernandez (Firewall Centers)

We won the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce. Small Business of the Year Award – Non-Profit Small Business! 

Congrats to our students

Janeth Fernandez, Ricardo, Andy FernandezClick image for more photos

On Tuesday, May 24th, we had our annual awards ceremony! Between raffle prizes, slideshows, and funny videos, the room was filled with excitement and laughter throughout the night. Congratulations to our graduates, especially our three seniors, whoeach earned scholarships from Firewall. Our guest speaker and former NFL player, Mike Blanc, shared his journey about his path to success despite his many challenges. “Don’t be afraid to be great,” said Blanc.

We’re hiring

We're hiring!
We are looking to hire Mentors and Center Directors. For more information, please visit http://2zm.dbb.myftpupload.com/careers/
Sincerely,
Firewall Centers
Sponsor Student Transformation

400 At-Risk Students Take Broward County by Storm

 Participants in the Firewall Centers’ After-School Program learn firsthand what it means to serve others at the 3rd annual Serve-A-Thon

DAVIE, Fla. (May 1st, 2016) –On Saturday, April 30th, over 400 Firewall Centers’ students, their mentors, staff, and volunteers engaged in service projects throughout Broward County as a part of the agency’s third annual Serve-A-Thon presented by Regent Bank. This event not only impacts the community, but teaches Firewall students the value of serving others. Firewall Centers is a nonprofit organization based in Davie that runs daily after-school programs in eight Broward public middle and high schools. The program helps kids achieve academic success, build character and teaches them to be servant leaders.

“It was a pleasure for Regent Bank to sponsor the 3rd annual Firewall Serve-A-Thon,” said Giselle Bayona, vice president/commercial loan officer of Regent Bank and a Firewall Centers’ board member. “What a privilege to see over 400 kids and volunteers serving our community.  These kids are the future of our country; it is so important to teach them how to serve others in order to become great leaders.”

Students started early in the morning with a breakfast graciously donated by Walmart. Firewall Students from Blanche Ely High, Pompano Beach Middle and Plantation Middle served at Fort Lauderdale’s Snyder Park by mulching trails, painting picnic tables and restoring the butterfly garden.

A group from Bair Middle in Sunrise and Lauderhill 6-12 STEM-MED sorted and packaged meals for the hungry at Feeding South Florida in Pembroke Park.

Western High and Indian Ridge Middle School students helped restore the Ann Storck Center in Fort Lauderdale, where nearly 300 children and young adults with physical and mental disabilities live.

Firewall students from Crystal Lake Middle in Pompano Beach fed the homeless and gave them clothes in partnership with Hope South Florida.

“The students were very enthusiastic. You could just see them in the future as outstanding adults by the way they served now as children,” said Pat Colangelo, Director of Community Engagement and Associate Director of Operations for Trinity International University Florida.

Joining the students were volunteers from Lifework Leadership and Regent Bank, who for the third year in a row has been the presenting sponsor for the Serve-A-Thon. Regent Bank team members across Broward and Palm Beach County fundraised in their local offices to support Firewall’s growth. Their support was invaluable to the success of the annual event.

Once the service projects were completed, all of the students and volunteers gathered at Snyder Park for a celebration that included lunch, a dance contest and games.

 

 

April 2016 Newsletter

VictoriaMeet Victoria. Her story of transformation did not happen overnight. She has been part of Firewall since sixth grade and lacked motivation throughout middle school. She kept C’s and D’s on her report card and wasn’t happy to be at Firewall after school.

 

“We didn’t give up on her even though she wanted to give up on us. We focused on taking small steps to increase her motivation, academics, and maturity. When she entered our high school program, she still struggled because she really wasn’t involving the right people in her life. But what we saw in 9th that we didn’t see before was she really was trying. Her attitude and outlook on life changed,” said Janeth Fernandez, Director of Programs.

 

Victoria is now a 10th grader, receives A’s and B’s on her report card, and serves by tutoring Firewall Middle School students. She encourages the students in the program to give it their best and to not give up. Victoria recently expressed her gratitude for Firewall to a group of parents that were looking to register their students for our High School program. “I am so grateful Firewall Mentors did not give up me when I did not care about school and when I saw them as my enemies because they made me do homework. Your children will appreciate it too,” said Victoria.

Help us serve 100 more students next year!

Serve-A-ThonServe-A-Thon
On Saturday, April 30th, Firewall’s 400 students, their mentors, and volunteers will engage in a day of service to make a lasting impact in the community. This event is none other than our annual Serve-A-Thon!

 

Serve-A-Thon will also help raise funds to serve 100 more students next year! You can be a part of our growth and give to Serve-A-Thon today.
 
Our Firewall students will be serving at Synder Park, Hope South Florida, the Ann Storck Center, and Feeding South Florida.

 Serve-A-Thon in the News

Serve-A-Thon in the Sun Sentinel

 

 

Sponsor Serve-A-Thon 2016

Own a business? Looking to give back to your community? Regent Bank Sponsor

 

Check out our Sponsorship Package that includes opportunities to:
  • Promote your business
  • Receive press coverage
  • Be recognized at the event
    and more!

 

As always, thank you for helping us achieve our mission and transform students into servant leaders.

Sincerely,
Firewall Centers

March 2016 Newsletter

Keep Giving Back at Serve-A-Thon

Serve-A-ThonOur third annual Serve-A-Thon is right around the corner! Our 400 students and their mentors will come together on April 30th to engage in a day of service to make a lasting impact in the community. Members of the Lifework Leadeship class will also help serve on that day.

This year, students will serve by feeding the homeless with Hope South Florida,     cleaning up and beautifying Synder Park in Fort Lauderdale, preparing meals for the hungry with Feeding South Florida, and renovating the Ann Storck Center.

If you would like to find out how you can get involved, read more here.

Firewall Student Motivates Fellow Classmate 

“I don’t have any work,” a student told his Firewall mentor last week, much like he usually does. This student has learning difficulties, and his biggest problem is that he doesn’t complete his classwork or bring his homework to Firewall.
Adamantia

On this particular day, however, something spectacular happened. One of this sixth grade student’s classmates at Firewall, Adamantia, replied: “I know you do” [have homework]. “Look, you’re not bringing your homework to Firewall, you’re not writing in your agenda, and our mentors won’t be able to help you because you don’t want to do any work even though that’s what you’re here for.. I am going to see your teachers tomorrow to ask them what you have for homework.”

Adamantia got permission from her mentor and went to her peers’ different classes to ask for assignments that he could make up to improve his grades. She returned to Firewall with 3 packets of work and sat down with the student. “Do you want to be in sixth grade next year and see your friends move on?” “No,” he replied. “So you’re going to do your work?” asked Adamantia. “Yes.” The two then sat together to work on the assignments. Even after Adamantia’s parents picked her up that day, the student stayed at Firewall until he finished his assigned work.

This story is an incredible example of the transformative effects of positive peer influence at Firewall. Thank you, Adamantia for being a servant leader!

Community Partner Empowering Young Women 

We are thankful for the supportive community around us that partners with us to transform our students into servant leaders. Most recently, Soroptimist International of Davie taught their “Dream It, Be It: Career Support for Girls” curriculum at our Western High School location.

Siroptimist

“Dream It, Be It” serves to provide girls with career education, resources, and support to equip them to become successful adults. During one of these sessions, the conversation focused on turning failures into successes. Our girls heard encouraging stories from the women of Soroptimist International and even had the opportunity to set goals and apply what they learned to their own lives.

We hope you have a wonderful start to this new spring season and thank you for being a part of our Firewall Centers’ story.

Sincerely,

Firewall Centers