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Firewall is excited to partner with Innovation Charter School beginning the 2025-2026 school year. Innovation Charter focuses on fostering academic excellence, personal growth, and community involvement in order to prepare students for future success. Through Firewall’s dedication to providing students with academic support, and mentorship, at no cost to families, we are confident that this partnership will allow us to provide students with the tools and guidance needed to help them achieve excellence. Our dedicated team of mentors is ready to assist Innovation Charter students in developing critical skills, boosting confidence, and fostering a love of learning.  

In preparation for our upcoming summer camp, Firewall Centers took part in Deerfield Beach High School’s First Annual Career Fair. Firewall is proud to support soon to be high school graduates by offering employment opportunities through our partner AmeriCorps. Through AmeriCorps high school seniors and newly graduated students are able to earn real-world work experience, build resumes, and earn financial awards towards higher education. Our organization prides itself on supporting students who are new to the workforce as well as those who are currently working with us. This support helps students, not only, with their immediate career goals, but emphasizes the importance of making a positive difference in their community. Firewall’s goal is to create Servant Leaders, opportunities, like those presented at the Career Fair, allow students to grow personally, and professionally, as well as encourage them to make an impact in their community. 

With the 11th Annual Serve-A-Thon quickly approaching we invite you to join us in taking a look back at last year’s success. In 2024 Firewall Centers partnered with the City of Fort Lauderdale, Oasis Living Center, Feeding South Florida, and HOPE South Florida in order to provide service opportunities to over 250 students, AmeriCorps members, and volunteers. “Serving is at the core of what we do. So, when our students serve the elderly, feed the homeless, and give back to the community at large, they are living out what it means to be a servant leader,” said Andy Fernandez, Firewall Centers’ CEO. Last year students took part in 5 service projects across Broward County, a park clean-up and tree planting at Reverend Samuel Delevoe Memorial Park, spending time with the elderly residents at Oasis Living Center, sorting and assembling food at Feed South Florida, and preparing meals and hygiene kits for South-East Florida’s homeless population at HOPE South Florida. These service projects provided students with hands-on experiences that serve as an example of the value positively impacting their community.

After the event students, AmeriCorps  members, and volunteers celebrated with a party at Reverend Samuel Delevoe Park, during which students were able to participate in obstacle courses, and bounce houses, while taking pride in their efforts spent bettering their community. This year’s service projects will include spending time with the residents at Artis Senior Living, and The Palms at Plantation, as well as assembling meals to be distributed to the homeless population across Broward County. We are so proud of our students’ work during last year’s Serve-A-Thon. As this year’s event approaches we are looking forward to another great day of providing our students the opportunity to get involved and positively impact their community. To see more from last year’s Serve-A-Thon click here: https://youtu.be/EJVaQcYeScA?si=V4he7BZtvVOMlMs2

 

On Wednesday, November 9, 2022 Firewall Centers hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the purchase of a new office building. As we continue to expand, a new facility was much-needed in order to accommodate our growing staff. The celebration included remarks from our CEO and Founder Andy Fernandez, as well as comments by our supporters and community partners. Among those who spoke at the event, Cindy Arenberg-Seltzer, President and CEO of the Children’s Service Council of Broward, as well as Broward County Undersheriff Colonel Nichole Anderson. 

“Firewall Centers has experienced tremendous growth over the last few years as we have gone from serving 400 students to 1,300, thus outgrowing our previous office space. This year alone, we will provide over $5 million dollars’ worth of tutoring, mentoring, and case management support services to our students and families. Also, through our partnership with AmeriCorps and Volunteer Florida, we are helping to provide over $175,000 worth of academic scholarships to 60+ AmeriCorps members that serve Firewall students every day.”, said Andy Fernandez. This growth would not have been possible without partnerships with the Children’s Services Council of Broward County, Volunteer Florida/AmeriCorps, the United Way of Broward County, the Jim Moran Foundation, and the other individuals and foundations that have supported us throughout the years. The support offered by these individuals and organizations has allowed us to go beyond an aftercare program, offering students a space to build long-term relationships, receive social-emotional support, and move the needle on academic achievement.  As we walk through life with students, Firewall’s goal is for every child to reach their greatest potential.

We would like to thank PCI Powerhouse for their continued support provided to our organization. Their generous contribution allows us to further our mission of helping students achieve academic success, build character, and transform into servant leaders. “Our company’s achievements are measured not only in business milestones but also in the positive change we foster in every community we serve. These grants are a testament to our commitment to act as a catalyst for good” stated Ismael Diaz, President & CEO of PCI. PCI’s commitment to effecting positive change has enabled us to reach over 1300 students, enhancing the lives of underserved students across Broward County.

On March 6, 2025, students at Firewall Centers put their entrepreneurial skills to the test during Food Truck Day. This highly anticipated event hosted by the Firewall staff at Walter C. Young Middle School. This hands-on event allowed students to experience the process of creating innovative food truck concepts, refining every detail, including choosing a catchy name, designing a logo, and managing finances. Students learned valuable lessons in business management, including budgeting, marketing, and customer service. Participants were given the opportunity to present their food truck business plans to a panel of judges in a friendly Shark Tank-style competition. Winners were recognized in categories like innovation, marketing, competition analysis, finances, and overall presentation.

“We are incredibly proud of our students for their hard work and creativity,” said Janeth Fernandez, Program Director at Firewall Centers. “Food Truck Day provided them with an opportunity to apply the concepts they’ve been learning in a real-world setting. The event was not only a fun, interactive experience but also a way to foster critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills that will serve them in future endeavors.”. The day concluded with a treat from the Kona Ice Food Truck, giving students a chance to reflect on their entrepreneurial journey and celebrate their accomplishments. Food Truck Day provided students a valuable, hands-on experience in which they were encouraged to think critically and creatively about the future of business.

On September 26th when most schools were closed for the Rosh Hashanah holiday, our Children’s Services Council of Broward (CSC)-funded elementary school programs were able to have full days of fun in which they engaged in activities like field trips outdoor games, cultural arts, and more.

Two of our sites went on a field trip to Flippos in Fort Lauderdale. At Flippos, students were able to play in their indoor playground where they climbed equipment, went on slides, and played sports. Students got to interact with one another as well as with their Firewall Mentors outside of the school environment, which helped to strengthen their bonds.

Some of our schools did not go on a field trip, but they were able to experience a great deal of fun right inside their schools. We had outside vendors come in to do face painting as well as engage students in other art activities like hip hop dancing. Students also played outside at a nearby playground.

 

In April, Firewall Centers and its students had the amazing opportunity to be a part of a countywide movement. “The Broward AWARE! Protecting OUR Children campaign, powered by the Children’s Services Council (CSC), is an awareness campaign that uses the full spectrum of media to ensure that Broward County families, educators, media, law enforcement and all stakeholders use and share resources that make it possible for children to safely realize their full potential, hopes and dreams.”

On Saturday, April 9th, Firewall bussed over 100 students to Reverend Samuel Delevoe Memorial Park in Fort Lauderdale to join the CSC and other local organizations in spreading awareness about the hardships that youth face in their communities. Our Coconut Creek students prepared and presented facts about homelessness in Broward and how it affects children. Our Lauderhill 6-12 students performed artistic expressions of dance, rap, and song to illustrate that with awareness, comes action.

Our students were also able to hear presentations from prominent community leaders on the topics of prevention for human trafficking, child endangerment, and child abuse. These events expand our students’ worldviews as they realize that Firewall is not alone in its mission to make a difference in their community. In fact, there are countless people, many of whom they have never met, that care for their wellbeing too.

Firewall students that attend our program housed in Davie’s Orange Park Community Center were ecstatic to return from their Spring Break because they were treated to an Easter Party! This celebration highlighted not just all their hard work throughout the year, but gave them some much-needed rest before upcoming final exams. Our middle and high school students enjoyed trivia games, egg hunts, and food and beverages when they walked into the Center on that Tuesday afternoon following the break. Each grade competed against one another to win Easter gift baskets and prizes to enjoy themselves or share with their friends.

 

Events like this Easter party allow Firewall to walk even closer through life with students and thus strengthens the organization’s overall impact. Meaningful experiences and celebrations are remembered by students forever as they grow up and learn to appreciate themselves and others along the way.