The first Children’s
Choice Awards was a particularly thrilling event for Sue Glasscock,
coming a short time after she was named president and CEO of the event’s
host and beneficiary, Children’s Harbor, Inc.
“It was my first event, so you kind of hold
your breath,” Glasscock said last week. “I was only six
weeks into the job.” The event ultimately met her expectations,
she said.
The inaugural gala was on May 31, and honored
four individuals and organizations that have supported Children’s
Harbor and children’s services in general.
The winners were the City of Pembroke Pines (for
its support of Children’s Harbor’s, including its support
of the residential campus); Virginia “Ginny” Miller of Miller
Construction Company (who chaired a Children’s Harbor capital
campaign and was on its board); Mary Riedel and the Sun-Sentinel Children’s
Fund (instrumental in several child advocacy organizations); and Mark
Templeton of Citrix Systems, Inc. (for committing to the company’s
support of Children’s Harbor that began prior to his leadership).
Children's Harbor is a nonprofit child welfare
organization that works to meet the needs of South Florida's abused
and neglected children. It focuses on two specific areas: the prevention
of child abuse and neglect, and the treatment of young victims of abuse
and neglect.
“We put a whole lot of energy into trying
to keep families together,” Glasscock said of the nonprofit organization
she has led for three months. “When you do that we find it’s
better for everyone involved,” she added.
During the gala, board chairman Per-Olaf Loof
announced several initiatives, including a benefit golf tournament to
be held September 25 in Coral Springs, sponsored by a locally based
air carrier. In addition to the Spirit Airlines Invitational, Loof announced
that Children’s Harbor had dedicated the director’s residence,
which is the first building on a new residential campus for abused and
neglected children in Pembroke Pines. He also talked about the new Children’s
Choice Society, a Children’s Harbor supporters’ group. Glasscock
noted last week that founding members of the society will have their
names placed on a plaque at the residential campus. Membership is $250
per person.
About 150 people attended the event, held at
the Marina Marriott in Fort Lauderdale. It brought in more than $38,000
for Children’s Harbor’s services. The event included both
silent and live auctions, and live music and dancing. Among the items
up for bid in the live auction was a Royal Caribbean 10- to 12-day Mediterranean
cruise, which went for $5,000.
Sponsors for the 2003 Children's Choice Awards
were: Sun-Sentinel; JM Family Enterprises; Mahoney and Associates, Inc.;
Citrix Systems; NFL Alumni, Inc.; Begelman Family Foundation; and the
Brad Slager Memorial Fund.
To learn more about Children’s Harbor and
its services and event, or to volunteer or contribute, contact the organization
at .... [contact information followed]
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of writing by Jon. No affiliation exists between Sun-Sentinel and Ringhorne
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