Foster Youth Graduates Celebrated

Jeana Desir

ChildNet, a Community-Based Care lead agency that protects abused, abandoned, and neglected children throughout Broward and Palm Beach County, hosted the 18th Annual Broward Graduation Celebration to honor foster youth who graduated this year. Overcoming tremendous odds, a total of 128 youth was recognized for their academic achievements. ChildNet celebrated 19 middle schoolers, 72 high school/GED graduates, 20 special certifications, 10 Associates degrees, 6 Bachelor’s degrees and 1 Juris Doctor. “Many foster youth have defied the odds by receiving their degrees so it is an honor to celebrate and recognize them for this monumental achievement,” said Larry Rein, ChildNet CEO & President. "We are very happy and amazed by what each graduate has achieved and will continue to achieve in this new and exciting chapter of their lives." Larry Rein delivered opening remarks during the graduation ceremony which was followed by a keynote address from Jeana Desis, a foster youth who is also a young mother and a recent graduate with a certificate in Culinary Arts. The presentation of certificates then took place, and the graduates were rewarded for their academic success with gifts from community partners. A huge thank you to our community partners for helping to make this graduation a success. Camelot Community Care, Children’s Services Council, Children’s Harbor, Gulf Coast Jewish Family & Community Services, Henderson Behavioral Health, Jim Moran Foundation,4Kids, FLITE Center, Guardian ad Litem, HANDY, Harmony Development Center, Memorial Healthcare System, SOS Children’s Village, Pace Center for Girls.

▸For more information about ChildNet, please call 954-414-6000 in Broward or 561-352-2500 in Palm Beach, or visit www.ChildNet.us and www.facebook.com/ChildNet.

Ana Gall, Director of Operations at Children’s Harbor; Larry Rein, ChildNet CEO & President; Deena Ponto, Program Officer of Case Management & Youth Services at ChildNet; Kaydion Watson, Director of Youth Services at ChildNet; Tiffani Doogie, President/CEO of Children’s Harbor and Samuel Mills, Brown's Harbor Supervisor at Children’s Harbor

Lois Marino, Executive Director of the BBX Capital Foundation; Colonel Josefa Benjamin, Larry Rein, ChildNet CEO & President and Dr. Victoria Thurston

Larry Rein, ChildNet CEO & President; Marcie Rosen, Deena Ponto, Program Officer of Case Management & Youth Services at ChildNet; Kaydion Watson, Director of Youth Services at ChildNet and Stephen Cook

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