FLITE Center’s Eighth Annual Heroes Luncheon
The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort 321 North Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd. 321 North Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd. , Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301
FLITE Center
FLITE Center’s Eighth Annual Heroes Luncheon
FLITE Center (Florida Independence, Training & Education Center), a nonprofit organization dedicated to guiding vulnerable youth and those transitioning out of foster care towards independence through housing, education, employment, and comprehensive care coordination, will host its eighth annual Heroes Luncheon on Friday, April 17, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Local 10’s Eric Yutzy returns to emcee the special event at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort (321 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale).
FLITE Center’s Heroes Luncheon is a tribute to the organization’s partners, funders, and frontline staff who support and dedicate their lives to impacting youth in South Florida’s Transitional Independent Living (TIL) System of Care.
This year’s honorees and their respective award categories are:
• Albert & Beatriz Miniaci Lifetime Hero Award - Cara Malave (posthumous)
• Cara Malave Legacy Award - Christine Frederick
• Gore Foundation YouMatter Award – Ladies Fish Off
• Memorial Healthcare System Collaborators of the Year - Broward Sheriff’s Office
• Children's Services Council TIL System of Care Hero Award - Mark & Tiffani Dhooge
• UKG Ultimate Acts of Kindness - Joel Smith
• Ripple Effect Award - Mavericks Host Committee: Dan & Susan Ahearn, Premier Aircraft, Stefanie Title, and Dr. Heidi Schaeffer
• 2026 TIL System of Care Unsung Heroes:
o Shayan Dunkley – Camelot Community Care
o Sarah Demetrius – Gulf Coast JFCS
o Asia McMillon – HANDY Inc.
o Rachel Vital – Henderson Behavioral Health
o Kayla Shoats – Memorial Healthcare Systems
o Jasmine Bethell – PACE Center for Girls
o LaQuasha Montgomery – Children's Harbor
o Christina St. Juste – 4Kids of South Florida
o Anthony Harris, Jr. - ChildNet
o Staci-Ann Lewin – SOS Children’s Village
o Chloe Campbell – South Florida Wellness Network
o David Alan Waldrep – FLITE Center
o Angel Torry – FLITE Center
FLITE Center is where all transitioning youth and young adults who have faced trauma come seeking ways to become successful adults within a safe, nurturing environment.
FLITE Center is Broward County’s one stop resource center, reducing barriers by offering all supportive services within one location. FLITE Center offers comprehensive and seamless service delivery for youth and young adults ages 10 to 23 involved in the child welfare system, including youth with special and behavioral needs, youth from the LGBTQ community, survivors of human trafficking, youth from the Department of Juvenile Justice, youth who have no high school diploma, those who are unemployed, homeless, or facing any other unfortunate circumstance.
FLITE Center’s Heroes Luncheon is sponsored by The Vegso Family Foundation, Memorial Healthcare System, UKG, Jennifer Whittington, Lesser Landy Smith & Siegel PLLC.
Tickets are $150 per person ($100 for government agency employees) and are available for purchase online at flitecenter.org/heroes-luncheon.
For more information, contact Jenna Feliciano at (954) 995-7021 or jenna@flitecenter.org or Maria Vo at (954) 540 7825 or maria@flitecenter.org.