Broward Children’s Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving infants, children and young adults who are developmentally disabled and medically fragile and their families recently unveiled a new playground and basketball court at its BCC Academy in Dania Beach.
To celebrate the opening of the new facility, Broward Children’s Center hosted a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Feb. 13. Broward County dignitaries, including the Mayor of Dania Beach Mayor Joyce L. Davis, Broward Children’s Center’s team, board members and families along with representatives from Delta Pilots Charitable Fund, The Batchelor Foundation, Children’s Opportunity Group and Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), who sponsored the transformational project, were in attendance.
Guests enjoyed refreshments and breakfast bites while listening to remarks from Broward Children Center’s CEO Marjorie Evans and School Director Edith Moore. Dania Beach Mayor Joyce L. Davis and Dania Beach Commissioner Luis Rimoli addressed the crowd about the importance of the Broward Children’s Center’s new playground and the impactful role the Center plays in the community. Representatives from the playground sponsors, including FPL Director of External Affairs for the Broward and Southwest region & NextEra Energy Inc. Director of Corporate Philanthropy Juliet Murphy Roulhac, Esq, and Delta Pilots Charitable Fund Pilot Director Captain Chris Hazleton spoke about their common goal of building up the community and investing in the future of Broward County children.
The $117,000 enhancement project was made possible through generous donations from community partners including the Delta Pilots Charitable Fund ($72,000 donation), The Batchelor Foundation ($30,000 donation) and Children’s Opportunity Group ($10,000 donation) whose combined funds supported the playground, and FPL ($5,000 donation) whose donation contributed to the basketball court.
The new, state-of-the-art playground replaces an aging and damaged structure and will be more adaptive for the children that Broward Children’s Center serves. The playground includes a slide, ramps that make it wheelchair adaptive, an adaptive wheelchair spinner, sensory toys and more for children to enjoy during the school year and summer camp. It also includes artificial turf and shade to provide safety and protection from the sun and volatile weather.
The enhanced basketball court features new asphalt, a basketball hoop and basketballs. FPL’s logo is painted on the center of the court.
“We recognize the importance of supporting the Broward Children’s Center and the work it does. Together, we are enhancing the quality of life for children and families in South Florida – powering stronger communities,” said Juliet Roulhac, FPL director of external affairs for the Broward and Southwest region & NextEra Energy Inc. director of corporate philanthropy.
“Playgrounds are the cornerstones of our community. We’re tremendously grateful for Delta Pilots Charitable Fund, The Batchelor Foundation, Children’s Opportunity Group and Florida Power & Light for their generous donation of a brand-new state-of-the-art playground and basketball court at our BCC Academy,” said David Perez, M.B.A., director of development at Broward Children’s Center. “This impactful gift will help provide a safe and secure environment for our students. This transformational project wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the sponsors who are committed to bettering the lives of infants, children and young adults who are developmentally disabled and medically fragile.”
BCC Academy provides educational, therapeutic and behavioral services for children with special needs, pre-kindergarten through seventh grade. The nonprofit private school is specifically designed to meet the unique developmental and educational needs of children with moderate to severe disabilities, through research-based instructional strategies and a thematic-based curriculum.
With parental input to optimize a student’s educational experience, various assessments and observations are used to set educational goals for each child. The classrooms are designed for each child to receive the personal attention needed to achieve their goals.
About Broward Children’s Center: Since 1971, Broward Children’s Center, a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has been providing medical, educational, therapeutic, recreational, daily living and advocacy services through its network of care to infants, children and young adults who are developmentally disabled and/or medically fragile. Through a continuum of services designed to meet the needs of each child and their families, Broward Children’s Center remains focused on delivering the highest quality care necessary to ensure that each individual is given every opportunity to thrive and succeed. Broward Children’s Center is located at 200 SE 19th Ave., Pompano Beach, FL 33060. For more information, please visit www.bcckids.org or contact 954-809-5449 or DavidP@bcckids.org.
