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Children’s Aid Club works behind the scenes to bring Christmas to families in need

South Florida Sun Sentinel - 12/12/2019

The women of Fort Lauderdale’s Children’s Aid Club, an all-volunteer, 30-member nonprofit, is bringing Christmas to 77 South Florida families this year. From the 22 charitable organizations it works with year-round, the group receives the names of families greatly in need of assistance over the holidays and matches each with a community donor. Sponsored families receive presents for each child, per a submitted wish list, plus Publix and Target gift cards and sweet treats for the whole family.

“It’s important for them to know that there are people from Fort Lauderdale who want to help them. That they are not alone,” said member Vanessa Diaz-Font, the holiday gift drive’s chairwoman.

“A child’s name is on each present,” said member Valerie Taylor, “but we don’t say who the gift is from. That is for the parents to decide.”

The organization’s behind-the-scenes philanthropy is not exclusive to the holidays. It’s what the Children’s Aid Club has been doing for the past 65 years. It partners with nonprofits, including Broward Partnership for the Homeless, Pace Center for Girls and Equine-Assisted Therapies of South Florida, by filling the gap between what these charities can provide and what the families served by the charities need.

“We help families who are in a financial crisis,” said Ann Powell, who first joined CAC in 1958. “Each member serves as a liaison for one particular charity. Everything we do is through our vetted organizations.”

Children’s Aid Club exclusively serves families with children and it tends to partner with groups that don’t receive significant government funding, according to Powell, who said that CAC never gives money directly to the families it helps.

“We make sure the money goes where it needs to go. For example, we might pay the electric bill to help keep the lights on,” said Pam Ferrante, who has been organizing the holiday gift drive alongside Diaz-Font.

CAC’s philanthropic efforts are made possible by two fundraising events, an annual Taste ‘n’ Tell Luncheon planned for Feb. 10 and the annual Charity Golf Tournament, which is spearheaded by the Construction Association of South Florida, on May 7.

Since CAC has no overhead, the group is able to give all proceeds to the families it assists. All members are volunteers, meetings take place in members’ homes and Powell donates a rented warehouse.

The warehouse serves as its hub and during the holiday gift drive, it’s stocked with toys and clothes and abuzz with members who are wrapping presents, stuffing gift bags and hauling everything out to their cars for distribution.

Despite its 65 years of hands-on philanthropy, Children’s Aid Club members are adamant that what they do is a labor of love, and they desire no recognition for their efforts.

“We are behind the scenes,” said member Julie Newton, CAC’s vice president, as she unloaded several gift bags from her car at Seagull Alternative High School in Fort Lauderdale, which serves at-risk students.

“We know we can’t solve the world’s problems but people need help, and they are falling through the cracks. When our help can mean the difference between being homeless and being on the road to success, we know we are making the community better.”

Ryan Coote is chief development officer of Broward Partnership, a nonprofit focused on reducing homelessness that has had a two-decade-long relationship with CAC.

“The Children’s Aid Club’s holiday gift drive does support the families in our care. However, they are so much more than that, as this wonderful group supports our families all year round," he said. "They host monthly birthday parties, donate much-needed needed items such as diapers and wipes, bedding, gift baskets for Thanksgiving and, in some cases, provide financial assistance to a few of our clients.”

When we asked the CAC what the Broward community can do to help their organization, member Suzee Bailey replied: “Rather than ask for help from the community, we’d like to offer thanks to everyone who has stepped up to help us over the years.

For information about Children’s Aid Club, or to make a donation, visit ChildrensAidClub.org or email info@childrensaidclub.org.

Amanda Klarsfeld is a South Florida Community News correspondent.

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