NEXTGEN 4 HANDY’S FIRST-EVER “PROM NIGHT”

RAISES OVER $60,000

More than 300 HANDY supporters danced the night away during NextGen 4 HANDY’s inaugural “Prom Night” at the Premier Aircraft Sales Hangar at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport.The fundraising effort brought in over $60,000, which will directly benefit Broward County’s vulnerable youth.

“We are amazed by the incredible amount of support for this first-time event and we can’t wait to start planning for next year,” said Beth Bryant, director of development for HANDY. “Our prom court nominees went above and beyond in their fundraising efforts and we are thrilled to have such a vibrant group of young professionals advocating for HANDY.”

The throwback fundraiser featured dancing, live entertainment and even a prom court. Luke Freeman from Wizard Creations was named HANDY’s Prom King, raising nearly $13,000 and not one, but two Prom Queens were crowned, Cori Fraser of Lawrence D. Share Company and Sheela VanHoose of Charter Schools USA, for raising $7,100 each. HANDY’s 2016 Prom Court candidates included:

Men:

• David DiCristina, Perry Ellis International
• Luke Freeman, Wizard Creations
• Jeremy Hayes, Runway Growers
• Shevrin Jones, Florida State Representative of District 101
• Ryan Reiter, Kaufman Lynn Construction
• Paul Ringon, The JPK Group at Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate
• Michael Wild, Wild Felice & Partners, PA

Women:

• Ashley Buchanan, Florida Atlantic University
• Cristy Caserta, SalpeterGitkin, LLP
• Cori Fraser, Lawrence D. Share Company
• Christina Oberle, Latch onto Health, LLC
• Phu Nguyen, Andrews McMeel Publishing
• Kristin Soto, Hemsworth Communications
• Sheela VanHoose, Charter Schools USA

Prom Night presented by NextGen 4 HANDY was sponsored, in part, by Premier Aircraft Sales, Celebrity Entertainment, McCormick Distilling, Lennox National Account Service, Hypower, OK Generators, Bienenfeld, Lasek& Starr, LLC; Perry Ellis, South Florida Ford, Orange Theory Fitness, Dr. Marcelle Abell-Rosen and Andy Rosen, Schneider Realty, WFP Law, Ann’s Florist, Aero Statistics, LLC, Becker &Poliakoff, Miami Marlins, Keiser University, Marc Julien Homes, Rice Pugatch Robinson Storfer& Cohen, PLLC, Wizard Creations, Client First Settlement Funding, Tripp Scott, WEINBERG WHEELER HUDGINS GUNN & DIAL, In a Glimpse Photography, LaLa Couture, Lifestyle Media Group, Briny Boutique, Royalty Catering, Sweeter Days Bake Shop, Partida Tequila, Stout, The Whole Enchilada, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, Kaufman Lynn, Greenberg Traurig, P.A.

For the last three decades, HANDY has served to empower Broward County’s vulnerable youth to become productive members of society. The wide array of services they provide have positively affected more than 50,000 children in South Florida.

NextGen 4 HANDY is a group of young professionals who value giving back to the community by helping the disadvantaged youth served by HANDY. These volunteers work hands-on with activities and events, helping to support HANDY’s mission to focus on the development of children and young adults in the local area.

For more information about HANDY, or to become a sponsor or volunteer, contact Beth Bryant at (954) 522-2911, ext. 209 or visit www.handyinc.org.

About HANDY

HANDY’s mission is to embrace, educate and empower vulnerable youth to become engaged and productive adults.  Founded in 1985, HANDY has met the needs of more than 50,000 Broward County children and youth in foster, relative and non-relative care. HANDY annually serves more than 1,300 at-risk children between the ages of 9–25.