Levels of poverty, racial disparity, and domestic violence are among the main causes of child homelessness in the US.
Maria Finoshina from RT News discusses homelessness as she visits Chapman Partnership where you learn that some children have been homeless for three to four years in and out of the shelter.

Community asked to step up and log on to provide backpacks, uniforms and other basic school supplies for county’s homeless children

MIAMI (July 22, 2015): Homelessness among Florida public school children has increased by 84 percent over the past five years. These children, even those living in emergency housing, will start the school year without basic “back-to-school” supplies. Essential supplies are simple things; a backpack, the right uniform, calculators and notebooks, yet will remain out of reach for Miami-Dade’s homeless children unless the community rallies to help.

Back to School 2015, a new initiative launched by Chapman Partnership, the private sector partner of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, makes it easy for the community to support and help ensure no child is left without school supplies this year. To support Back to School 2015, log on to: https://chapmanpartnership.org/backtoschool . You can donate for the purchase and distribution of school supplies to homeless children from pre-k to 12^th grade.

According to Alberto Carvalho, Superintendent of Miami-Dade Public Schools, homeless children face many challenges, one of the biggest ones involve readiness to learn. “These are often fragile children who need to be loved and taught, so education and support is the key to their success.”

Chapman Partnership stresses that education is critical for empowering young people. “Children need to be school ready from day one,” said Grace Ugalde-Wolpert, Community Outreach Manager at Chapman Partnership, “We need the help of our community to keep our children on the right track. By making a donation you show them you care, about them and their education.”

Superintendent Carvalho points to Chapman as a vital link between the county’s educational system and children in emergency housing. “Chapman Partnership provides educational services before, during and after school so these children can learn,” he says.

“Homeless school children deserve to have the same, equitable opportunity to learn as those more fortunate,” said Ugalde- Wolpert, “Back to School 2015 is designed to catapult homeless children to a level of readiness prior to their very first day of school.”

Back to School 2015 is a chance for everyone in the community to get involved. “If you care about a child, get engaged,” urges Carvalho. “Miami, let’s step up. Let’s make it real.”

For more details or to donate, log onto: https://chapmanpartnership.org/backtoschool

About Chapman Partnership

Since 1995, Chapman Partnership has had more than 100,000 admissions including 20,000 children and a 64% success rate of moving homeless men, women and families to self-sufficiency.

Chapman Partnership operates two Homeless Assistance Centers with 800 beds located in Miami and Homestead. Chapman Partnership provides a comprehensive support program that includes emergency housing, meals, health, dental and psychiatric care, day care, employment training and placement and assistance with housing. Chapman Partnership is the private sector partner of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust.

Mission Statement
Provide comprehensive services to empower homeless residents to become self-sufficient.

www.chapmanpartnership.org

Video

Contact:
Alec Rosen
Email: arosen@chapmanpartnership.org
Tel: 305-329-3003

Published on: FIU Sports
Click Here to View the Original Article

FIU Athletics and its more than 400 student-athletes take great pride in their involvement in the community. This past year, the Panthers have been involved with Chapman Partnership – an organization that provides comprehensive services to empower homeless residents to become self-sufficient.

"The involvement that our student-athletes have in the community is a credit to their character as tremendous individuals as well as leaders on our campus," FIU Executive Director of Sports and Entertainment Pete Garcia said. "I am proud of each and every one of them and am thrilled that our association with a first-class organization like the Chapman Partnership can have such an impact on not only the individuals that our student-athletes are spending time with, but the student-athletes themselves. We look forward to continuing our involvement with the Chapman Partnership."

"This is a perfect example of giving back to the community," Chapman Partnership Board Member Roberto R Munoz said. "FIU Athletics and Chapman are a natural fit. Athletes are a great role model for everyone at every age. They inspire all of us to do more and provide much needed courage to go beyond one's physical and mental abilities. They inspire competition at every level and provide strength to those that watch them in action."

Over the past seven years, FIU Athletics has invited the Chapman Partnership to attend Panthers' home events. FIU Assistant AD for Student-Athlete Development Liz Augustin worked with the Chapman Partnership as part of the department's community partners program.

"Chapman Partnership is such an important resource in our community," Augustin said. "We are happy to help in any way we can in accomplishing their mission."

This past year, FIU Athletics took it one step further, volunteering their time in addition to the community partners program.

The football team volunteered at Chapman's Runwild 5K Run/Walk at Zoo Miami on Feb. 14, while last summer the men's basketball team held a clinic at Chapman's Miami facility.

The women's soccer team spent over a half-a-dozen mornings serving food at the Miami shelter.

"The team has been volunteering with the Chapman Partnership for two seasons now," Head Coach Thomas Chestnutt said. "Humanity is a driver. A smile, a thank you, or just the realization of knowing that they are providing help to sustain so many people's lives. It is a wonderful education outside of the classroom."

As the Spring semester winds down, one thing is certain. The Panthers work in the community continues on and their involvement the Chapman Partnership is an example of how FIU Athletics strives to be champions in the community.

#####

About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium.

Neighbors 4 Neighbors 2015 Spring Special. View stories of your neighbors in need and how they are being helped, stories of struggle and hope. Stories that shows that helping feels good.

Published on: Miami Herald
By: Howard Cohen
Click Here to View the Original Article

Philanthropist R. Kirk Landon drove an old wood-paneled station wagon for years, and was known to turn up at business meetings with his tie in his briefcase. Though the walls of his Coral Gables office showcased paintings by Jasper Johns and Frank Stella, nearest his desk sat an abstract sculpture of the city created by Miami-Dade County schoolchildren from scrap materials.

Landon loved kids, showering his support on schools, youth centers and reaching up to the higher echelons of education.

Landon, the former chairman of American Bankers Insurance Group in Southwest Miami-Dade, died at 85 at his Gables home Tuesday night. His generous spirit touched many, as he donated millions of dollars to schools, arts groups, health institutions and a long list of South Florida’s charitable organizations.

“Mr. Landon had an innate humility and modesty that made him even more interesting as a human being and more, shall we say, likable and approachable. That is a characteristic that is not often found among people who are so accomplished,” said Florida International University President Mark Rosenberg, whose school was one of Landon’s passions.

“He made it easy to have a conversation and a joie de vivre and zest for life that was contagious,” Rosenberg continued. “I used to tell him he suffered from neonate — the quality of childlike curiosity and enthusiasm. That is Kirk. Kirk was always engaged. That is the loss part. That is not replaceable.”

In 2004, Landon made the single-largest individual donation in Florida International University's history to create the R. Kirk Landon Undergraduate School of Business. His gift: $5 million. His gifts also helped fund the $15 million R. Kirk Landon Fieldhouse that is tucked into the school’s $50 million football stadium.

“They’re producing tomorrow’s leaders,” Landon told the Miami Herald.

Plus, “They asked.”

“He always answered the phone whenever we would call him for advice or for help,” Rosenberg said.

Promoting education became the retired executive’s mission after he sold American Bankers to Fortis Group in 1999. His stock holdings at the time were valued at $140 million.

While he headed American Bankers as CEO from 1980 to 1999, a company his father founded, he created a preschool for employees' children. The company opened a public school at its corporate campus in Cutler Ridge in 1987. An alumnus of Georgia Tech, he helped build a day-care center at the university. Landon earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial management at Georgia Tech in 1950 before enrolling in the Navy.

At the same time he ran American Bankers he was chairman and director of the Miami branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta from 1991 to 1998. A year later he became an independent director of Lennar Corp.

Landon, born Robert Kirk Landon in Scarsdale, N.Y. to Kirk and Dorothy Landon on April 27, 1929, also gave $5 million to the student union at Barry University, where he was a board member, and a $1 million gift to the University of Miami's School of Nursing.

David Lawrence Jr., the retired Herald publisher and now school readiness advocate, remembers going to Landon to raise money for the first vote on The Children's Trust in 2002.

“Kirk wasn't sure this was a good idea, however well intentioned it might have been. Then when the next election, in 2008, came up, he gave $100,000, accompanied by a warm admission of ‘You were right.’ Kirk never minced words, and he certainly could be more than straightforward, but there was so much warmth and love in his soul. I loved him,” Lawrence said.

In 2011, the Miami Transplant Institute honored him with its Humanitarian Award.

“In the end, you can leave your money to the government, your children or charity,” Landon, who was not a transplant recipient, told the University of Miami. “[T]here is only so much you can leave to your children. The Miami Transplant Institute is something we need here in South Florida. It deserves support.”

Said UM President Donna Shalala: “Kirk Landon was a giant in this community, deeply concerned with education and the well-being of others and a smart and principled businessman. He was a great friend of the University of Miami and especially provided leadership support for our School of Nursing and Health Studies and the Miller School of Medicine.”

Landon pledged $1 million to the expansion efforts of the South Dade YMCA in 2005. In 2011, the Association of Fundraising Professionals awarded him its Lifetime Achievement award. He also served on the board of the Zoological Society of Florida, Arts for Learning and Chapman Partnership. His Landon Foundation pumped millions into the community.

“I don't believe in foundations living forever,” he said in a 2003 Herald story. “Give the money away.”

And so he did — sometimes with strings.

In 2011, Landon, a board member and major donor of the Miami City Ballet, reportedly pressed former artistic director Edward Villella, then 75, to retire and withheld a cash infusion until Villella agreed to leave the organization, financially struggling at the time.

“He was a brilliant individual and supporter of the ballet. He stepped up to the plate when he was needed and he was a great guy as far as I’m concerned,” said longtime Miami City Ballet board member and donor Ron Esserman.

“He would tell me things that I needed to hear even if I didn’t want to hear them,” added FIU’s Rosenberg. “I personally have lost a dear friend.”

More often than not, Landon just gave.

Said Trish Bell, chairman emeritus of Chapman Partnership, a group formerly known as Community Partnership for the Homeless:

“Kirk Landon was a longtime, strong board member, recruited to the board by his dear friend, Alvah Chapman. Kirk was an immensely generous donor and an especially wise adviser in his role as chairman of our investment committee. We honored Kirk in 2012 with the highly prestigious Alvah H Chapman, Jr. Humanitarian Award.”

Landon is survived by his children Kathleen Staley and Chris Landon, his grandchildren Kirk Staley, Angela and Robert Spears, and his partner of 18 years, Pam Garrison.

Said Garrison: “He had a heart of gold and it must have had my name on it because of how he treated me.”

A viewing will be from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday at Stanfill Funeral Home, 10545 S. Dixie Hwy, Pinecrest. Funeral services will be at noon Tuesday at Plymouth Congregational Church, 3400 Devon Rd., Coconut Grove.

Reflections by his Friends at Chapman Partnership

Like Alvah Chapman, Kirk was an Angel perpetually guarding the well being of those less fortunate than us in this community. His benevolence and leadership will be sorely missed.

Carlos R. Fernandez-Guzman
Chairman, Chapman Partnership

---

Kirk Landon was a longtime, strong board member, recruited to the board by his dear friend, Alvah Chapman. Kirk was an immensely generous donor and an especially wise adviser in his role as Chairman of our Investment Committee. We honored Kirk in 2012 with the highly prestigious Alvah H Chapman, Jr. Humanitarian Award. He will be missed dearly by his many friends and colleagues at Chapman Partnership.

Trish Bell
Chairman Emeritus, Chapman Partnership

---

Rarely in life will you find someone so committed to a cause that begins with possibility thinking, advances to become successful greatly due to his personal tangible contribution and then will celebrate remarkable achievement without ever once claiming any of the credit. This is the Kirk Landon that we know and respect at Chapman Partnership. Sir, you will be missed. So grateful to have known him.

Daniel Vincent, Chapman Partnership
President/CEO

---

What a loss for Chapman and for our whole community. Kirk, always the curmudgeon, deep down had a heart of gold and cared deeply for our community. He was equally generous with his wealth and his wise counsel to anyone who sought it.
We will all miss him.

Allan Pekor
Board of Trustees, Chapman Partnership

---

He was great man and great philanthropist. His legacy will live on for generations to come.

Bronwyn Miller
Board of Trustees, Chapman Partnership

Published on: FIU Magazine
By: Nick Ducassi
Click Here to View the Original Article

Just beyond the shadows of downtown Miami’s skyscrapers, Desmond Meade JD ’14 stared at empty railroad tracks, planning to jump when the next train came around. How would those last seconds of his life go down, he wondered. Would wheels crush his head? Would he die instantly? Or would the life slip out of him slowly, adding more agony to the three painful decades that had brought him here in the first place?

Call it fate, God or a delay, but no wheels barreled down the tracks that afternoon. Drug use, jail sentences and chronic homelessness had driven him to the brink of suicide, but his end was not to be. At that low point, he had no inkling of the kind of turnaround of which he was capable, one that within 10 years would see him earn a law degree at the FIU College of Law.

Raised in Miami, Meade joined the Army after high school. He was kicked out of the Army though, when he was caught stealing liquor while stationed in Hawaii. After returning to Miami, he started working as a celebrity bodyguard, and the late nights led to hard drinking, drugs, and, eventually, felony drug charges.

The storm clouds were only beginning to roll in. In 1995, his mother passed away. Soon after, the bank foreclosed on his family home. Depression set in. Drugs and alcohol eased his pain but quickened his fall. In 2001 Meade was sentenced to 15 years in prison for possession of a firearm.

Good behavior earned him an early release, but life didn’t become much easier. Landing a job was nearly impossible, and Miami’s sidewalks became his mattress. That’s when, in 2005, Meade approached the railroad tracks in a daze and waited to end his life. But in a last minute moment of clarity, he came to his senses and walked across them instead.

Meade checked into the Chapman Partnership in downtown Miami, where he was given shelter, substance abuse counseling and medical services. While there, he befriended Frank Hernandez, who spoke about his own struggles with addiction at Meade’s group counseling sessions and inspired Meade to tell his own story.

Meade started speaking about his own journey at treatment centers three to four times a week. “The joy that came over me when I connected with my community, and spoke about my experience…it was a joy that I had never felt before. I had no idea that I’d been longing for that feeling my entire life.”

Not only did his words help those who heard him – they also kept him straight. “I talked the talk, and I had to walk the walk,” Meade says. Moreover, they gave him a sense of purpose and reason to live. “I discovered that true satisfaction comes in giving back to this planet – to society. It’s in that that we find our true purpose. I realized my calling was to help people less fortunate than myself.”

Back on his feet and living at the Recovery House, he decided to spend the rest of his life helping those less fortunate than himself – and that his work would involve the law. “It’s intertwined in every aspect of our lives. I knew that if I had a greater understanding of the law, I would be of greater use to the people I was trying to help – the disenfranchised.”

He enrolled in the paralegal studies program at Miami Dade College and flourished academically. While at MDC, he started working with the Formerly Homeless Forum, a group that advocates for policies to end homelessness and is a member of Florida Rights Restoration Coalition. He went on to complete a bachelor’s degree at MDC in public safety management with a concentration in criminal justice and eventually worked his way up to becoming the president of the FRRC.

His professors encouraged him to continue his education, and he was accepted into FIU’s law school, but a cloud of uncertainty hung over his acceptance. Florida is one of the only states in the country that doesn’t automatically restore felon’s rights once they’re released. Moreover, the Florida Bar Association prohibits felons who haven’t had their rights restored – a process which, on average, takes more than a decade – from even taking the bar exam. There was a chance he could never practice law in Florida.

Nonetheless, if death couldn’t stop him, neither could ambiguity. He balanced his law school studies with speaking engagements and advocacy work. Eventually, the NAACP, which has been working for rights restoration causes at the statewide level for decades, caught wind of him. “He was so gifted, so clear in his understanding of the law,” says Hilary Shelton, director of the NAACP’s Washington Bureau and its senior vice president for Advocacy and Policy. “He was so committed. It was almost as if he was obsessed to right this democratic wrong in our society.”

This past March, the NAACP flew him to Geneva, Switzerland to testify before the Human Rights Committee at the United Nations about his experience as a felon stripped of his civil rights. “To watch Desmond testify very openly and engage one on one with these incredible leaders from all over the world was just incredible,” continues Shelton.

Associate Professor of Legal Skills and Values Ila Klion says it’s not hard to see why he’s been so effective. More than his smarts, she said, Meade “has this amazing ability to reach people. When he speaks and he smiles – people get very endeared to him. He really swoops people in.”

At the end of the day, Meade himself has skin in the game, although that’s only part of the reason he’s currently leading a charge to launch a ballot initiative in 2016 that would automatically restore the rights of 2 million formerly incarcerated Floridians. Not only would it give them the right to vote – it would allow Meade to take the bar exam.

Until his rights are restored though, Meade has plenty to keep him busy. In September, he made his third visit to the White House on behalf of the Live Free Campaign to make policy requests related to felon disenfranchisement. Meade is the state director of the campaign, which – is part of PICO, a network of faith-based organizations addressing the causes of violence and crime and encouraging congregations of different faiths to be more civically engaged.

“Personally, I think he could do more good in this world by NOT being a lawyer than by being one,” Kion said.“Whether that means felons’ rights, inner city rights, or racial oppression, he’ll always be involved with making things better.”

Ultimately, for Meade, it’s about strengthening communities from the bottom up: “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and the same goes for our community. To make our community strong, we must empower those among us who are the weakest,” says Meade. “You can’t just walk past the homeless guy or drug addict and say he’ll never amount to anything, because I was once that homeless guy. I was once that drug addict. As a society, we have the ability to transform.”

Published on: Miami Herald
By: CARLI TEPROFFCTEPROFF@MIAMIHERALD.COM
Click Here to View the Original Article

On Aug. 7, Miyelin Delgado came home to her two-bedroom apartment in Miami from a day out with her children to find all of their belongings tossed on the lawn.

Pregnant with her fourth child, Delgado, 28, and fiancé Miguel Gonzalez took what they could, threw it in their Ford Expedition and drove off. She couldn’t bear her older girls having to see their stuff outside. For the next two weeks, the couple lived in the SUV, folding down the seats and using blankets to make it more comfortable.

“It was a looonggg two weeks,” she said. But then an officer pulled them over and she wound up at the Chapman Partnership where she and her children were given a room, food and help.

“You hear horror stories about shelters but this is the best thing that could have happened to me,’ said Delgado, as she munched on chicken and macaroni and cheese Monday as part of a special food delivery from the Miami Heat and sponsors including C1 Bank, Levy Restaurants and AmericanAirlines Arena.

The day, which coincided with the national MLK Day of Service, was planned to highlight the basketball team’s efforts to package food not sold at games and donate it to either the Chapman Partnership or the Miami Rescue Mission. Over the last seven seasons, the Re-Heat program has donated more than 33,000 pounds of food including pasta, chicken, shrimp, rice, chips, hamburgers, hot dogs, even pizza in the box.

“This is just a part of what we do and I am proud and very pleased to be part of an organization that understands the importance of giving,” said former Miami Heat player and current team executive Alonzo Mourning, who donned gloves and served mac and cheese to Chapman’s residents.

Rufino Rengifo, executive chef for the arena, said his cooks prepare for about 15,000 meals a game and wind up donating about 1,000 to 1,500 meals to either organization.

“It allows us to use the food properly and use it for a good cause,” he said. “Its a great thing.”

As part of Monday’s holiday festivities, Miami Heat mascot Burnie banged on the Chapman door and then ushered everyone in to the cafeteria. Several kids gave Burnie high-fives, while others smiled for pictures.

“For a lot of our clients, life has just kicked them down and they feel like no one is paying attention to them,” said Holly Woodbury, vice president of development for the Chapman Partnership. “This is a way to show them that they matter. That they are special.”

Chapman Partnership depends on donations to help serve the home’s 500 residents, three meals a day. It costs Chapman about $1.23 per meal.

For Stacey, who didn’t want to use her last name to protect her 9-year-old daughter, Monday’s food delivery was a welcome treat. She said seeking help was a way for her to move forward after losing her job and apartment at the same time.

Comfort food like chicken, green beans and macaroni and cheese helped boost her spirits.

“We definitely don’t get this every day,” she said. “It’s nice to see that they are donating the food and not wasting it.”

For Delgado, seeing her children “eat good,” and “be happy” is worth everything — she knows it wasn’t long ago that she was terrified and alone. She had a difficult pregnancy and wasn’t able to work. Her fiancé made $9 an hour working at a construction site. There just wasn’t enough money to pay the $600 rent.

Delgado and her family are now close to having a home of their own. Her daughters look forward to having their own beds and decorating their room in pink.

But on Monday the girls focused on the food — Bella, 6, asked for a second helping of barbecue chicken and sister Noelani, 8, was all smiles when meeting “a basketball star.”

“He’s even taller than my Papi,” Noelani said of Mourning. “That’s really tall.”

Published on: Miami Herald
Click Here to View the Original Article

On Saturday, Chris Bosh and his wife Adrienne and their charity Team Tomorrow held “Santa Bosh’s Workshop” at GameTime at the Shops at Sunset Place, where nearly 200 youngsters -- from Chapman Partnership Homeless Shelter; Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Greater Miami; After School All Stars; Voices for Children; The Boys & Girls Club of Miami-Dade; Each One, Reach One, and Best Buddies -- were invited to enjoy games and food, and to visit “Santa Bosh’s Workshop,” a pop-up store in which the young visitors received holiday gifts from the Miami HEAT, Nike, Santa Bosh sunglasses from See Ya PR, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Sabra Hummus, toys such as Zoomer Dino, Paw Patrol, Chatsters, and Air Hogs from Spin Master, various DVD movies, and cakes from Divine Delicacies. All of the goodies were donated.

Published on: Mercedes-Benz Winter Event, Special Offers & Much More
Click Here to View the Original Article

As we are enjoying the holiday season, we are reminded of how grateful we are for your patronage. We value your business and appreciate the opportunity to be here for you. To show our gratitude, we will be making a donation on behalf of our clients to Chapman Partnership for every new or pre-owned vehicle sold in November and December. A donation from Mercedes-Benz of Cutler Bay will be made to the Chapman location in Homestead and a donation from Mercedes-Benz of Coral Gables will be made to the Chapman location in downtown Miami. If you are interested in learning more about Chapman Partnership, one of this community's most wonderful and worthwhile charities, please visit www.chapmanpartnership.org.

Published on: Miami Herald
Click Here to View the Original Article

Four high school girls who are currently homeless and have high career aspirations in nutrition, computer engineering, the culinary arts and fashion merchandising got a helping hand on Friday.

Dayna Steele, a motivational business speaker and founder ofYourDailySuccessTip.com, gave each girl a new Google Chromebook laptop while in town for Thanksgiving.

“I don’t understand how far you have gotten without them,” she said. “All you have to do now is go out and be great.”

Jurmelle, Tabitha, Davona and Bodatious, who live in a shelter managed by Chapman Partnership, a nonprofit, are all honors students at their respective schools and are determined to become successful and the future — starting with college.

“I am motivated by the fact that I want to do well in life, live in the nice houses and be successful,” said Jurmelle, 17, who attends Miami Northwestern Senior High School.

Steele began giving laptops to students a year ago, after she read a Miami Herald Wish Book article while visiting her in-laws for Thanksgiving.

“My goal was to give one a week,” she said. “With these inexpensive Google Chromebooks they are given the key to the outside world.”

Google Chromebooks generally sell for $200 to $300.

Steele surpassed her goal, giving out 54 near her home in Houston and a couple in Atlanta during business speeches. On Friday Nov. 28, the tally went up to 60 with the four laptops she gave at Chapman Partnership and two at the Jewish Adoption and Family Care Options center in Sunrise.

At the Family Resource Center inside Chapman Partnership on 1550 N. Miami Ave., Steele handed letters to the four girls, who thought they were getting Thanksgiving cupcakes. Their mouths opened wide as they gasped in surprise, as they read how someone has noticed their efforts and they earned a computer for it.

“That one tiny moment where they realize what the letter says is what I wait for each and every time,” Steele said.

The laptops will help the girls do their homework, write essays and apply to colleges and for scholarships.

Tabitha, 16, who goes to Booker T. Washington High School, will be using her new laptop to apply to Brown University, where her uncle attended.

“I like Rhode Island and it’s a good school,” Tabitha said. “My mom has always pushed me. I don’t want to be in this situation again.”

Before, they either had to stay after school, go to the library or wait their turn to use a computer at the shelter.

“Now we don’t have to wait,” said Davona, 14, who also attends Booker T. Washington. “Sometimes you forget about [the assignment] and can get an F.”

Davona, the youngest of the group, is inspired to achieve her goals because of her mother’s encouragement.

“I’ve always wanted to do what she never got a chance to do,” she said.

Despite setbacks in their lives, each one has managed to excel in school, maintaining good attendance and a grade point average of more than 3.2.

Bodatious, 17, who goes to Miami Carol City Senior High School, also works as a teacher’s aide, helping faculty with filing paperwork and grading assignments.

Earlier on Friday, Steele and her 13-year-old niece, Madyson Gold, donated two Chromebooks to two students at JAFCO in Sunrise. Gold used part of her Bat Mitzvah money to purchase a laptop to donate like her aunt.

Steele hopes that her own initiative inspires others to help in their communities as well.

“Quit waiting for a nonprofit,” Steele said. “I am one person who has found a way to help one student at a time. Anybody can do this.”