By: Sharon Aron Baron
A local nonprofit has raised $161,000 to four local organizations to help trauma victims bolster their mental health.
Parkland Cares presented grants to several other organizations, including Behavioral Health Associates of Broward, Children’s Bereavement Center, Tomorrow’s Rainbow, and Eagles’ Haven.
With a mission to provide immediate and long-term funding and awareness for mental health counseling for the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting survivors, Parkland Cares was founded two years ago after the school shooting.
Recipient Julie Gordon, director of Eagles’ Haven, who was honored, said Parkland Cares has made it possible for them to continue crisis counseling after being given $25,000.
“Without the help of the community and our partners, we wouldn’t have been able to make it this far,” she said.
Parkland Cares presented grants to four nonprofit mental health and trauma agencies with total funding now at $400,000. Funding provided helps the community cope with the aftermath of the mass shooting tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
With recent student suicides devastating the community, the Eagles’ Haven Wellness Center has seen an influx of people seeking its services.
“When I learned that, I knew right away that Eagles’ Haven would be one of our grantees,” said Parkland Cares executive director Stacey Udine. “It’s a strong, well-run organization. I’m honored Parkland Cares can contribute to its success.”
Eagles Haven Wellness Center receiving a grant from Parkland Cares.
Parkland Cares also awarded $30,000 to Children’s Bereavement Center, which has served South Florida for 21 years and is now enabled to serve Parkland through this Parkland Cares grant; $36,000 to Tomorrow’s Rainbow, which offers grieving children, teens, and their families an emotionally safe environment; and $70,000 to Behavioral Health Associates of Broward, which opened counseling facilities in the Parkland area to provide trauma counseling close to where the victims live.
Parkland Cares Founder Howard Dvorkin, also announced that in less than two years, Parkland Cares had funded $400,000 in long-term and short-term mental health programs.
“When we launched Parkland Cares, I never expected so many amazing people would offer their support,” said Dvorkin. “That’s the reason we’ve been able to accomplish so much so fast.”
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