Submitted by Rebecca Jones
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – More than a decade after his passing, the legacy of former Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner Carlton B. Moore continues to bring people together, support local students, and celebrate community leadership.
The legacy came alive during the 7th Annual Carlton B. Moore Friends & Family Day, on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Osswald Park, 2220 NW 21st Ave. in Fort Lauderdale.
Moore, who passed away on April 2, 2014, at the age of 60, served on the City Commission for more than 20 years and was a past president of the local branch of the NAACP.
Presented by the Carlton B. Moore Freedom Foundation (CBMFF) and sponsored by the City of Fort Lauderdale, the event is a heartfelt continuation of Moore’s work. It featured music by Hot 105’s DJ SCO, comedy from Fefe Frazier, food trucks, a marketplace, and activities for all ages.
In addition, event guests saw a high-energy drum line competition featuring Dillard, Palm Beach Lakes, Boyd Anderson, and Piper high schools, with a special performance by Dillard Elementary School. Palm Beach Lakes High School won the competition.
The day schedule also included live music from local sensation The Harden Project, free haircuts and plenty of activities to keep everyone entertained, including a Kids Zone complete with a slide and games.
For Forrest Moore, president of the CBMFF and one of the late commissioner’s two sons, the annual event is deeply personal.
“My father believed that service was about showing up for people, and that’s what this day was all about,” Moore said. “It was an opportunity for families, friends, and community leaders to come together, have fun, and celebrate the values he lived by
every day. We’re grateful to the City of Fort Lauderdale and Commissioner Pamela Beasley-Pittman for helping us continue a tradition that keeps his legacy alive.”
Continuing that spirit of service, the event included the presentation of the Carlton B. Moore Community Service Award, first introduced in 2022. This year’s honoree was Kaola King, a South Florida entrepreneur, investor, and community leader committed to business growth and service. King is the founder and owner of several successful companies, including King Intelligence and Security Services, Inc., which she has led for 18 years.
King is an active civic leader, serving on the boards of the Minority Builders Coalition, the National Association of Black Women in Construction, the Construction Association of South Florida, and the City of Lauderhill Budget Advisory Board. She is also passionate about giving back through scholarships, donations, and sponsorships that support education, youth development, and community initiatives.
“Kaola King represents the kind of leadership this award was created to recognize,” Moore said. “She has built successful businesses while remaining deeply invested in helping others succeed, and we’re proud to honor her commitment to community service.”
Carlton Moore’s passion for service was inspired by his mother, Ada Bradley Moore, a longtime teacher and supervisor at Sunland Park (now Carter Park) in Fort Lauderdale. Ada Moore, who helped organize the inaugural Friends & Family Day in honor of her son, passed away shortly after the first event.
In addition to presenting the annual Friends and Family Day, the Foundation also presents several $2,000 scholarships to Broward County graduating seniors. Since its inception in 2014, CBMFF has awarded more than $60,000 in scholarships to high school graduates.
For more information about the event and how you can support it, please contact the Foundation at 954.328.7848 or cbmffoundation@gmail.com.
About the Carlton B. Moore Freedom Foundation, Inc.
The Carlton B. Moore Freedom Foundation, Inc., a 501 c (3) charity, was established in 2014 to honor the memory of Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Carlton Moore by helping inmates who may have been treated unfairly because of mandatory minimum sentencing and by awarding scholarships to high school seniors at St. John United Methodist Church, Harris Chapel United Methodist Church, and Fort Lauderdale, Stranahan, and Dillard high schools.
