Submitted by Fabiana Ungaro
PEMBROKE PINES, FL — The children and families at Children’s Harbor celebrated the holiday season during the annual Cookies and Cocoa with Santa, which was brought to a new level this year through the generosity of sponsor Rutkin Marketing.
The families were treated to cookies, cocoa, s’mores, a campfire, music and holiday crafts. Once again this year, the Pembroke Pines fire department was in attendance and provided a special visit from Santa.
“Being the oldest of five in my family, I can’t even imagine the thought of being separated from my siblings,” says Maria Rutkin, President and CEO of Rutkin Marketing. “Children’s Harbor provides foster brothers and sisters, as well as pregnant or parenting foster teens and their babies, with a safe and loving home. They are a fantastic organization. I truly love what they do, and they will always be near and dear to my heart!”
For 27 years, Children’s Harbor has been serving the local community. Children’s Harbor is a nationally accredited non-profit agency with a mission to help strengthen families who are struggling in our community, while providing safe shelter and support to teens in foster care so that they may grow into healthy, educated and productive adults.
“Santa’s Express has always made Children’s Harbor a top priority. Santa enjoys arriving in his Fire Engine Sleigh to spread some holiday joy along with sharing some cookies and cocoa with everyone at Children’s Harbor,” says Pembroke Pines Fire Department Captain Moe Martinez. “The Children’s Harbor stop has been a tradition for the City of Pembroke Pines Fire Department and Local 2292 for many years. It’s always been a good experience for our fire department members and a great way to give back to the community.”
About Children’s Harbor
Established in 1996, Children’s Harbor is a nationally accredited non-profit agency with a mission to help strengthen families who are struggling in our community, while providing safe shelter and support to teens in foster care so that they may grow
into healthy, educated and productive adults.
With the belief that children should feel safe, that family is worth fighting for and that cycles can be broken, Children’s Harbor provides a harbor of hope and healing for children who have been impacted by the trauma of child abuse.
The main campus in Pembroke Pines provides a supportive family environment for teenagers in foster care and their younger siblings. Since its inception, Children’s Harbor has kept 545 teenagers together with their younger siblings within the family group homes and provided 200 teen moms with education, coaching and the opportunity to live with their child and practice parenting skills within a supportive environment. The Children’s Harbor Family Strengthening team prevents kids from coming into foster care by providing in-home counseling and support to families who are struggling in the community. In the last 25 years, this program has safely supported 11,000+ children in their homes and out of the foster care system. More than 571 teens who have aged out of foster care were provided with housing, life skills and wrap-around support necessary to overcome their trauma and navigate through the early stages of adulthood through independent living programs.
Brown’s Harbor is a supportive housing community that offers on-site staff, training, and wrap-around support services for young adults who have aged out of the foster care system, ages 18-23, helping to bridge the gap from dependence to independence.
To learn more about Children’s Harbor, visit childrensharbor.org.
