South Florida Magazine | Society Pages 2020

“SoFIA Celebrates” Annual Gala Honors Community Leaders and Volunteers Who Have Advanced Mission to Help Aging Community Thrive

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (March 3, 2020) – SoFIA, a non-profit dedicated to bettering the socio-economic lives of South Florida’s aging community, celebrated another year of progress during SoFIA Celebrates: Uniting Communities presented by AARP and FPL. The gala honored community leaders including CBS4 Miami news anchor Rudabeh Shahbazi, Comcast, Jim Moran Foundation, The Frederick A. Deluca Foundation, Jewish Federation of Broward County, Community Foundation of Broward, United Way of Broward County and dedicated SoFIA volunteers for their impactful work with the aging community.

“This year SoFIA celebrated its 55^th year serving the community and the future of the organization has never looked brighter,” said Lynn Brewer, SoFIA board chair. “Our team has worked hard to advance SoFIA’s innovative mission through new programing focused on underserved senior populations like the LGBT community and underemployed older adults. We are also focused on intergenerational engagement, which continues to bring a new level of energy to our overall mission.”

During SoFIA Celebrates the Dignity in Aging Collaborative was recognized with the Think Award for its longstanding and cohesive support of the senior community. Organizations included in the collaborative are The Jim Moran Foundation, The Frederick A. Deluca Foundation, Jewish Federation of Broward County, Community Foundation of Broward and United Way of Broward County.

The Act Award was presented to CBS4 Miami news anchor Rudabeh Shahbazi, whose on-air programing has shed light on the pressing needs of older adults and innovative solutions SoFIA and other organizations offer. Comcast was the recipient of the Thrive Award for offering discounted, affordable high-speed internet to seniors so they can keep up with current events, stay in touch with family and friends and access resources they may need.

During SoFIA Celebrates Piney Grove Boys Academy elementary student Nathan Smith and his foster grandparent, Dorothy Chestnut, spoke about SoFIA’s Foster Grandparent Program and the impact the innovative program has had on their lives.

Volunteers from each of SoFIA’s community programs were also honored for their service, dedication and commitment to SoFIA:

Thelma Love, Foster Grandparent Program volunteer and Fort Lauderdale resident
Christopher Couzens, SoFIA Tech Services volunteer and Fort Lauderdale resident
Geraldine Darrisaw, Senior Companion Program volunteer and Fort Lauderdale resident
Joyce Latimore, Legacy Program volunteer and Pembroke Pines resident
Albert Durso, RSVP Program volunteer and Weston resident

In addition to AARP and FPL, other sponsors included Aetna, Citrix, Comcast, Intuition Robotics, Sunshine Health, Walmart, Responsive Home Care, BMK Media, Pierson Grant PR, Ultimate Software, Kaufman Rossin and Friedman Elder Law Department.

To learn more about SoFIA visit www.thesofia.org.

Rudabeh Shahbazi in South Florida Magazine

4-Ed French- Ted Perrella -Lynn Brewer - Aleida Espinosa- Todd Radosevich 2.JPG

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