Events in Broward & Miami-Dade counties part of Inspirational Celebration in conjunction with Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
The YMCA of South Florida (“Y”) will honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with an Inspirational Breakfast and Luncheon on Friday, January 12. The Breakfast, presented by JM Family Enterprises, will take place at First Baptist in Fort Lauderdale (301 E. Broward Blvd.) and commences at 7:30 a.m. The Luncheon, presented by Delta Air Lines, will be held at Jungle Island in Miami (1111 Parrot Jungle Trail) and starts at 11:45 a.m. It marks the 20th straight year that the Y has held these events as part of its Inspirational Celebrations.
The keynote speakers for both the Breakfast and Luncheon are Donzaleigh Abernathy, the youngest daughter of Rev. Dr. Ralph David and Mrs. Juanita Jones Abernathy, co-founders of the American Civil Rights Movement with Dr. King; and Ndaba Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela and co-founder and chairman of Africa Rising Foundation. Past keynote speakers include Martin Luther King, III, Olympic Gold Medalist Cullen Jones and Stanford University Professor and Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute Director Dr. Clayborne Carson.
The Y’s annual Celebrations also include a Teen Town Hall on Thursday, January 11 at Boyd H. Anderson High School in Lauderdale Lakes, and Day of Service projects in Broward and Miami-Dade counties on Monday, January 15. The projects will take place at the L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center in Fort Lauderdale (1409 NW 6th St.) and Juan Pablo Duarte Park in Miami (1776 NW 28th St.) from 9 a.m. – 12:00 noon.
“The YMCA has a long, rich history of bringing people of all faiths and backgrounds together. Our Martin Luther King Jr. Inspirational Celebrations are a meaningful way for us to continue to unify the South Florida community,” said YMCA of South Florida CEO Sheryl A. Woods. “Dr. King grew up at the Y and helping to mold him into the person he became, which is the Y’s overall mission. To have Donzaleigh Abernathy and Ndaba Mandela join us as part of our Celebration is an honor that I know our guests attending the events will find extremely enlightening as we commemorate Dr. King’s legacy as one of the world’s most influential civil rights leaders.”
More than 1,000 business and civic community leaders are expected to attend both the Inspirational Breakfast and Luncheon to support the YMCA of South Florida’s “I Have a Dream” Youth Scholarship Fund. The Y offers a variety of youth programs which include preschool, after school, employment opportunities, teen groups and college tours and readiness.
During the Breakfast and Luncheon, the YMCA of South Florida will present two awards in each county. The Dave W. Cash Youth Leadership Award is presented annually to a student in Broward and in Miami-Dade County that has embodied the ideals of Dr. King in advocating for social change in the community. Both recipients are awarded a $2,000 college scholarship supporting their continued education.
The Spirit of Community Award winners will be recognized during the course of the Breakfast and Luncheon as well. This award honors a community advocate in both Broward and Miami-Dade County who exemplifies the social activism, advocacy, nonviolence, civic engagement and diversity ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year’s winners are Juliet Roulhac (Broward), Director for Corporate External Affairs – Broward and West Florida for FP&L, and Health Foundation of South Florida (Miami-Dade). Among the past winners are the Children’s Trust, Trail Blazers of Broward County, Derek T. Davis, Valencia Gunder, The Mizell Family, Honorable Darrin P. Gayles, Dr. Robert B. Hayling, Willie E. Gary, Officer Lerue Sarvis and Jason Taylor.
Sponsorships at various levels are available for the Breakfast and Luncheon. Tickets for the Breakfast and Luncheon are $175 per person or $2,500 per table. For additional information on the Y’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Inspirational Celebration, including tickets and sponsorships, visit ymcasouthflorida.org/standforsomething.
About the YMCA of South Florida
For more than a century, the YMCA has been woven into the fabric of the South Florida community. As an award-winning nonprofit, the Y is committed to strengthening community through more than 200 programs serving everyone from six months old to 100 years young. Our Family Centers and programs are inclusive, vibrant hubs of community life, offering a diverse array of classes, cutting-edge fitness facilities, life-saving aquatics, exciting community events, unforgettable camps, supportive afterschool care, and holistic health and wellness programming. At the Y, there’s something for everyone. Join the movement by connecting with us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or ymcasouthflorida.org/.
