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2025 Miami-Dade Advocates for Children Awards

Join us as we recognize Miami-Dade's outstanding advocates for children.

Join us at the beautiful Villa Regina for a night celebrating Miami-Dade’s outstanding champions for children.

Support our work on behalf of children by becoming a sponsor.

Celebrate the accomplishments of passionate community leaders who support the mission of Florida’s Children First by making positive changes in the lives of children.

Enjoy light bites and refreshments as we honor amazing champions for children in our community!

Hear about Florida’s Children First and Florida Youth SHINE’s extraordinary contributions to improving the lives of children. It’s a night you will not forget!

Can’t attend? Recognize the honorees with a program book ad. Gift a ticket to someone. Or donate directly to Florida’s Children First. Either way, you help make a difference in the lives of children.

HOW IT WORKS

1. REGISTER

Sign up for a sponsorship or general admission level that works for you. Admission starts at just $150. Sponsor levels from $500 or more include a program book ad and sponsor listing.

2. RECEIVE EVENT INFO

After registering, you will receive a confirmation for the event. If your registration level includes a program ad or other benefits, Florida’s Children First will contact you directly to follow up on these items.

3. RELAX & ENJOY

Share this info with friends and colleagues so they can be part of this special night, and help our community’s youth.

SIGN UP NOW

BE AN EVENT SPONSOR

$10,000

  • 10 Reserved Event Seats
  • Full-page ad in program book (8”h x 5”w). Event sponsors secure inside front or back cover placement, first come basis.
  • Logo & Listing as an Event sponsor at the event, in the program book, and on event signage
  • Testimonial in the print program
  • Sponsor listing in the press release
  • Listing on the FCF website and Facebook event page
  • Listing in Newsletters & News Blasts sent to 5,000+ attorneys & 3,500 child advocates
  • Public acknowledgment at the event

BE A LUMINARY SPONSOR

$5,000

  • 8 Reserved Event Seats
  • Full-page ad in program book (8”h x 5”w). 
  • Logo & Listing as a Luminary sponsor at the event, in the program book, and on event signage
  • Listing on the FCF website.
  • Public acknowledgment at the event
 
 
 
 
 
 

BE A HERO SPONSOR

$2,500

  • 6 Reserved Event Seats
  • Full-page ad in program book (8”h x 5”w). 
  • Logo & Listing as a Hero sponsor at the event, in the program book, and on event signage
  • Listing on the FCF website.
  • Public acknowledgment at the event 
 

BE A CHAMPION SPONSOR

$1,000

  • 4 Reserved Event Seats
  • Full-page ad in program book (8”h x 5”w). 
  • Logo & Listing as a Champion sponsor at the event, in the program book, and on event signage
  • Listing on the FCF website.
  • Public acknowledgment at the event

BE A SUPPORTER SPONSOR

$500

  • 2 Reserved Event Seats
  • Full-page ad in program book (8”h x 5”w). 
  • Logo & Listing as a Supporter sponsor at the event, in the program book, and on event signage
  • Listing on the FCF website.
  • Public acknowledgment at the event

2 GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS

$275 (save $25)

  • 2 General admission tickets

1 GENERAL ADMISSION TICKET

$150

  • 1 General admission ticket

2025 MIAMI-DADE HOST COMMITTEE

Laura Reich, Co-Chair & Lourdes Pons. Co-Chair

Kenisha Anthony * Madison Berman * Michael Dunlavy * Heath Eskalyo * Justin Grosz * Esther Jacobo *  Robert H. Moore * Edith Osman * Alexia Nechayev * Angelica Palank Sharlet * William Reich *  Joshua Rosenberg * Howard Talenfeld * Julie Talenfeld * Danielle Wallis

Thank you for your support and service to our community!

WHY WE MATTER

Statistics for youth who age out of care are grim.

40% age out of care with no high school diploma

25% will be homeless after age 18

35% are parents by age 21

HALF will be unemployed by age 24

25% are in the justice system within 2 years

Less than 5% of ALL youth from foster care obtain a college degree

CAN’T ATTEND?

Donate Directly to Florida’s Children First.

Contributing to Florida’s Children helps support our 14 Florida Youth SHINE chapters and our work creating a brighter future for kids in foster care.

 

 

IMPACT

Our efforts have achieved significant reforms

  • $7,938,997 donated in professional services
  • 28,322 people trained statewide on important child welfare topics
  • Over 17,966 pro bono hours helping children
  • 96,548 hours of youth advocacy and training to improve outcomes for youth
  • 45 publications distributed statewide for children’s rights
  • Joined in important appeals in 38 amicus briefs filed
  • 46 bills drafted, supported, or passed that protect children, such as:
  • Participating in normal childhood activities like sports, band, sleepovers, without a court order
  • Remaining in foster care to age 21, and not being thrown out on their 18th birthday
  • Obtaining a driver’s license, as other teens typically do
  • Receiving free in-state college tuition, through age 28

 

“Florida’s Children First’s work has led the way for youth aging out of foster care. Florida has no better advocacy group working on children’s issues.”
       – Senator Nan Rich

FLORIDA ATTORNEYS

Satisfy your annual Florida Bar Pro Bono Requirements with a donation to Florida’s Children First

A $350 donation to Florida’s Children First fulfills the annual professional pro bono responsibility for Florida attorneys.* Add it on to your registration, or donate directly below, and impact the lives of youth in foster care.

FULFILL YOUR REQUIREMENT.

GET A TAX DEDUCTION.

HELP A CHILD!

*The amount recommended by FL Bar Rule 4.6-1

FLORIDA’S CHILDREN FIRST

Committed to making systemic changes that improve outcomes for youth from care.

“After feeling so alone in care, Florida Youth SHINE led me to find other youth like me, who want to use their voice to make positive changes to the system we grew up in. We all have different experiences, and we use our lived expertise to help improve the lives of children. Florida Youth SHINE has given me a platform to be empowered, valued as an expert, but most importantly FYS is my family.”

– Rebekka Behr, Florida Youth SHINE Statewide Legislative Chair

WITH GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM OUR STATEWIDE SPONSORS

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Alexia Nechayev

FYS Events & Meeting Chair
(Palm Beach/Miami)

Alexia Nechayev, from Miami, Florida, is a dedicated advocate for youth with lived experience in foster care and with homelessness. After being placed in foster care as a teenager, Alexia experienced firsthand the stigma surrounding the system, as well as the challenges of navigating a system that didn’t provide support for her to advocate for herself. This experience motivated her to create change, ensuring that other youth in care have the tools and resources she lacked.

She graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Florida International University, and upon graduation worked as a Hope Navigator with the Department of Children and Families which allowed her to assist clients through individualized care plans, further deepening her commitment to improving the lives of marginalized youth. Alexia is now applying to law schools with the goal of advancing her advocacy work through a legal career. As the Events and Meetings Chair for Florida Youth SHINE (FYS), she creates opportunities for foster and homeless youth to collaborate and push for meaningful change. She is also an active member of the Policy and Initiative Team for Florida Youth SHINE, where she helps create and shape policies that directly impact youth in foster care. One of her proudest accomplishments is helping to develop the Foster Care Bill of Rights, a law that she feels would have made a difference during her own time in care.

In addition to her work with FYS, Alexia serves on the Board of Directors for the parent organization of FYS, Florida’s Children First. In this role, she contributes to strategic decision-making while advocating for the rights and welfare of children statewide.

Every year, she travels to the state capitol to advocate for bills she and her peers have helped shape, including key pieces of legislation that benefit foster and homeless youth. However her advocacy extends beyond her state, as she represents Florida Youth SHINE at national conferences such as the National Leaders 4 Change Conference.

Through her internship with the National Foster Youth Institute, Alexia continues to refine her advocacy skills, preparing for a future where she can contribute meaningfully to both policymaking and the legal system. Guided by the belief that “the blue sky is always there,” she remains committed to ensuring that every youth in foster care has the power and support to advocate for themselves.

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