SUMMER FAMILY FUN FOR CAREGIVING FAMILIESWednesday - July 22, 2026 | 2-4PM
DRIVE SHACK WPB | 1710 BELVEDERE RD, WPB, FL 33406
We have reached capacity on this event and look forward to seeing you there. To keep up with our events follow subscribe to our newsletter or follow our socials. THESE MOMENTS ARE BECAUSE OF YOU! Leo's face lit up the moment he saw his adoption gifts. Excited to receive a soccer goal set, soccer ball, dinosaur blanket, and backpack, he eagerly helped put the goals together before heading outside to play. After scoring two goals and sharing countless smiles, Leo celebrated more than new gifts, he celebrated a new beginning. Moments like these remind foster children that they are loved, valued, and finally home. A Note from Coleen
Doesn't this say it all?
As you scroll through these stories, I hope you see more than events and photos I hope you see hope, healing, and possibility.
You made this happen.
Thank you for believing every child deserves to feel seen, supported, and loved.
With gratitude,
Coleen LaCosta, Executive DirectorSAVE THE DATE FOR 2027 EVENTS10TH ANNUAL STORYBOOK VILLAGE THE ELLEN KRANZLER LEGACY
The Magic of Possibility Stories that Shape Tomorrow
Sunday - March 7, 2027 (Subject To Change) NIGHT AT THE OSCARS Speak Up for Kids 2027 Gala
Saturday - April 17, 2027 HONORARY CHAIR: Gale Brophy
BENVENUTO | 1730 N Federal Hwy, Boynton Beach, FL 33435
Paparazzi & Red Carpet, Cocktail Reception, Dinner, Oscar Themed Program, Music, Dancing 🎁 HOLIDAY EVENTS 🎁 NOT TO MISS!1400+ FOSTER CHILDREN ARE COUNTING ON US THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, WE CAN DO THIS! *The number of children in care fluctuates between 1200 to 1800 We are collecting NEW toys, gift cards + books for our 1400+* children in the Palm Beach County dependency court system who navigate this special season without their family, through no fault of their own as they are the victims of abuse and neglect. ROBERT + FRIENDS HOLIDAY TRADITION
SUNDAY - DECEMBER 6, 2026 The premier for holiday event for our FOSTER CHILDREN!! Fun for ALL ages! Experience the magic of the season atour WINTER WONDERLAND… THE STANLEY KLETT SR. ANNUAL WINTERFEST CELEBRATION.
SATURDAY - DEC 12, 2026 The event is free for "our kids" (dependency - relative, foster, non-relative, group homes etc). Registration is for children living/residing in your home + caregiver(s).  Celebrating the Next Generation of Leaders: The 2025-2026 Literacy AmeriCorps Graduation! On June 26, the Speak Up for Kids (SUFK) team had the absolute honor of attending the Literacy AmeriCorps Graduation at the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County in Boynton Beach. It was a beautiful and celebratory morning dedicated to a truly remarkable group of individuals who have dedicated their time, hearts, and energy to supporting our community.
For the SUFK family, this milestone hit incredibly close to home. These graduates are the very volunteers who partner with us behind the scenes to make our mission possible. From jumping in to help us run our community events to meticulously crafting the beautiful cards, themed baskets, and arts and crafts that bring so much joy to children in the foster care system, their hands-on dedication keeps our gears turning.
We are so grateful to the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County for hosting this beautiful ceremony. Thank you to our volunteers for your tireless service, your passion, and for bringing so much creativity and love to our organization. We are so proud of you! Join Speak Up for Kids at the Mandel Public Library Speak Up for Kids will be participating in Community Resource Marketplace taking place on July 22nd at Mandel Public Library. Quarter Auction for Gift-A-Birthday Event Supporting Speak Up for Kids
Tuesday, Aug 4 | 6PM The Dancing Crane | 9500 SANDHILL CRANE DR, PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL 33412 The Speak Up For Kids team proudly represented Palm Beach County at the Florida FAPA Conference 2026 in Orlando, held June 23–25. Our Executive Director, Volunteer, and Event Manager joined foster families, caregivers, advocates, and community partners from across Florida to connect, collaborate, and strengthen our shared mission of supporting children and families in foster care.
We were honored to celebrate the incredible individuals dedicated to creating brighter futures for children and youth in foster care. Our Selfie Photo Booth provided a fun way for attendees to share a smile while recognizing the advocates, caregivers, and community champions making a difference every day. Packing Joy for Grads: The Breakers Team in Action Our graduation celebration received an extra boost of heart and teamwork thanks to Victoria Cucolo and the Breakers Banquet Operations team. Their crew jumped in with enthusiasm, assembling gift bags for our graduating students with the same care and professionalism they bring to every partnership. This continued collaboration reflects their commitment to uplifting youth in Palm Beach County, and we are grateful for the energy, precision, and joy they bring to every project. Gearing Up for Back-to-School Season! The countdown to the first day of school is officially on! Behind the scenes, the Speak Up for Kids (SUFK) family is hard at work prepping for the upcoming school year. Our dedicated volunteers are busy assembling custom backpack kits and creating handmade encouraging crafts to make sure local youth walk through those classroom doors with confidence.
Looking for local resource fairs, supply distributions, or health clinics happening across our area over the next few weeks? Our partners at 211 have compiled a comprehensive directory of dates, times, and locations throughout July and August. As our fiscal year comes to a close, we want to share the impact our volunteers helped create. Because of hearts like theirs, we were able to respond to 276 urgent requests, providing $335,066 in support to 1,898 children and families.
BECAUSE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, THEY DIDN'T FACE THOSE MOMENTS ALONE.
“This made a real difference in our daily life.”
“They step in when no one else can.”
And 100% of caregivers shared that the support eased their stress and met essential needs.
Thank you to all our awesome Volunteers for being part of this work. Volunteer Spotlight: Whimsical Gnomes Made with Love StoryBook Village 2027 will be sprinkled with a little extra magic thanks to the heartfelt creativity of one very special supporter. Local artisan, Maggie, has lovingly handcrafted a collection of whimsical gnomes for our event—each one stitched, stuffed, and styled with care. These charming little characters will be used throughout StoryBook Village to bring joy to our children and families, adding a touch of wonder to every booth and activity. Her generosity reminds us that every act of kindness, no matter how small, helps create a world where children
feel seen, supported, and celebrated.  Thank You for Joining Us at Our Mix & Mingle at Meat Market Palm Beach Held in May, our Mix & Mingle at Meat Market Palm Beach brought together our community for an evening of connection, conversation, and collaboration.
Guests had the opportunity to meet and connect with Speak Up For Kids Palm Beach County board members, ambassadors, and staff while learning more about our mission and the impact we are making to support children and families in foster care.
We are grateful to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening a meaningful celebration of community, partnership, and advocacy. Connecting with Our Community: A Look Back at the Mandel Public Library Resource Fair On June 6, the Speak Up for Kids (SUFK) team had the wonderful opportunity to participate in the Community Resource Fair at the Mandel Public Library in downtown West Palm Beach. It was an incredible afternoon filled with meaningful conversations, powerful networking, and community synergy!
Our team spent the day on the third floor meeting face-to-face with local families, residents, and fellow advocacy organizations. It was the perfect platform for us to share SUFK’s mission— championing child advocates and providing essential life skills, comfort, and resources to children navigating the foster care system in Palm Beach County. Thank You to Our Office Support Volunteers A heartfelt thank you to Elle Louise Nunez and Marcia Taylor for bringing steady support, kindness, and reliability to our office this month. Their behind the scenes work keeps our operations running smoothly and ensures our team can stay focused on serving children and families. We’re grateful for their time, their heart, and the consistency they bring every week. STUDENTS SPEAK UP FOR KIDSStudent Speak Up For Kids Spotlight: Noreena Elshenaway Inspired by her older sister Aysel, a former Speak Up for Kids intern, Noreena Elshenaway from AD Henderson Middle School chose to make a difference for children in foster care through a project centered on mental wellness.
Noreena collected 30 books with custom inspirational bookmarks, 27 toddler toys, 5 board games for older youth, and sand bucket sets with mindfulness messages. Through her project, she encouraged positivity, kindness, creativity, and healthy ways for children to cope with stress. We are grateful for her willingness to turn compassion into action and remind children in foster care that their mental and emotional well-being matters. 100 Backpacks Drive Preparing Foster Care Kids for the New School Year The transition into a new school year can be stressful for any child, but it is more challenging for the children in the foster care system. For foster care kids, receiving a school backpack filled with school supplies is much more than a gift. It provides stability, and sends a clear message that their community cares about their success. This is exactly what inspires Madison Schlichte from Palm Beach Atlantic High School to take action earlier this spring. She collected 100 backpacks filled with essential school supplies for foster care kids in Palm Beach county. Madison’s incredible effort is a powerful reminder of how students can create a huge impact in our community.
Note: The photo features Grant Worland from WestGate Leadership delivering the project at SUFK. 200 Books, Countless Smiles Annabelle Gonzales, a West Boca High School student, recently launched a book drive. Annabelle successfully collected 200 books to support children in foster care in Palm Beach County. She recognized that access for books can be limited for foster care kids, and aimed to help foster care kids to have their own library. This project proves that even one student’s kindness can make a big change in our community. Danielle Day, a senior at Jupiter High School who started a chapter of Speak Up For Kids, was recently featured in a WPTV interview discussing foster care advocacy. Danielle said, "Children in foster care go through so much instability." Danielle’s support for foster care kids led her to organize projects to help them, such as “...support drives so we've done food drives for Thanksgiving to get them food on the table." Danielle represents an example of how students can advocate for foster care kids. Meet the Team: Lakshith, Life Skills Portal Coordinator Lakshith serves as our Life Skills Portal Coordinator, an intern leadership role responsible for consistently keeping our Life Skills Portal running smoothly. As the fourth intern to step into this position, he oversees our weekly content publishing by collecting articles, infographics, and videos created by fellow interns, editing the content, and scheduling each post.
Today, the Life Skills Portal features 213 resources that help youth in foster care prepare for adulthood with practical life skills like budgeting, employment, education, health, and independent living.
Behind every weekly post is a team of student interns, and behind that team is Lakshith, helping ensure these valuable resources reach the young people who need them most. Thank you, Lakshith, for your leadership and dedication to this vital work! We're excited to welcome Sherwit Elkersh to the Speak Up for Kids family! We're excited to welcome Sherwit Elkersh to the Speak Up for Kids family! Sherwit was inspired to join Speak Up for Kids because of our commitment to supporting children who have experienced abuse, neglect, and trauma. She is passionate about ensuring every child has access to compassionate advocacy, meaningful support, and opportunities to heal and thrive. She looks forward to engaging students and the community in service that helps restore hope, build resilience, and create brighter futures for children in foster care. Please join us in welcoming Sherwit! Together, we're strengthening a community where every child is seen, supported, and empowered to flourish. Summer LifeSkills Workshop Series This summer, the Foster Youth Resource Concierge (FYRC), in partnership with Vita Nova, hosted a three-part LifeSkills Workshop Series to help youth in foster care build confidence and prepare for independent living. Youth gained hands-on experience through Cooking Skills, where they learned to prepare healthy meals from scratch; Clean Sweep, which focused on household cleaning, safety, and home management; and Community Safety at Rapids Water Park, where they practiced teamwork, communication, situational awareness, and responsible decision-making in a real-world setting. These workshops provide far more than practical skills. They empower youth to build self-confidence, strengthen independence, and create positive experiences that help mitigate trauma while preparing them for a successful future. STUDENTS Speaking Up Through Awareness Awareness changes hearts, and hearts change lives. Recently, we've had two students join us as awareness advocates. They have chosen to use their voices to advocate for children living in foster care.
Emy, Miss West Palm Beach Shores, is using her pageant platform to raise awareness about foster care and mental health, helping others better understand the challenges children and families face while inspiring them to take action. We are cheering her on in her journey to Miss Florida USA.
Maddie brings a deeply personal perspective. As a former foster youth who was later adopted, she is courageously sharing her own story to give a voice to children who are currently navigating the foster care system. Stay tuned, her first advocacy video is coming soon.
Although their stories are different, their mission is the same: to ensure more children feel seen, supported, and understood. When students choose to speak up, they educate their communities, inspire compassion, and encourage others to get involved.
We’re honored to have Emy and Maddie as part of the Speak Up for Kids STUDENTS team, and this is just the beginning. Stay tuned as they continue using their voices to make a lasting impact.  Ambassador Spotlight: Teri Cutler This month, we're proud to recognize Teri Cutler as our Ambassador Spotlight!
Teri is an incredible advocate for Speak Up For Kids and a dedicated supporter of our mission. Whether she's volunteering at events, lending a helping hand behind the scenes, or representing our organization in the community, she consistently shows up with enthusiasm, compassion, and a genuine desire to make a difference.
Her generosity and commitment have helped make many of our events a success, and her positive spirit inspires everyone around her. We are incredibly grateful for the time and energy she devotes to supporting the children we serve.
Thank you, Teri, for your passion, generosity, and unwavering support. We are so fortunate to have you as part of the Speak Up For Kids family! Speak Up for Kids
we mitigate the trauma and cultivate the self-worth of kids living in foster care.
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