VERO BEACH — Holiday wishes came true early for the young adults enrolled in the Transitional Living Program. When three Vero Beach couples learned that there were no outdoor sports activities at the Youth Transition Center, they were moved to take action.
As a result a new basketball court was recently built on the center’s campus and dedicated in honor of Jan and Henry Meagher, Carol and Peter Coxhead, and Nancy and Luke Fichthorn for their generous donation.
The Youth Transition Center, located on Children’s Home Society of Florida, Treasure Coast Division’s Vero Beach campus, is a residential component of the Transitional Living Program for young adults that age out of foster care at age 18 without the love and support of a family.
The center, with eight independent living apartments, opened its doors in January 2009 to prevent homelessness and provide a centralized facility for counseling, mentoring, case management and job placement for residents and outreach clients living in the community.
“We are so very fortunate to have wonderful supporters that believe in our mission and care for the clients we serve,” explained Marta Schneider, Indian River County Advisory Board Chair. “In addition to the plaque, which is affixed to the adjoining fence, honoring our donors, it also serves to remind these former foster children that there is a community of people who care for them.”
The Treasure Coast Division is also accepting donations for the 2011 Holiday Gift Drive for Transitional Living Program clients and children in foster care. Those wishing to make a monetary donation may do so at any Seacoast National Bank location on the Treasure Coast and Okeechobee County.
For more information about donations for the gift drive, contact Dee Benjamin, Development Specialist, at (772) 778-6340 [email protected].
The Children’s Home Society of Florida is the sixth largest of more than 1,200 private organizations currently accredited and/or in process of accreditation in North America (US and Canada). The Treasure Coast Division, which is one of 15 divisions in Florida, served 11,607 children and their families in fiscal year 2011 in Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties.
CHS programs are developed to break the cycle of child abuse and provide children and young adults with the opportunity to be safe, healthy and prepared for life. For more information visit chsfl.org or call (772) 344-4020.
