4Girls Foundation Postgraduate Fellowship to fund Kiah DeBolt ’19 to work at The Safe Alliance

The University of Texas School of Law is proud to announce that graduating student Kiah DeBolt ’19 has received the inaugural 4Girls Foundation Postgraduate Fellowship in Law, which funds a Texas Law graduate to work with The Safe Alliance (SAFE) in Austin, assisting survivors of child abuse and neglect, sexual assault, domestic violence, and commercial exploitation on a range of criminal and civil issues.

This new postgraduate fellowship is generously supported by the 4Girls Foundation, a Miami-based family foundation that invests in initiatives that give voice to girls and women by providing individuals with opportunities to enrich their lives and supporting organizations committed to strengthening the lives of girls, women, families, and communities. Brittany Perkins Castillo ’13, a member of the 4Girls board, established and managed the direct legal services practice at SAFE after graduating from Texas Law. She is now the chief executive officer of AshBritt Environmental, a U.S. disaster response and recovery services company.

The fellowship will provide DeBolt with an annual salary of $50,000 to work at SAFE for two years. Under the supervision of Nikhita Ved, SAFE’s senior director of legal services, DeBolt will offer SAFE clients direct representation, legal advice, pro se assistance, and community resources and referrals.

At Texas Law, DeBolt has participated in the Environmental Clinic and a broad range of activities through the Mithoff Pro Bono Program, including special education community education, supported decision making clinics, Youth Court, the Expunction Project, and interviews for the Texas Appleseed School to Prison Pipeline Project. She has also been active in the Thurgood Marshall Legal Society, the Texas Law Disability Alliance, the Environmental Law Society, the Texas Environmental Law Journal, and the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund.

DeBolt has interned in Austin with Disability Rights Texas; Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, where she focused on environmental justice and fair housing matters; and Texas Appleseed’s Natural Disaster Recovery and Fair Housing Project. In addition, DeBolt has worked for TRLA’s Telephone Access to Justice Program conducting intakes since fall 2017.

“We are deeply grateful to the 4Girls Foundation and to The Safe Alliance for joining forces to create this new postgraduate fellowship,” said Eden Harrington, director of the William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law, which administers the fellowship at the law school.  “Kiah DeBolt is a very impressive student and we are proud to play a role in helping to launch her public interest career.”

4Girls partners with Georgetown Law Center on Poverty and Inequality

4Girls Foundation is proud to announce its partnership with Georgetown Law Center on Poverty and Inequality in its new initiative: Gender Justice & Opportunity. The Center will engage in original research focused on increasing marginalized girls’ access to health and education creating policy recommendations and interventions.

On May 15th, 4Girls joined activists and scholars in the launch of the new initiative with a meaningful discussion about improving public systems’ approaches to low-income girls and girls of color.

Habitat for Humanity Broward Groundbreaking

Habitat for Humanity of Broward held a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday to commemorate five homes for deserving families in the Roosevelt Gardens community of Broward. Dignitaries at the event included Broward County District 9 Commissioner Dale Holness, who thanked participants and sponsors for their commitment to make Broward better.

“Today we dedicate the ground upon which five future homeowners will build their homes in partnership with Habitat Broward, its generous sponsors, and its faithful volunteers. This groundbreaking marks the beginning of a new future for our homeowners, and an inspiring level of commitment by the philanthropic community which has made this day possible,” said Nancy Robin, CEO and Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Broward.

Family Home Sponsors are: Burdette Beckmann Inc., Publix Super Markets Charities, and the Rogers Family Foundation. Other sponsors include the Gore Family Memorial Foundation, HG Charitable Foundation, 4Girls Foundation, Holman Automotive, Homeownership for All, and the Kiwanis Club of Fort Lauderdale Charitable Fund of the Community Foundation of Broward.

   

4 Girls Foundation joins 10 Days of Connection as part of host committee!

The 10 Days of Connection is a community-wide initiative to build empathy, kindness and connection across lines of difference. Over 10 days, we challenge everyone to get to know someone not like them, in whatever way they’re ready. Join in. We hope people of all backgrounds, ages, and perspectives will participate. Share about your connection experiences here, invite others, and help us keep the space positive and constructive.

  

 

PACE Miami Believing in Girls Luncheon

4Girls Foundation is pleased to announce its Creating Partnership sponsorship of the PACE Miami Believing in Girls Luncheon on October 26th, 2017 at the Coral Gables Country Club. This event kicked off with the Florida Memorial University Ambassador Chorale singing the inspirational song “What have you done today to make you feel proud” as audience clapped, sang, shared smiles and laughter with others around them. The PACE girls shared their stories of achievement during times of trial and how they prevailed at the PACE Miami Center. During the luncheon, Mr. Mike Tomas was presented the 2017 PACE Pioneer Award for his generosity and outreach on behalf of PACE. It was such an amazing afternoon full of hope and giving. Many thanks to PACE Center Miami for allowing the 4Girls Foundation to be one of the sponsors of this wonderful event!

AVDA Race For Hope 2017

4Girls Foundation is proud to announce its sponsorship of the AVDA Race for Hope on Oct 15, 2017. AVDA’s 18th Annual Race for Hope is organized by Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse, Inc. (AVDA) during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. 4Girls was pleased to sponsor water bottles for all of the race participants. 4Girls believes in the need for awareness in an effort to end violence and domestic abuse.

To read more on Race For Hope please visit the AVDA website at: https://runsignup.com/Race/Photos/Location/FinishLine/FL/BocaRaton/AVDAsRaceforHope

Grand Opening for Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness Psychological Services

We are thrilled to announce the Grand Opening of a new program at The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness Psychological Services.The new program will offer direct life-saving treatment for underinsured/uninsured individuals, provided by post-doctoral fellows, for eating disorders in an outpatient setting. The Alliance will charge a nominal fee for clients based on ability to pay; however, no one will be turned away for lack of funds from getting the help they seek. Our ribbon cutting is on Thursday, August 17th from 4-7pm. We are honored to have Congressman Ted Deutch, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings, Lois Frankel, Congressman Brian Mast, WPB Mayor Jeri Tuzzolino Muoio, State Rep. Lori Berman, and other special guests.
To learn more on Alliance for Eating Disorders and the new Psychological Services program please visit their website at: https://www.allianceforeatingdisorders.com/portal/