OK Generators Making Real Connections Breakfast Presented by Broward Health and First Southern Bank Honorees with Bob Birdsong, President & CEO of Title Sponsor OK Generators: (left to right) Gregory Haile, Esq., General Counsel and Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs, Broward College; Jen Klaassens, Vice President of Programs for The Wasie Foundation; Stacey Ostrau, Publisher of Society Scene for the Sun Sentinel; Bob Birdsong, President and CEO of OK Generators; Debi Gorson of Patriot National Insurance Group, Marcia Barry-Smith; Jorge Hruschka, Chief Service Officer for the City of Fort Lauderdale; Vice Mayor Barbara Sharief of Broward County; and Gavin Gaukroger, Esq. of Berger Singerman. Photo credit: David Decoteau/Downtown Photo
FT. LAUDERDALE, FL – 2-1-1 Broward honored eight of its community partners at the OK Generators Making REAL Connections Breakfast Presented by Broward Health and First Southern Bank on Thursday, May 2nd at the Signature Grand in Davie, Florida. The eight honorees- Jen Klaassens, Gregory Haile, Esq., Marcia Barry-Smith, Berger Singerman, Broward County, Patriot National Insurance Group, the City of Fort Lauderdale and the Sun Sentinel – were honored in recognition of the tremendous support and connections that they provide to 2-1-1 Broward and for helping the non-profit organization fulfill its mission and meet its goals. The breakfast raised over $20,000 for 2-1-1 Broward.
Bob Birdsong, President of OK Generators, the title sponsor, welcomed guests and spoke of the real live connections made as a result of 2-1-1 Broward. Mr. Birdsong, along with Jasmin Shirley, Vice President of Community Health Services at Broward Health, and Lynne Wines, President and CEO of First Southern Bank, helped present the awards to the honorees. Broward Health and First Southern Bank were the event's presenting sponsors. Jen Klaassens, Gregory Haile, Esq., and Marcia Barry-Smith accepted the awards for all of the personal dedication and support they have provided to 2-1-1 Broward throughout the years. Gavin Gaukroger, Esq. of Berger Singerman; Vice Mayor Barbara Sharief of Broward County; Debi Gorson of Patriot National Insurance Group; Jorg Hruschka, Chief Service Officer for the City of Ft. Lauderdale; and Stacy Ostrau, Publisher of Society Scene for the Sun Sentinel, accepted the awards and honors on behalf of their organizations. Broadcasting legend and 2-1-1 Broward Board Member Tony Segreto served as the event's emcee.
OK Generators Making REAL Connections Breakfast Presented by Broward Health and First Southern Bank keynote speakers, Broward residents Don King and Mellissa Smith, shared their heartwarming personal stories and how 2-1-1 Broward helped them to overcome each of their struggles. Sheila Smith, CEO of 2-1-1 Broward, thanked 2-1-1 Broward Partners for all of the hard work, dedication and support that they provide to the organization. Just as 2-1-1 Broward facilitates the connection of people to health and human services, its partners and supporters offer the organization the opportunities to make these connections. 2-1-1 Broward is a public utility. However, unlike 9-1-1 and 4-1-1, there is no designated tax as a source of funding. We count on the support of the community. Event sponsors and partners included OK Generators, Broward Health, First Southern Bank, The Wasie Foundation, Canon Solutions of America, Florida Panthers Foundation, Just Java, Kip Hunter Marketing and Eye on South Florida.
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About 2-1-1 Broward
The mission of 2-1-1 Broward is to provide 24 hour comprehensive helpline and support services to individuals and families in our community seeking crisis intervention assistance and/or information and connections to health and human services in Broward County. Every call to 2-1-1 is answered by a trained, degreed counselor who listens to the callers concerns, identifies their needs and links them to appropriate programs that help them on the road to recovery. 2-1-1 Broward relies on the generous support of government agencies, corporations, foundations and individuals to provide this vital community service. For more information regarding 2-1-1 and how you can help, please call 954-390-0493 or visit www.211-broward.org.
