Staff Report

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The YMCA of South Florida, along with partners Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) and Broward College, held its annual Day of Service at the L.A. Lee YMCA, giving the community an opportunity to give back to neighbors in need on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. The Annual MLK Day of Service main project site took place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Monday, Jan. 15, and kicked off with an opening ceremony with YMCA CEO & President Sheryl Woods, FPL Corporate and External Affairs Manager Juliet Roulhac, and Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler.

Volunteers came together to bring the Red School House and New Hope Baptist Church back to life through clean-up and beautification projects. FPL staff renovated the exterior of Cradle Learning Center, one of the oldest childcare learning centers in Fort Lauderdale.

“MLK Day is a great time to re-commit to serving each other and our communities,” said Sheryl A. Woods, CEO & President, YMCA of South Florida. “Working together to help someone in need and engage with businesses that have a rich history of involvement in the Sistrunk community, is a great way to honor Dr. King’s dream of unity and equality for all. It’s an opportunity to make a difference and stand for something.”

“This is a great way to start the new year by supporting communities we serve to help make Florida an even better place to work and raise a family,” said Juliet Roulhac, corporate and external affairs manager, FPL, Broward and Southwest Florida. “FPL employees and family are going to think about the smiles on the faces of the kids when they walk into the renovated childcare center as we partner with the YMCA to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy.”

YMCAs throughout South Florida honored Dr. King’s community spirit with Day of Service projects that ranged from home repairs for seniors to school clean-ups to community garden work.