South Florida News

FFTP’s 25th Annual Celebration of Hope Gala: Building Dreams and Homes for Families in Haiti

Published

7 months ago

October 3, 2024

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Oct. 3, 2024) – For 25 years, Food For The Poor’s Celebration of Hope Gala has been a beacon of hope for Haiti’s most vulnerable families, providing them not just with homes, but with new beginnings. This year, the virtual gala aims to build homes for 25 families in Patasson, Haiti, bringing the dream of a safe and secure future for those who need it most.

The livestreamed gala will take place on Saturday, Oct. 5, at 7 p.m. ET. Jamaican singer-songwriter and humanitarian Glacia Robinson will perform songs from her album “Hands of Mercy.”

Dr. Lynne Nasrallah, who has chaired the gala for a quarter of a century, reflected on her countless mission trips to Haiti and the contrast between the poverty she’s witnessed and the unwavering hope that exists among the people.

“Through my travels with Food For The Poor, I have seen unimaginable destitution in Haiti, but I have also seen remarkable hope,” Nasrallah said. “It is our donors and partners who continue to unite us in this work, giving life-changing support to those in need. Together, we bring light where there is darkness.”

Nasrallah recalls being given an assignment in the 6th grade at Sacred Heart School in Auburn, Maine: Go to the library and choose a book on the life of a saint. Nasrallah chose “The Story of a Soul” by St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the patron saint of the missions.

Later in life, when Nasrallah encountered impoverished families in her travels with FFTP, she was reminded of a valuable lesson taught by St. Thérèse, Mother Teresa and the Mahfood founders of FFTP.

“If I looked carefully, I would see Jesus in the poor,” Nasrallah said. “And then discover Jesus in the poor who are hungry, thirsty, homeless, unemployed, the outcast with leprosy. All I had to do was open my heart and my hands to embrace the hopeless, the unwanted and actually experience the embrace of Jesus himself.”

In Patasson, a remote community in Haiti’s northeast region, residents live in fragile structures that offer little protection from storms. The new homes will include two bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, bathroom, and a rainwater collection system connected to a 500-gallon water reservoir – transformational blessings for these families. A community center will provide families a place to gather.

“What we are building in Patasson is more than just shelter,” FFTP President/CEO Ed Raine said. “We are building a foundation for hope, dignity, and self-sufficiency. The homes we provide change lives in ways that go far beyond walls and roofs. They create opportunities for families to thrive.”

Last year’s Celebration of Hope Gala raised funds to build more than 40 homes for families in Trouchouchou, Haiti, and 20 of those homes have already been completed.

“Thanks to our generous donors, these families’ prayers are being answered,” Raine said. “Their dreams of safety and stability are becoming reality, and we are humbled to be a part of that transformation.”

For more information on how to support the 25th Annual Celebration of Hope Gala or to RSVP, please visit foodforthepoor.org/celebration.

Committee members include: Dr. Lynne Nasrallah, chair, Linda Bonnewitz, Bruny and Paula Compas, George and Kim del Campo, Mike and Dr. Desirae Friend, Cynthia Hawkins, Nicole Nasrallah, George and Joanne Olson, Lisa Padilla Ortiz, Nancy Padilla, Dwight and Lisa Saathoff, Tom and Jean Wilkes, Jean and Donna Wilson, and Holly Wilson.

Food For The Poor, one of the largest international relief and development organizations in the nation, does much more than feed millions of hungry children and families living in poverty primarily in 15 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. This interdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, water, medicine, educational materials, homes, support for vulnerable children, care for the aged, skills training, and micro-enterprise development assistance. For more information, please visit foodforthepoor.org.

South Florida News

Miami-Dade Transit Extends Service for 2025 Ultra Music Festival Attendees

Published

1 month ago

March 12, 2025

Willie David

MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (FNN) – Festivalgoers heading to the 2025 Ultra Music Festival at Bayfront Park will have extended transit service options to make travel easier and more convenient, according to Miami-Dade Transit officials.

From Friday, March 28 through Sunday, March 30, both Metrorail and Metromover will operate extended hours:

Friday, March 28 & Saturday, March 29: 5 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Sunday, March 30: 5 a.m. to midnight

Green and Orange Line trains will run every 30 minutes, offering a 15-minute combined frequency between Earlington Heights and Dadeland South stations.

Visitors arriving from out of town can take the Orange Line directly from Miami International Airport to Government Center Station. From there, they can transfer to the Metromover Inner Loop (free of charge) and disembark at the College/Bayside, First Street, or Bayfront Park stations.

Fare Information:

Metrorail Fare: $2.25 (one-way) or $5.65 (One-Day Pass)
Riders can pay via the GO Miami Dade app, Token Transit app, Citymapper, Transit app, or with contactless-enabled debit/credit cards.

Parking Information:
Parking at Metrorail garages/surface lots is available for $4.50 per day. Riders can pay via Ticket Vending Machines or the PayByPhone app.

Metrobus Detours:
Several Metrobus routes (3, 9, 203, 100, and 101) will be detoured starting at 9 p.m. on Thursday, March 27 through 6 a.m. on Monday, March 31. Delays may occur, particularly in Omni, Miami Beach, and downtown Miami areas.

South Florida News

Miami-Dade Dedicates Pineland Preserve in Memory of Environmental Leader Sean W. McCrackine

Published

1 month ago

March 12, 2025

FNN NEWS

MIAMI-DADE (FNN) – Miami-Dade County paid tribute to the late Sean W. McCrackine by dedicating a newly named pineland preserve in his honor during a heartfelt ceremony held today in Cutler Bay.

Led by Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and District 8 Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins, the dedication ceremony celebrated McCrackine’s nearly three-decade commitment to environmental conservation and community service.

McCrackine began his career as a Project Assistant with the Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources, Division of Environmental Resources Management (RER-DERM) and eventually became the Director of Policy for Mayor Levine Cava.

“Today, we celebrate a remarkable life dedicated to the betterment of our community and the preservation of our environment,” said Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.

McCrackine’s wife, Lou McCrackine, expressed gratitude for the tribute. “Sean loved this community and worked tirelessly to ensure its natural beauty would be preserved for all to enjoy,” she said.

The Sean W. McCrackine Pineland Preserve is part of the Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program, which manages over 28,000 acres of protected natural habitats across more than 85 preserves in Miami-Dade County.

The dedication included a sign unveiling and closing reflections on McCrackine’s contributions, ensuring his environmental legacy will inspire future generations.

The Sean W. McCrackine Pineland Preserve is located at the corner of SW 192 Street & SW 140 Avenue (coordinates: 25°35’24.4″N 80°25’10.4″W).

South Florida News

Miami-Dade to Launch 2025 Sea Turtle Nesting Season with Turtlepalooza at Crandon Park

Published

1 month ago

March 12, 2025

FNN NEWS

MIAMI-DADE (FNN) – Miami-Dade County is gearing up to celebrate the start of the 2025 sea turtle nesting season with Turtlepalooza, a family-friendly conservation event set for Sunday, March 16, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Crandon Park Visitor’s & Biscayne Nature Center (6767 Crandon Blvd, Miami, FL 33149).

Organized by Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces, Turtlepalooza will feature a variety of engaging activities designed to educate the public about sea turtle conservation. The event will begin with a beach cleanup at 9 a.m., followed by the opening of the EcoVillage at 10 a.m., where visitors can explore educational booths focused on marine life protection.

Attendees can participate in guided nature hikes, enjoy a special All About Sea Turtles presentation, and witness a live animal ambassador presentation led by Bill Sadowski Park staff. Guests will also have the chance to enter an adopt-a-nest giveaway raffle.

Miami-Dade residents can further contribute to sea turtle conservation efforts by adopting a nest, participating in a sea turtle night release, or observing a daytime nest excavation this summer.

For additional information on Turtlepalooza and Miami-Dade’s sea turtle conservation efforts, visit the county’s official website.