Stewart Greenberg, Vice Chairman, JAFCO Children’s Village, State Senator Tina Polsky, State Representative Christine Hunschofsky, Sarah Franco, CEO of JAFCO, and Rebecca Jarquin, Program Director of Eagles’ Haven [Office of Representative Christine Hunschofsky]
By Kevin Deutsch
State Representative Christine Hunschofsky (D-Parkland) and state Senator Tina Polsky (D-Boca Raton) on Tuesday presented Eagles’ Haven Wellness Center with a check for $600,000 in state-appropriated funds.
A Coral Springs-based nonprofit, Eagles’ Haven offers free crisis support, case management, support groups, yoga, creative art classes, meditation, dance, and other wellness experiences aimed at helping Parkland and Coral Springs heal from the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.
“Eagles’ Haven is such an important resource for the greater Parkland community,” said Polsky. “This appropriation comes just in time, when the federal funding [for Eagles’ Haven] was about to expire. Now, these crucial mental health services will remain available thanks to the $600,000 in state funds to continue these services for the community.”
Hunschofsky, the former mayor of Parkland, said she worked with community partners like the Children’s Services Council of Broward County to establish a resilience center after the Valentine’s Day shooting at MSD.
“Eagles’ Haven Wellness Center became that person-focused place for anyone needing help to go to for whatever referrals or support they needed,” Hunschofsky said. “While it has been over four years since the shooting, the need for trauma, mental health, and wellness support remains. I am very grateful that with this $600,000 in state funding, Eagles’ Haven will continue to be able to support our community.”
Sarah Franco, executive director of Eagles’ Haven, called the appropriation “life-changing” and said it represents 50 percent of the organization’s annual budget.
“With the trial of the shooter underway, being able to support the community with wellness services and therapeutic support was more important than ever,” Franco said.
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Author Profile
- Kevin Deutsch is an award-winning crime journalist and author. A graduate of Florida International University, Kevin has worked on staff at The Miami Herald, New York Daily News, and The Palm Beach Post.
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