Community Leaders Honored for Addressing Homelessness and Affordable Housing Challenges
Broward Partnership hosted its highly anticipated annual Salute to Leadership: “Gala in the Glades” on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at the picturesque Bergeron Green Glades Ranch in Weston, FL. The event brought together over 300 community leaders, philanthropists, and advocates, and the appeal raised $183,000 to advance the mission of Broward Partnership, the largest comprehensive homeless services provider in Broward County.
The event featured a cocktail reception, an exciting silent auction and raffle, a delicious dinner, and an inspiring program highlighting the outstanding accomplishments of the Broward Partnership. Heather Walker, News Reporter at WSVN-7, served as the event’s emcee, adding a dynamic presence to the night’s festivities. A key highlight of the night was an exciting announcement from Tom Ruthardt, Chief Executive Officer of Broward Partnership. He shared that a few months ago, the organization submitted a competitive funding application to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation for the development of its next affordable housing community, Aspire 1650. Among six competing applicants, the proposal received the highest evaluation scores and has been officially named the awardee.
Another memorable moment of the evening was the presentation of the inaugural Pillar of Hope Awards, honoring individuals and organizations whose generosity and dedication have significantly advanced the mission of Broward Partnership. This year’s distinguished honorees included Alfred & Rose Miniaci Family Fund of the Community Foundation of Broward, Rick and Flo Celender, The Christopher M. Barnett Family Foundation, Dr. Gerald and Mary Glass, Florida State Representative LaMarca, and Florida Senator Rosalind Osgood.
“The overwhelming support from our sponsors, attendees, and community leaders demonstrates the collective commitment to addressing homelessness in Broward County,” said Tom Ruthardt, Chief Executive Officer at the Broward Partnership. “We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to making this event a success.”
The celebration was made possible through the generosity of sponsors and underwriters. The Presenting Sponsor was The Rick Case Automotive Group, and the Gold Sponsor was BMW of Pembroke Pines, a Holman Automotive Dealer. Premier Sponsors included The Leo Goodwin Foundation, JM Family Enterprises, and UKG, while Champion Sponsors featured ABA Centers, GL Homes, and Vertical Bridge.
