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An Evening of Food, Community, and Impact for Foster Youth at Galleria Fort Lauderdale
Heart Gallery of Broward County has announced Christine Frederick as the 2025 Child Advocate of the Year as part of its annual “Eat Your Heart Out” fundraiser presented by BBI. One of Fort Lauderdale’s most beloved foodie events, EYHO is back for another year of incredible flavors and a powerful mission at Galleria Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, September 25, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The event benefits the Heart Gallery of Broward County, an esteemed nonprofit dedicated to promoting adoption and enrichment programs for Broward’s foster youth.
“We are thrilled to recognize Christine Frederick during our 11th annual delicious event that offers a taste of Broward County with the support of local restaurants and sponsors,” said Dr. Mary Kinirons, executive director of Heart Gallery of Broward County. ” Every year, ‘Eat Your Heart Out’ is a celebration of community, compassion and connection which is aligned with Christine’s established career of not-for-profit leadership and community service.”
Christine Frederick has always had a passion for helping individuals most in need. Her experience includes more than 20 years of progressive leadership in nonprofit and social impact organizations, including serving as the CEO of FLITE Center from 2017-2025. At FLITE Center, Christine coordinated the Transitional Independent Living System of Care; grew its budget from under $600,000 to more than $10 million; expanded the headquarters from 3,000 square feet to more than 16,000 square feet; increased staff from eight to more than 60; and extended its service area to include 12 counties in Florida.
Christine led FLITE Center to receive multiple awards, including Polaris Star Award (2025), 211 Non-Profit of the Year (2022 & 2023) and Rising Star (2017) and Fort Lauderdale Chamber “Salute to Business” (2019). She is recognized as a community leader, as evidenced by the following honors: Inspiring Women of Health (2024); Apogee Award for Nonprofit Leadership (2021); Hispanic Woman of Distinction (2018); and 100 Successful Women in Business (2018). For four years, Christine served as the co-chair of the Independent Services Advisory Council–appointed by the Secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families and currently serves as the Board Chair for Fitwize 4 Kids, a local nonprofit that focuses on the healthy physical and emotional development of young children in the surrounding area.
Prior to serving FLITE Center, Christine spent 12 years both on the frontlines and on the executive management team as the chief program officer of HANDY. She led an elite team in program development–assisting with the agency’s capacity building efforts through grant writing and grant management and maintaining both quality services and outcomes with foster youth in relative and nonrelative care.
In May 2025, Christine joined The Lord’s Place as chief executive officer to continue to grow and inspire the agency’s 45-year mission of breaking the cycle of homelessness in Palm Beach County.
Past Child Advocate of the Year honorees have included Cindy Arenberg Seltzer, Michael Goodman, Andrew Koenig, Chad Moss and others.
The award presentation is part of an unforgettable evening of delicious bites, craft drinks, and live entertainment – all supporting the mission to help local children find permanent homes and thrive. The special ceremony will be hosted by Eric Yutzy, Local 10 news anchor. Confirmed restaurant partners include The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, Tasteful Thoughts, P.F. Chang’s, Sicilian Oven, Aquaplex Fort Lauderdale, Todd’s Catering, Dom Caruso’s Cucina, Sweeter Days Bake Shop and Red Chair Catering, with more to be announced.
In addition to gourmet bites and sips, the evening will feature live entertainment, raffle drawings and a silent auction with unique experiences and luxury prizes.
The Heart Gallery of Broward County launched in 2007 as a traveling photography exhibit of foster youth awaiting adoption and has since evolved to provide innovative programs that recruit adoptive families, enrich foster youth lives, and support adoptive families through community partnerships. This event is the organization’s largest and most successful fundraiser.
Event sponsors include presenting sponsor BBI, Galleria Fort Lauderdale, Las Olas Capital Advisors, Advanced Roofing, Banesco, OutClique, B
Tickets are $100 per person and include complimentary valet parking. Tickets are on sale atwww.heartgalleryofbroward.
About Heart Gallery of Broward County
The Heart Gallery of Broward County, one of over 100 independent Heart Galleries nationwide, is a respected nonprofit with a mission to provide innovative programs that help to promote the adoption and enrichment of Broward’s foster youth. Established in October 2006, the Heart Gallery of Broward began as a traveling photography exhibit showcasing foster children awaiting adoption, featuring professional photographs and personal biography cards to highlight their personalities. Today, the gallery has transitioned to an online format to further the protection of our youth. The organization’s outreach efforts focus on adoption education and recruitment with three main program pillars: Finding Forever Families, recruiting adoptive families through community events and educational outreach; Youth Enrichment, enhancing the lives of foster youth with programs like Birthday Buddy, Back-to-School Shopping Spree, holiday parties and community outings lovingly called Heart Days and the WE CARE program, providing resources and support through community partnerships to address the needs of adoptive families and prevent adoption breakdowns. Since its inception, Heart Gallery has helped place over 500 children in loving, permanent homes. For more information or to adopt, volunteer, or donate, please visit heartgalleryofbroward.
