Child Advocate Volunteers Shocked By Sheriff Bradshaw's “THANK YOU”

Child Advocate Volunteers Shocked By Sheriff Bradshaw’s “THANK YOU”

Surprise speaker at Guardian ad Litem recognition dinner brings the room to its feet and a tear to the eye.

West Palm Beach, FL, April 30, 2015— In it’s 35th year as the foremost statewide volunteer child advocacy organization in Florida, with its founding patrons present, the community of valiant dependency court attorneys, judges, coordinators and volunteer advocates of the Guardian ad Litem of Palm Beach county had their annual ‘appreciation and recognition dinner’ last night.

The Police Benevolent Association and volunteer members of the sheriffs office, hosted and served the dinner and award ceremony in their Grand Hall off Florida Mango. In addition to the 180 Guardian ad Litem employees and volunteer advocates in attendance were the board members of Speak Up for Kids of Palm Beach County, the 501c3 fundraising arm of the program, including Mrs. Dorothy Bradshaw.

What no one at the event knew was that Sheriff Ric Bradshaw would also be in attendance and asked for the opportunity to thank the advocacy community directly.

“Just like you, our office sees terrible things happen to vulnerable people ever day, and just like you, we are committed to keeping our kids and this community safe. You have deputies and officers who care about this community,” said Bradshaw.

What came next was a brilliant surprise to all in the room, who have already chosen to give of their time, talents, and treasure for the sake of abused, abandoned and neglected children. Sheriff Bradshaw, after thanking all in the room for their service and sharing his commitment to protecting and serving the community and its children, announced the PBSO’s awarding Speak Up for Kids a $50,000 grant for which the organization had applied for the Guardian ad Litem program.

The room immediately rose to its feet with rolling applause, cheering and some tears, as everyone in the room knew very well that for the 1000 children in Palm Beach county currently with an advocate to speak up for them, there are more than 800 children for whom there is not currently an advocate, due to limited resources to staff the legal and supervisory positions necessary.

A surprise speaker with a wonderful message of shared commitment to community, advocacy, and protection of the most vulnerable, with an even greater surprise for the sake of abused, abandoned and neglected children, and the volunteers who choose to step up as their advocates through life’s most uncertain time.