Back Row: Paul Czekanski – GAL -Mentor, Kiwanis; Kathleen Smith – Liaison (Holy Rosary-St. Richard’s; Malvi Longoria – GAL (St. John Neumann);
Alex Planas – GAL Community Ambassador (St. Catherine’s); Lorenzo Cosio -GAL (St. Louis); Eric Schwindeman – GAL, Mentor, Executive Director,
Kiwanis; Mary Hamel – GAL (St. Louis); Patty Wasserman – Foster Mom; Valerie Van Ostran – GAL, CarePortal, Kiwanis (St. John Neumann); Susan
Dingler – Panelist & CarePortal (St. John Neumann); Marta Torres – Director of Licensed Care & Transitioning Youth Services (Citrus FCN); Rosie Perez-
Lacayo -Panelist (Holy Rosary-St. Richards); Gabriel -Miami Palmetto HS Key Club; Santiago – Miami Palmetto HS Key Club; Liz and Tony Anon – His
House For Children – Lady of Guadalope; Panos Kourtesis – Explore Foster Miami, One More Child (Reality Church), Caroline Ezekwesili, Mentor (Granada Presbyterian)
Front Row: Dr. John Gentile – CarePortal (St. John Neumann); Chuck Caldwell – Spiritual Advisor, Santa (St. John Neumann); Diana Morrell -GAL – Kiwanis Club of Miami); Vanessa Akiki – Mentor (Granada Presbyterian); Maria Romanek – Foster Mom (Holy Rosary – St. Richards); Melbelina Lagos-Latorre – Mentor (St. John Neumann)
Missing From Photo: Joanne Pierre (GAL); Dr. Alecia Rodriguez – GAL, Foster Mom, Mentor, Kiwanis; Lauren Purba – Website (St. Bernard); Mary Walton – GAL, Random Acts of Kindness, Kiwanis; Carmenza Ortiz – Panelist (Good Shepherd); Lou Confessore – Soccer Referee Program (St. Catherine’s;
Leanna Roberts HHH Hawaii – Random Acts of Kindness.
Twenty-six Child Advocates took part in the Hope Heart & Home Ministry’s Board of Trustees Meeting held January 25 at Holy Rosary- St. Richard’s Catholic Church. Foster parents, Guardian ad Litem, Mentors, Panelists, and CarePortal First Responders from 7 different parishes were all represented.
HHH welcomed Honorary Trustees and partners Marta Oliva Torres (Citrus FCN), Liz Arquimbau (His House For Children), Panagiotis Kourtesis (Explore Foster Miami), Diana Morrell (Kiwanis Club of Miami), and Gabriel & Santiago (Miami Palmetto HS Key Club.
HHH also welcomed back veterans Malvi Longoria (GAL), Patricia Wasserman
(Foster Parent), and Joann Pierre (GAL) to their team. Congratulations to partners SOLO Printing (Lorenzo Cosio), Propelled In Christ Ministry ( Kathleen Smith & Rosa A. Perez-Lacayo), the Kiwanis Club of Miami, Florida (Diana Morrell), and the Miami Palmetto HS Key Club who were recognized by Citrus Family Care Network for their collaboration in 2024 supporting children in foster care.
“It’s not the destination, it’s the journey!” This meeting demonstrated that the companions you make along the way are the most important! Marta Torres added: “Thankful to be on this journey of service with such incredible company. It takes a village and we are blessed for the heart, generosity, talent, and commitment of this beautiful village.” Thank you, HRSR, for hosting this family gathering!
