Posted: 10/18/2016

Celebrating Our Business / Organization & Faith Based Community Champions

Throughout Hardee, Highlands, and Polk Counties we are fortunate to have local businesses / organizations and faith communities that believe in engaging in activities to support and strengthen children and families. Through connecting with Heartland for Children’s business and faith-based initiatives, some ways they are able to assist are: raising awareness about the importance of promoting healthy child development, child abuse and neglect prevention awareness,  recruitment and support of quality foster homes and the need for forever homes for children waiting to be adopted.

Heartland for Children is grateful for the many partnerships that we are fortunate to have throughout our local communities that support safe, healthy childhood, strong families and communities. 

It is our pleasure to recognize the following business/organization and faith based partners for their support and engagement in initiatives that ensure the safety, permanency and well being of children. Congratulations on being Community Champions! 

Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church of Bartow, under the leadership of Reverend Robert E. Patrick III, has been a faithful partner actively engaged in supporting the recruitment of quality foster and adoptive families, serving as a host site though the use of their facilities for foster parent and community trainings, and support the  Pray for Me initiative where the congregation is praying for a forever family for one of the children currently in need of a forever family.

First Baptist Church of Lake Placid, under the leadership of Pastor Keith Campbell, has been a faithful partner actively engaged in supporting and promoting the recruitment of quality foster and adoptive families, serving as a host site though the use of their facilities for foster parent and community trainings, and engaging in the Foster Friends program to be a support to our foster parents.

Chick-fil-A of Winter Haven, under the ownership of Fred Murphy, has been a wonderful partner in our community, partnering with Heartland to engage in several local initiatives. Chick-fil-A of Winter Haven has supported our children in care by providing incentives for a Academic Success program that celebrates the educational accomplishments of children in the foster care system, were a business sponsor for the local Human Trafficking Symposium and supported the recruitment of quality foster and adoptive parents by partnering with Heartland for a Spirit night where a percentage of every purchase connected with Heartland would be received as a donation and our staff were on sight with recruitment materials to engage families.  

Bob and Trish Pfeiffer graciously have been donating bikes to children who have been adopted for over five years. Bartow Cycling Events coordinates bike races each year in Bartow to encourage a healthy lifestyle through cycling. Before the spring Bloomin Bike Ride and the fall Scenic Tour de Tow races, between 6-10 bikes are donated to children who were recently adopted through the local child welfare system.  Heartland for Children partners with Bartow Cycling to identify the families and the Pfeiffer’s always ensure to provide bikes and helmets to those children identified. Through this longstanding partnership and generosity, adopted children and their families are supported and celebrated.

Thank you Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church of Bartow, First Baptist Church of Lake Placid, Chick-fil-A of Winter Haven, and Bob and Trish Pfeifer/Bartow Cycling Events for choosing to share the journey in the lives of local children and families!