Broward Bulldog
Broward Bulldog is Florida’s first independent, nonprofit regional news site staffed by professional journalists. The site emerged from the turmoil that defines the new media marketplace in late 2009 and is helping to keep watchdog journalism alive for Broward’s 1.75 million residents. Broward Bulldog believes journalism is a public service that is essential to a free and democratic society.
Investigative reporting uncovers injustice, exposes waste and corruption and holds those in public decision-making positions accountable for their actions. But investigative reporting is in peril in South Florida. Declining revenues have led to large staff reductions and limits on coverage at local newspapers and television stations.
There simply are no longer enough reporters to cover all of Broward County’s courts, government entities, public services and businesses. Citizens who rely on corporately owned media to make sense of local government – and keep tabs on those who run it – no longer get the alert watchdog they expect. Broward Bulldog is committed to bridging the gap in local news by delivering more of the original watchdog news and information our community wants and needs.
In a short time, Broward Bulldog’s watchdog news coverage has helped shape events in and has built a real connection with our community. Newspaper circulation continues to decline, but Broward Bulldog’s readership is growing. For example, about 4,000 unique visitors went to the site in January 2010. In October 2011, that number had tripled to more than 12,000 unique visitors. Broward Bulldog further amplifies its impact by selling stories to other news outlets, including the Sun-Sentinel and The Miami Herald.
Broward Bulldog is a member of the Investigative News Network, a consortium of “high quality, award-winning journalistic organizations serving the public interest to benefit our free society.” Like all INN members, it is transparent in its funding, non-partisan in its approach and endorses the Code of Ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists.
The Crockett Foundation
The Crockett Foundation was founded by brothers Henri and Zack Crockett. Once Henri and Zack retired from the NFL they both decided that they wanted to give back and make a difference in the community. They wanted to focus on the youth and created the Crockett Foundation based on challenges of their past. They both remember being overweight while growing up and constantly being referred to as big. They also remembered that in order for one to be successful in football they must be able to read the plays and understand the fundamental skills of the game. Growing up in a poverty stricken community led them to focus on homelessness and hunger. As a result they started their own non-profit organization to focus on childhood obesity, illiteracy and homelessness in Broward County.
This year was their fourth annual health fair and they reached more than 3000 individuals. Two years ago they opened two reading rooms in the Pompano Beach area reaching 100 elementary and middle school students using a curriculum that focuses on understanding the basic reading fundamentals.
They also planted an organic garden and taught youth the difference between healthy and not so healthy foods and snacks. They partnered with Flippany and did a 5K run reaching hundreds in Broward County. For the past three years they have partnered with Saint Laurence Chapel Day Shelter to feed the homeless on Thanksgiving Day. This past Thanksgiving over 200 homeless people and community volunteers turned out for this event.
The Crockett brothers recently kicked off “Literacy Matters in Middle School” to help eradicate illiteracy among middle school students. The organization has partnered with Community Foundation of Broward, Ramblewood Middle School, North Broward County Chapter of the Links, Incorporated and Huntington Learning Center to help youth in North Broward County with literacy. The organization has applied for multiple grants receiving two within the last year; they have also planned for three major fund raisers for this upcoming year to include a literacy gala, 2012 car raffle and a literacy awareness expo.
KidSafe Foundation
KidSafe Foundation’s mission is to provide prevention education programs to children, parents, and teachers to decrease sexual abuse, bullying, cyber bullying, and internet dangers. Responsible, caring parents, family members, guardians, and adults cannot be with a child 24/7. Children need to know how to protect themselves and how to access help.
KidSafe Foundation was created with a unique approach to bringing prevention education to the community. They teach from a place of fun not fear. The skills they teach are skills for a life time. What makes KidSafe unique is the integrated approach – teaching children, parents, caregivers, and teachers. The founders believe that prevention education should and can be a regular part of our everyday parenting.
KidSafe has begun initiatives including teaming up with ChildNet to bring prevention education to the 450 foster parents in the community. They will be working with the 12 Foster Care agencies to provide KidSafe Continuing Education Sessions for this amazing and important population of people in our community that are working directly with our most vulnerable children. During these sessions they will focus on the KidSafe Skills and Language of Safety, sexual abuse prevention, and provide each family with the KidSafe Children’s book, My Body is Special and Belongs to Me! for each family to read with their foster children to continue the learning at home.
KidSafe has self-published two children’s books – one of which recently won the gold medal in the education category for the 2011 Children’s Literary Classics. The next self-published Children’s Book, Jack Teaches His Friends to Be KidSafe! will be underwritten by a private donor.
KidSafe was chosen as a Leadership Broward Project last year. The outcome of which is the amazing educational videos for adults to access as a free resource on our website and Youtube – and the ongoing relationships with its team members – leading to such projects as KidSafe at the Court House – providing adult seminars for court house employees.
