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ABOUT

WELCOME TO GUARDIANS FOR NEW FUTURES

Guardians For New Futures, Inc. (GFNF) is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 1991 that works to educate the community on how to recognize and report maltreatment to protect a child from further harm, as well as educate those working closely with children on other issues impacting children.

OUR MISSION

GFNF4Kids’ mission is to support the unfunded needs of maltreated children while increasing community awareness and education to further protect children. 

OUR VISION

To be the leading innovators in the fight to end child abuse.

Debbie Butler

President, Board of Director

Before retiring to Florida in 2006, Debbie was a Senior Executive of the leadership team for an international startup company which is now valued at over $100 million with 1,400 employees. She has served as President of GFNF4Kids since it’s restructure in 2008. Under her leadership this all volunteer nonprofit organization has: 1) Raised just under $6 million of revenue and in-kind contributions for the benefit of maltreated children and underserved youth; 2) Provided more than 10,000 children with holiday gifts; 3) Hosted 10 child focused educational summits in collaboration with community partners; 4) Built and furnished a home to serve as a soft landing for children coming into care due to maltreatment; 5) Created the Children’s Advocacy Center to serve abused children from St. Lucie, Martin, Indian River and Okeechobee counties.

Community Collaboration and Education

GFNF has become an educational advocacy and community catalyst for maltreated children. Since 2008, GFNF has made great strides in educating the community regarding issues impacting our youth while working in collaboration with community stakeholders.

The innovative and collaborative approach to raise awareness culminated into an annual Treasure Coast GFNF Child Summit starting in 2011. These two day child focused conferences feature presentations by professionals from multiple disciplines educating our community on the latest issues impacting children and strategies to further protect them from harm. Topics are the result of collaboration with a multitude of individuals and organizations including law enforcement, educators, judiciary, mental health professionals, addiction professionals and more. 

Community Engagement and Outreach

GFNF has been an active member in many child focused organizations and committees including: 19th Judicial Circuit Model Dependency Court Improvement; Treasure Coast Human Trafficking Coalition; Healthy Saint Lucie; Foster Care Supports; Victims’ Rights Coalition; Injury Prevention Taskforce; Roundtable of St. Lucie County’s Drug Free St. Lucie and Child Welfare Network; and many more.

Revenue and In-kind Contribution

Since 2008, GFNF has generated just under $6 Million in revenue and in-kind contributions to benefit maltreated children.

Past Initiatives

Sanctuary4Kids

An emergency shelter for children who are removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect. Frequently, when a child is coming into care they need a temporary “home” until the best placement can be found for them. Sanctuary4kids is that soft landing for children while these important decisions are being made. GFNF built and furnished the house in a little over 12 months. Sanctuary4kids was gifted to Hibiscus Children’s Center in 2017 for operation.

Children’s Rooms in Courthouses

A children’s library and media room in Okeechobee Courthouse and provided reading materials and art supplies in St. Lucie County (dependency) Courtrooms. These all help to provide the children with a safe and enjoyable environment while waiting for their cases to be heard in court.

Hope's Closet 4 Children Partnership

GFNF4Kids’s partnership with Hope’s Closet 4 Children collects and distributes new and gently used clothing to children in need. This partnership has helped to serve thousands of children.

Drug Abuse Awareness Symposia

GFNF4Kids partnered with stakeholders in the community to effectively restrict the impact of the drug abuse pandemic and its far-reaching effects through common awareness, communication and networking within community.

Guardian Ad Litem Program

1. Created and funded a Media & Training Center to enhance and facilitate volunteers’ training and professionalism,

2. Raised over $50,000 to update and replace outdated computers, software and related equipment.

Kits4Kids

Provided over 2,000 maltreated children with backpacks and school supplies.

GFNF4Kids BY THE NUMBERS

Needed to provide innovative programs and services
$ 0
Received gifts during the Holiday Gift Drive
0 Children
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