3rd Annual Children’s Hero Award Gala
Honors Eduardo Padrón, President of Miami-Dade College


On October 19, 2011, Family Resource Center of South Florida (FRC) hosted the 3rd Annual Children’s Hero Award Gala at the Conrad Hotel. The event honored Miami-Dade College President Eduardo Padrón for his commitment to bridging the educational gap for children aging out of the foster care system and was emceed by CBS4’s Shannon Hori.
“We are pleased to have honored Dr. Eduardo Padrón with this year’s Children’s Hero Award,” said Dr. Oren Wunderman, FRC’s executive director. “We recognize and value his commitment to helping youth as they transition out of the foster care system and mature into healthy and productive young adults, especially given that education is such a critical component to these teens’ future life successes.”
$45,000 was raised with proceeds going to provide more than 1,000 South Florida newborns, toddlers, adolescents and teens with the shelter, food, medical and mental health care that they need due to experiencing abuse, neglect and abandonment by their parents.
Gala Program and Adoption Story
Robert Fernandez, Esq., Board Chairman of Family Resource Center and Dr. Eduardo Padrón
Dr. Eduardo Padrón, President MDC
Shannon Hori, Anchor CBS4
Robert Fernandez, Esq., Board Chairman of Family Resource Center, Alyn Cruz-Higgins, South Florida Regional Director at Office of US Senator Marco Rubio, Dr. Eduardo Padrón, President MDC, Dr. Oren Wunderman, Executive Director, Family Resource Center, Dr. Teri Wunderman
Dr. Eduardo Padrón, President MDC, Dr. Oren Wunderman, Executive Director, Family Resource Center
Dr. Eduardo Padrón, President MDC with the Family Resource Center Board of Directors
Yissel Rosario & Audri Lopez-Sigler
Shannon Hori, Anchor CBS4 and Drew Kern, Chairman, Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce
Representative David Rivera
Brenda Miranda, MDC Student
Shannon Hori, Anchor CBS4
Gala guests enjoying dinner at the Conrad Hilton
Dr. Oren Wunderman, Execuitve Director of Family Resource Center, Dr. Eduardo Padrón, President MDC, Brenda Miranda, MDC Student, Shannon Hori, Anchor CBS4, Robert Fernandez, Esq., Board Chairman of Family Resource Center
Dr. Eduardo Padrón, President MDC & Brenda Miranda, MDC Student, Robert Fernandez, Esq., Board Chairman of Family Resource Center
Dr. Eduardo Padrón, President MDC & Brenda Miranda, MDC Student
Dr. Eduardo Padrón, President MDC & Shannon Hori, Anchor CBS4
City of Miami Commissioner Frank Carollo, Helen Aguirre Ferré, MDC Trustee & MDC President Dr. Eduardo Padrón
Guests enjoy networking before dinner
Gorgeous centerpieces generously donated by CH Creations
Jorge Arrizurieta, Board of Trustees FIU, J.B. Aleman, Meridian Partners LLC, Alyn Cruz-Higgins, South Florida Regional Director at Office of US Senator Marco Rubio, Jose Fuentes, Miami-Dade College Board of Trustees
Claudia Figueredo & Ed King, Board Member of Family Resource Center
Kai Jacobs, Esq., Board Member of Family Resource Center & Guest
Gala guests mingle and enjoy the cocktail hour
Alberto Carvalho, Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Eduardo Padrón, President MDC, Katherine Fernandez-Rundle, State Attorney
Dr. Eduardo Padrón, President MDC, Katherine Fernandez-Rundle, State Attorney, George Andrews, Chief of Staff for Dr. Padrón, MDC
Drew Kern, Chairman of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce & Jessica Wilcox, Board Member of Family Resource Center