Happenings & Stories
Candle Making at its finest!
Mar 14, 2023 | B.R.I.D.G.E.S.
One of our additional HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Broward Programs also had the chance to participate in the Community Based Instruction in-house field trip with the ScentsAbility team. These students were given a chance to try their hand at candle making. Each student...
Cypress Bay BRIDGES Home Depot Flower Garden CBI
Mar 8, 2023 | B.R.I.D.G.E.S., HDS Foundation
“Flowers are like friends; they bring diversity to your world.” The HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Broward students worked on planting a flower garden at their high school over the past three weeks to enhance the garden space. The students participated in several activities to...
Cypress Bay HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Students create Visions Boards
Mar 2, 2023 | B.R.I.D.G.E.S., HDS Foundation
Our HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Broward students spent the past few weeks creating their vision boards. The class facilitators, Donna Mansolillo and Kathy Gorman-Gard begin the unit each year by having the students create vision boards. Once the students complete their boards...
HDS BRIDGES SUPER BOWL SOIREE
Feb 10, 2023 | HDS Foundation
February is BUZZING with positive energy at our HDS BRIDGES Broward Program! Students planned and hosted a Super Bowl LVII-themed soirée for their high school administrators and peers in the Best Buddies Program. The big football game may be on a Sunday when kids are...
HDS BRIDGES Student & U.S. Army JROTC Lightning Battalion Cadet, Katelyn Promoted to Cadet Sergeant
Jan 25, 2023 | HDS Foundation
Katelyn is a Junior in our HDS Broward County Public High School B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Program. She enlisted in the U.S. Army JROTC Lightning Battalion in her Freshman year to fulfill a PE required credit, but she soon came to appreciate the program's leadership and sense of...
HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Students Bowl for the Lucky Strike
Dec 14, 2022 | B.R.I.D.G.E.S., HDS Foundation
The HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students headed out for fun with their peers to practice their bowling skills; their motto was "Be bold and go for the strike!" When students arrived at the bowling alley, they first had to find their correct bowling shoe size and then change...
Ice Cream Sundae Challenge!
Dec 7, 2022 | HDS Foundation
The B.R.I.D.G.E.S. class participated in an Ice Cream Sundae Challenge for their Community Based Instruction activity this week. The day before the event, students were put in teams of 3-4. They had to work together to decide what flavor ice cream and 3 toppings...
A heartfelt THANK YOU for your support on Give Miami Day.
Nov 18, 2022 | HDS Cares, HDS Foundation
A heartfelt THANK YOU for your support on Give Miami Day. Your generosity allows us to expand our programs at the local high schools and make a difference in the lives of students with autism spectrum disorder in gaining life skills in their journey to post-secondary...
A Taste of Home.
Nov 16, 2022 | HDS Foundation
“A Taste of Home” is what the B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students had a chance to experience at the Weston Diner. Before heading out on their Community Based Instruction field trip, students practiced various skills such as: ordering their meatheiexpected. In the end, the...
HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Students Get a Taste of Patriotism
Mar 13, 2023 | B.R.I.D.G.E.S., HDS Foundation
Patriotism and barbeque are what the HDSF B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students enjoyed during their lunch outing at Mission BBQ. Before the students headed to the restaurant, they reviewed the menu and decided what to order for lunch. The challenge was to order a main entree,...
HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Broward Host Career Day with Special Guest Rixys Alfonso, CEO of CauseMo Marketing
Mar 7, 2023 | B.R.I.D.G.E.S.
As students in the HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Broward Program prepare for their high school graduation, Program facilitators Ms. Kathy Gorman-Gard and Ms. Donna Mansolillo have invited special guest speakers in various careers to share their career journeys with the...
HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Students Enjoy Lunch at their Local Panera Bread Cafe
Feb 17, 2023 | HDS Foundation
The HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Community-Based Instruction (CBI) outings that we host in collaboration with our local high school partners are much more than purely educational. They are an opportunity for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other abilities to feel...
HDS Foundation needs your daily vote to win the 211 Broward Community Choice Award!
Feb 3, 2023 | HDS Cares, HDS Foundation
We are proud to share that our HDS Foundation is a Nominee for the 211 Broward, 2023 JM Family Enterprises Community Choice Award. This award is presented to a nonprofit organization that is making an impact through its Programs and Services in the lives of...
It’s Movie Time!
Dec 16, 2022 | B.R.I.D.G.E.S., HDS Foundation
The HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students had a fantastic time on their Community-Based Instruction (CBI) field trip to the local movie theater to enjoy the movie Stranger World. Since each student is given a gift card as part of our HDS Grant to use during their weekly CBIs,...
Our Chairman and President featured this week in Voyage MIA Magazine’s “Shout Out Miami” series
Dec 9, 2022 | HDS Cares, HDS Foundation
We were featured this week in Voyage MIA Magazine's “Shout Out Miami” series. Thank you to Voyage MIA for showcasing how our programs are preparing young people with Autism and related abilities to succeed. Read more at http://bit.ly/3HiSQTV.
HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students take on the “Secret Elf”
Dec 1, 2022 | HDS Foundation
This holiday season, the HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students took on the "Secret Elf" title for the morning as they headed out to Walmart to do some holiday shopping for their friends! The mission was: to stay under $25 (including tax) and purchase the items that were listed...
Help us to thank our amazing Team at HDS Companies.
Nov 18, 2022 | HDS Cares, HDS Foundation
Help us to thank our amazing Team at HDS Companies for their support through our Give Miami Day Kick-Off, Game Day, and Pep Rally. Let’s go, Team HDS! Remember your gifts to HDS Foundation during this philanthropic event makes a greater impact on all of our students....
Cypress Bay High School ESE Transition Fair & College Night
Mar 13, 2023 | Calendar Events, HDS Foundation
The HDS Foundation (HDSF) enjoyed participating at Cypress Bay High School ESE Transition Fair & College Night. In preparation for the event, Program Manager Liz Falk assisted the HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. teacher, Alma Gonzalez, and Job Coach, Paula Wright, in helping...
Congratulation to the Nominees and Winners of the 12th Annual 211 Broward Community Care Plan Non-Profit Awards
Mar 7, 2023 | HDS Foundation
On behalf of our Board of Directors, Junior Board Members, and Program Managers at the HDS Foundation, we want to congratulate the nominees and winners of the Community Care Plan Non-Profit Awards Presented by Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The 211 Broward...
HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Students Create Wood Designs
Feb 13, 2023 | HDS Foundation
Students from our HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Program visited Board & Brush Creative Studio as part of their Community-Based Instruction (CBI). They each had an opportunity to use their imagination to create a personalized wood design. Various stencils, including those...
HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Students Become Candlemakers!
Jan 27, 2023 | B.R.I.D.G.E.S., HDS Foundation
Today, as part of their Community-Based Instruction (CBI), our HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students had the opportunity to try their hand at making candles. The team at ScentsAbility Candles, a nonprofit that offers an innovative social enterprise and serves as a source of...
“Tis the Season to Give”
Dec 15, 2022 | HDS Foundation
This past week, both of our Cypress Bay HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. programs celebrated the holiday season at Chili's Bar & Grill, enjoying friendship and a delicious lunch. They all ordered burgers, chicken nuggets, chicken fajitas, and more. But the one thing they all...
Giving Is Better Than Receiving!
Dec 9, 2022 | HDS Foundation
Today the HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students headed on a shopping trip to Walmart to purchase holiday gifts for their siblings. This Community Based Instruction is designed to help students practice their budgeting skills as students are given a specific budget. One of the...
HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Students Carry Out Acts of Kindness
Nov 30, 2022 | B.R.I.D.G.E.S., HDS Foundation
Today's Community Based Instruction (CBI) trip for the HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students was fantastic. The goal of this CBI was to purchase gifts for the senior citizens receiving care at the Daniel D. Cantor Senior Center as well as the children who would be spending the...
HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. Students Host a Friendsgiving Luncheon
Nov 18, 2022 | Bridges at the Bay, HDS Foundation
Today the HDS B.R.I.D.G.E.S. students hosted a Friendsgiving Luncheon with special friends from another class, staff members, and administrators. Everyone was treated to a delicious smorgasbord of their favorite traditional Thanksgiving foods cooked by a personal...