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Mission

TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT BY VALUING CHILDREN, STRENGTHENING FAMILIES AND EDUCATING COMMUNITIES

Donate. Volunteer. Get involved. Together, we can put an end to child abuse once and for all.

Our Story

In 1991, a few friends who had been volunteering with several child welfare organizations, were asked by The Children’s Home Society (CHS) to form an auxiliary volunteer group. The mission of this auxiliary would be to create awareness and obtain support from the burgeoning Hispanic community in South Florida. The auxiliary was named “Amigos of Children’s Home Society.”

A year later, the group branched off and formed a new, independent organization which they named, Amigos For Kids. Amigos was founded to respond to the diverse needs of South Florida’s abused, neglected and less-fortunate children and their families through education, abuse prevention and community involvement.

Today, Amigos For Kids has evolved into a mainstream nonprofit and its child abuse prevention message now reaches communities across the country – no matter their ethnicity or native language.

"SILENCE IS A FORM OF CONSENT. LET’S RAISE OUR VOICES AND NEVER BE SILENCED IN SUPPORT OF OUR MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE – CHILDREN."

– ROSA MARIA PLASENCIA†

Amigos for Kids

The Blue Ribbon Campaign

The Blue Ribbon Campaign began in 1989 when Bonnie Finney of Virginia lost her three-year-old grandson, Michael Dickenson, at the hands of her daughter’s abusive boyfriend. Bonnie tied a blue ribbon to her car to symbolize the blue of her grandson’s bruises.

Each year during the month of April volunteers and community partners promote child abuse prevention. Help us create awareness and wear your “There’s NO excuse for child abuse!®” blue ribbon pin all year round.

Donate Now

25 YEARS

25 YEARS ONE MISSON

For a quarter of a century we’ve been helping children overcome child abuse. We are only just beginning, and with your help we can fight on for many years to come.

A Message From Leadership

CO-FOUNDER'S MESSAGE

Dear Amigos –

Amigos For Kids was created in 1991 by a small group of committed child advocates with a simple purpose: to raise awareness of child abuse prevention and assist children and families in need. Today, 25 years later, I am humbled that the organization is respected as one of the leading non-profits born and bred in South Florida.

Our group responds — each and every day — to the diverse needs of abused children and underprivileged families through multiple programs, including our abuse prevention message, There’s NO Excuse For Child Abuse!®.

Our work continues to be recognized regionally and nationally. Most recently, Amigos For Kids was honored by The Children’s Trust, one of our primary funders, as its Program of the Year.

We could not have made it this far without the tireless work of so many, especially our Board, staff, and volunteers, as well as the generosity of our loyal corporate partners, and the commitment of each of our supporters and funders. We thank you all.

If you would like to become an Amigo by donating your time or treasure, please call 305-279-1155.

On behalf of the children and families we are privileged to serve, thank you for supporting the important mission of Amigos For Kids.

Jorge A. Plasencia
Co-Founder & Chairman Emeritus

Our Board

Executive Members

  • Board Chair
    Nicole Valls
    VP of Operation
    Valls Group
  • Vice Chair
    Maggie Fresen-Zulueta
    Vice President
    Academica Corporation
  • Treasurer
    Alex Sueiro, CPA
    Partner
    PAAST
  • Co-Founder & Chairman Emeritus
    Jorge A. Plasencia
    Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO
    Republica Havas
  • Secretary
    Nilda R. Pedrosa
    Chief of Staff
    Florida Attorney General
  • Interim President & CEO
    Lydia Muñiz
    Amigos For Kids
  • Legal Counsel (ex-officio)
    Eddie Diaz, Esq.
    Partner
    Holland & Knight

Board Members

  • Carol Cabezas
    Chief Operating Officer
    Azamara Club Cruises, Royal Caribbean International
  • Cristy Clavijo-Kish
    Chief Development Officer
    Co-Founder & Partner
    Hispanicize Media Group
  • Gustavo J. Membiela, Esq.
    Partner
    Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
  • Ingrid Hoffmann
    TV Celebrity Chef
  • Lissette M. Calderón
    Chief Executive Officer
    Kinetik Industrial Group
  • Miguel Larrea
    Senior Account Executive
    Clear Channel Outdoor
  • Pamela Silva Conde
    News Anchor
    Univision Network
  • IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR

    Pedro A Capó
    Chief Operating Officer
    El Dorado Furniture
  • Victoria Madani, Esq.
    Attorney
    Shutts & Bowen LLP
  • Yosbel A. Ibarra, Esq.
    Co-Managing Shareholder
    Greenberg Traurig, P.A.
  • Marcel Monnar, Ed.S.
    President
    One on One Learning
  • Jose Triana
    Major Accounts Manager
    FPL

Honorary Members

  • Adrienne Arsht
    Chairman Emerita
    TotalBank
  • Roxana Fernandez
    President
    Imagen
  • Jackie Nespral
    News Anchor
    NBC Miami

Our Amigos

Corporate Partners

Institutional Partners