September 25, 2025
Heart Gallery of Broward County has announced Christine Frederick as the 2025 Child Advocate of the Year as part of its annual “Eat Your Heart Out” fundraiser presented by BBI. One of Fort Lauderdale’s most beloved foodie events, EYHO is back for another year of incredible flavors and a powerful mission at Galleria Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, September 25. The event benefits the Heart Gallery of Broward County, an esteemed nonprofit dedicated to promoting adoption and enrichment programs for Broward’s foster youth.
Christine Frederick has always had a passion for helping individuals most in need. Her experience includes more than 20 years of progressive leadership in nonprofit and social impact organizations, including serving as the CEO of FLITE Center from 2017-2025. At FLITE Center, Christine coordinated the Transitional Independent Living System of Care; grew its budget from under $600,000 to more than $10 million; expanded the headquarters from 3,000 square feet to more than 16,000 square feet; increased staff from eight to more than 60; and extended its service area to include 12 counties in Florida.
Christine led FLITE Center to receive multiple awards, including Polaris Star Award (2025), 211 Non-Profit of the Year (2022 & 2023) and Rising Star (2017) and Fort Lauderdale Chamber “Salute to Business” (2019). She is recognized as a community leader, as evidenced by the following honors: Inspiring Women of Health (2024); Apogee Award for Nonprofit Leadership (2021); Hispanic Woman of Distinction (2018); and 100 Successful Women in Business (2018).
Past Child Advocate of the Year honorees have included Cindy Arenberg Seltzer, Michael Goodman, Andrew Koenig, Chad Moss and others.
The Heart Gallery of Broward County launched in 2007 as a traveling photography exhibit of foster youth awaiting adoption and has since evolved to provide innovative programs that recruit adoptive families, enrich foster youth lives, and support adoptive families through community partnerships. This event is the organization’s largest and most successful fundraiser.