Former SOS children and staff enjoy catching up with each other at the "SOS Thanksgiving Dinner" on November 19th.

November 24, 2009: On Thursday, November 19th, SOS Children's Villages - Florida held its annual "SOS Thanksgiving Dinner" at the Coral Springs Marriott in Coconut Creek, Florida. The event was sponsored by the Club Managers Association Seminole Region Charity Golf Tournament and welcomed more than 170 guests. Attendees included SOS children, staff, and men and women who grew up in the Village.

Now in its 17th year of operation, SOS Children's Villages – Florida has helped to raise more than 250 foster children, including 72 boys and girls currently living at the Village. The holidays are always a special time of year at SOS Children's Villages - Florida. And with so many children in SOS's care, this year's Thanksgiving celebration was a great success.

Like many families, the SOS Children's Villages family used the occasion as a chance to catch up, share news, celebrate triumphs, and adore new babies. During the dinner, every individual had the chance to share what they are thankful for, concluding together that this year's blessings are many.

SOS Children Gave Thanks

Every child in SOS Children's Villages' care is thankful for something:

Nina, 10, is thankful that she could jump from the second to the fourth grade with the help of a weekly tutoring program.

Rachel, 13, is thankful that she had the chance to join the cheerleading squad and could afford all of her uniforms.

Andrew, 14, is thankful for his new cleats and the chance to play on the school football team.

Kaleigh, 16, is thankful for the help she received to help find part-time job opportunities.

Michael, 19, is thankful for his SOS case manager and mentor who have helped him plan and prepare for life after high school and his future outside SOS Children's Villages - Florida.

Many children also said that they are thankful for the donations that let them go to summer camp this past year, and to begin the school year with new clothes and school supplies.

SOS Adults Gave Thanks Too

Those who had grown up in SOS - Florida's care and moved up and out as adults gave thanks at the dinner:

Betsy is grateful for the assistance she received from the "SOS After Care" program, which helped her overcome a learning disability in order to place her first job this past summer.

Tavares is celebrating two years as an entrepreneur thanks to the advice and assistance he received when starting his own car detailing business.

Kelvin is thankful for his new apartment and affordable rent thanks to a partnership between SOS and Broward Housing Solutions.

Melina and Ashley are thankful for an internship program sponsored by the Community Foundation of Broward, which is helping them gain new skills while earning a part-time salary at the Village.

And, SOS Children's Villages staff are thankful for the good friends and neighbors without whose support none of these precious gifts for children would have been possible. Despite the economic hardships the country is facing, this SOS Village looks ahead knowing that its SOS children -- past, present, and future -- will be blessed with the promise of healing, hope, and home for a long time to come.

You can give an SOS child something to be thankful for everyday.  Learn more about sponsoring a child.

About SOS Children's Villages - Florida

SOS Children's Villages - Florida is home to up to seventy-five foster children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. The Village setting allows brothers and sisters, often separated in foster care, to stay united. The nurturing and support that SOS provides prepares them to be productive members of society. SOS Children's Villages is accredited by the Council of Accreditation, recognizing its continuing high standards and the quality services provided to foster children. The Florida Village is part of a worldwide network of over 500 SOS Children's Villages caring for disadvantaged children.

About SOS Children's Villages

For 60 years, SOS Children's Villages has been dedicated to the long-term care of orphaned and abandoned children. With 500 villages in 132 countries, SOS offers a family-based village model that provides for the holistic needs of a child - family, community, education and support - essential for the successful transition from childhood into adulthood. Through Villages, schools, medical facilities, micro-lending, and family strengthening programs, SOS Children's Villages impacts the lives of over 1 million people each year. In 2009, SOS Children's Villages was honored with the Save the World Award. SOS has also been awarded the Mother Teresa Gold Medal, the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize and the Vietnam Friendship Medal. For more information, visit www.sos-usa.org.