Local Business And Community Leaders Compete In Bowling Tournament To Benefit Voices For Children Foundation

Ninth-annual ‘Strike Out Child Abuse’ event raises more than $18,000 for foster children
 MIAMI – May 27, 2015 – Voices For Children Foundation partnered with Mercantil Commercebank, one of the largest banks headquartered in Florida, to host the ninth-annual Strike Out Child Abuse Bowling Tournament. The event raised more than $18,000 in support of Miami-Dade County’s abused, neglected and abandoned children.
On May 20, more than 200 Voices For Children supporters convened at Splitsville Luxury Lanes & Dinner Lounge in South Miami and battled it out for the title of champion, while enjoying complimentary food and beverages. Sixty students from nearby Epiphany Catholic School also attended to show their support for their community’s foster children.
“I’m delighted to have witnessed our community members’ willingness to support Voices For Children and Miami-Dade’s foster children,” said Nelson F. Hincapie, president and chief executive officer of Voices For Children. “I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who participated and helped us raise funds and awareness to make our mission possible.”
Currently, more than 3,700 children are in foster care in Miami-Dade County as a result of abuse, abandonment or neglect. These children are required by law to be appointed Guardian ad Litem representatives to advocate for their best interests while they maneuver through the foster system. Currently, fewer than 2,400 of these children actually have Guardians ad Litem. Through community volunteers, black-tie affairs and social events, Voices For Children Foundation works to secure additional funding to help close that gap of representation.
“Mercantil Commercebank is pleased to offer its continued support in serving as the presenting sponsor for the Strike Out Child Abuse Bowling Tournament,” said Mariola Sanchez, General Counsel for Mercantil Commercebank and member of the Voices For Children Foundation’s Board of Directors. “Voices For Children makes a positive impact not only on the lives of these children, but on our community as a whole, and we are delighted to assist in raising funds and awareness for this worthy cause.”
The Strike Out Child Abuse Bowling Tournament garnered the support of Akerman LLP., Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Appelrouth, Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP., Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Brodsky, EFG Capital, Epiphany Catholic School, Mr. Brian Goldmeier, Green Monkey, Ms. Kira Grossman, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP., Seaside National Bank & Trust, Mr. and Mrs. Marco Tejada, The Miami Foundation, and Wells Fargo Insurance Services.
For more information about Voices For Children Foundation, please visit www.BeAVoice.org, and to learn more about Mercantil Commercebank, visit www.mercantilcb.com.
About Voices For Children Foundation: Voices For Children Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that raises money to help ensure that abused, abandoned, and neglected children in Miami-Dade County each have a court-appointed Guardian ad Litem and that financial assistance and other resources are available for their health, educational, and social needs. Guardians ad Litem are trained, court-appointed adults who serve as their representative voices in dependency court proceedings. Currently, more than 3,700 children are in Miami-Dade County’s Foster Care system and 2,379 children are unrepresented by Guardians ad Litem. For more information, please visit www.BeAVoice.org.
About Mercantil Commercebank: Mercantil Commercebank N.A. is one of the largest banks in South Florida serving its community for 35 years. Mercantil Servicios Financieros (MSF), a Venezuelan company, beneficially owns the Bank through U.S. bank holding companies. MSF is the largest provider of financial services in Venezuela with more than 90 years of experience. Mercantil Commercebank has assets of $8.1 billion. The Bank is headquartered in Coral Gables, Florida and has 22 Banking Centers – 16 located in South Florida; five in Houston, Texas; and one in Manhattan, New York. The Bank offers a wide variety of domestic, international, personal and commercial banking services, including investment, trust, and estate planning through its subsidiaries, Mercantil Commercebank Investment Services, Inc. and Mercantil Commercebank Trust Company, N.A. For more information, please visit www.mercantilcb.com.
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