Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center’s (CDTC) student volunteer Benjamin Gajus, a senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, received the Miami Herald’s Silver Knight Award in business. The Silver Knight Award is one of the nation’s most highly regarded student award programs that recognizes outstanding students who have achieved academic excellence, as well as have applied their “know-how” and talents to contribute significantly to the community. Benjamin was selected for his unwavering commitment to the Center and its families in need during the past three years.
Benjamin began his project after receiving a tour of CDTC and learning that many of the families seen by the Center struggle financially due to the cost of their child’s care. The children often need clothing, food, medicines and medical supplies. Benjamin saw this as an opportunity to make an impact on his community. He focused his project on helping to provide families with necessities by organizing a summer long donation drive in his neighborhood. Over the years, Benjamin has expanded his project to include more neighborhoods within his community. He developed a “Donation Drive” manual with all the information needed by volunteers to successfully run the drive once he is away at college. His project has grown from two volunteers in the first year to fifteen this past summer. In the past three summers, Benjamin has facilitated the donation of over 40,000 items to the Center and its families.
“I cannot express the gratitude of our families for Ben’s assistance. From high chairs and strollers to back to school clothing and toys, the number of families touched by Ben’s project is immeasurable,” said Stephanie Clayton, Community Relations Coordinator at CDTC.
The Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center (CDTC) is a not-for-profit organization that serves more than 10,000 children with special health care needs in Broward County. CDTC’s mission is to promote the optimal health and well-being of children with special health care needs by providing comprehensive prevention, intervention and treatment services within a medical home environment. CDTC is a nationally recognized “Center of Excellence,” offering a unique system of care for infants, children and youth with chronic illnesses, disabilities and developmental delays. For more information, please visit www.childrensdiagnostic.org