Puerto Rican Latina Has Improved the Lives of Many Young People

2018 Hispanic Woman of Distinction, Christine M. Frederick, Executive Director, FLITE Center

“As I see others look up to me, I remain true to the qualities instilled in me by my Hispanic role models, hoping to be as inspiring and effective in developing tomorrow’s leaders as they have been.”

Entering the “real world” when you’re a young adult can be an exciting time. However, for those 18 to 23 year olds who are aging out of the foster care system, it can be a daunting time as well.

This is especially true for those who haven’t been equipped with the education and/or training needed to survive, be successful and have a fulfilling life. That’s why Christine M. Frederick is so proud to be the Executive Director for the FLITE Center (Fort Lauderdale Independence Training and Education). The FLITE Center, through its partnerships and its Transitional Independent Living (TIL) System of Care, provides these young adults with housing, education, mentorship and employment opportunities to help ensure they have a positive transition from the foster care system.

Born in Puerto Rico and raised in the Bronx, NY, Christine earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Dayton in Ohio and her Masters in Social Work from Miami’s Barry University. She received an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Management from FAU and is working towards her license in Clinical Social Work.

While pursuing her education and before starting at HANDY, Christine worked for several organizations including the Memorial Healthcare System, Children’s Home Society of Florida, Inc. Covenant House and Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, Inc.

At HANDY, an award-winning non-profit that provides Broward’s youths with life skills, education and support, Christine began as a Program Coordinator. During her 15 years of employment there, she worked her way up to the become Chief Program Officer.

During her tenure, Christine and other HANDY team members helped the organization to develop and grow. Through donations and Christine’s grant writing and management skill, the program budget, which started out as less than $200,000, grew to over 2.5 million dollars.

In 2016 before starting her current position at the FLITE Center, Christine started FND Solutions, LLC (Foundation & Nonprofit Development Solutions, LLC). Using the successful grant writing and grant management skills she honed at HANDY, Christine works with smaller non-profits to pursue funding and management to help achieve their goals.

Understanding that many smaller charities don’t have the budget to retain the skills of a professional grant writer, FND Solutions will work with some deserving charities whose goals will positively and uniquely impact the community with partial in-kind services.

Christine, along with her husband, Julian, make their home in Coral Springs. They and their two children, Zayvier and Zyan, enjoy snowboarding and working out and love to travel on European vacations.

For more information, visit www.hispanicwomenofdistinction.com or 954-601-6550 or email: hispanicwomenlunch@aol.com.

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Here are last year’s 2017 Hispanic Women of Distinction:

GLORIA L.  DIAZ-DANIELS –Div Sales Mgr Sales-Pharmacy Walmart – Palm Beach Colombian Born Latina Shines As Mentor and Walmart Sales Exec

ADRIANA FAZZANO FICANO – Chief of Staff, Broward College – Broward County Colombian-American Latina Leads College PR and Community Organizations

BLANCA GUERRA -Broward County Schools-Curriculum Sup/Dual Languages –Dade Cuban Latina Excels at Education and Preserving Heritage Languages  

KARINA GOMEZ-HERRERA – Pres. CEO Karnna Fashion & Company – Broward:  Outstanding Venezuelan Latina Excels as a “Hispanic Fashion Advisor”

Dr IVERIS LUZ MARTINEZ- Assoc Prof. Herbert Werthein College/Medicine FIU-Dade Cuban-American Latina Is a Premier Healthcare Anthropologist 

LORENA MASTRARRIGO -Assistant Public Defender, Broward County – Broward  Argentinian-American Latina Attorney Helping Hispanic Community

CHRISTINA PEREZ McDOWELL – Founder, Solutions by CPM, LLC – Dade- Cuban-American Latina Brand Manger and Executive Consultant

JACQUELINE NUNEZ – Co-owner, SOMA Medical Centers PA – Palm Beach Colombian Latina Healthcare Financial Officer Supports Those In Need

Dr. JACQUELINE PENA – Dean Academic Affairs – Miami Dade College –  Dade Dominican Bronx Latina Secure Grants to Drive Student Success

MICHELLE MARTINEZ-REYES- CMO, Greenspoon Marder Law Firm – Broward  Latina Cuban-American Chief Marketing Officer Is Growing Brands

MARIELLE SOLOGUREN – Vice President. Pierson Grant Public Relations – Broward Latina of Ancestry Cuban-Peruvian Making Waves in PR

RACHEL TOURGEMAN –Community Relations Dir.- Florida National University-Dade Panamanian-American Latina Community Relations Professional Advocates for Victims

LATINA PIONEER of the YEAR:  

DAISY EXPOSITO-ULLA – Chairman, CEO of d exposito & Partners, a visionary creative leader in cross-cultural brand building for more than 30 years, Daisy has been recognized by numerous organizations and named as one of the most influential Latinas in the United States.