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1985x |
Concerned citizen, LaVaughn Tilton, attends work shop designed to focus on the community problem of child abuse and recognized unmet needs. Believing children deserve to be safe, she decides to take action.
Mrs. Tilton forms Child Abuse Prevention, Inc. to raise funds for a temporary shelter for abused, neglected and abandoned children.
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1986 |
Hibiscus commences public relations and fundraising activities for private donations of property, materials and services.
Hibiscus holds their first official fundraising event called the Tropical Nights Summer Ball Dinner and Dance at the Mariner Sands Country Club, July 19, 1986.
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| 1987 |
Child Abuse Prevention, Inc. holds an Annual Dinner Dance that raised approximately $20,000.
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1988 |
Mrs. Tilton recruits first President of Board to replace her as presiding officer.
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| 1989 |
Hibiscus Shelter granted state license - only children's shelter licensed in five counties.
The Realtor-Associate Committee of the Greater Martin County Board of Realtors holds the 1st Annual Art Auction to benefit Hibiscus House.
Board hires first employees, an Executive Director and eight others.
Hibiscus Children's Shelter opens debt free in October with twelve beds.
Six children placed by state in Hibiscus House first month.
Shelter functions with assistance of an army of cooks, caregivers, laundry helpers, drivers, local restaurant donations of food, dental care, and medical services.
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1990 |
14-year-old Max Gaspard raised money for materials for two sand boxes and persuaded a business to donate a jungle gym set to build a play area at Hibiscus House.
Board of Directors formally established through expanded recruitment.
Hibiscus House opens second wing with 12 additional beds.
Board members and volunteers respond with assistance when Shelter children and staff fall prey to illness and are quarantined for 21 days.
Bob Wood, Hibiscus board member and owner of Shuckers Too auctions ceiling tiles to businesses and raised $21,000 for Hibiscus.
Maxine Winer, director of the volunteer program at Hibiscus House, received the Volunteer of the Year and the Health and Rehabilitative Services Volunteer of the Year award for 1990.
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| 1991 |
1st Annual Junkanoo fundraiser hosted by Hibiscus Children’s Center.
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1992 |
1st Annual Hibiscus Children’s Center Fashion Show.
Board decides to expand programs to include prevention, advocacy and support services for families with children at risk of abuse.
More structured fundraising and grant writing commenced by Board and staff.
Women's Guild formed as formal volunteer group to plan special events both for fundraising and children's activities.
First therapeutic program for children starts at Shelter.
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1993 |
Behavior Modification program is instituted at Shelter.
Hibiscus awarded State of Florida contract for provisions of Family Builders program covering four counties.
Program Director and eleven employees hired.
Board creates separate entity, Hibiscus Foundation, to ensure long-term financial stability of the Shelter.
1st annual Larry Laoretti Kids Classic at Cobblestone Country Club with other Senior PGA pros such as Lee Trevino and Chi Chi Rodriguez.
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1994 |
1st Annual North River Shores Mixed Doubles Tennis Tournament to benefit Hibiscus Children’s Center.
Preschool program, Weebiscus, added at Shelter.
Hibiscus awarded Federal Demonstration Project Grant to establish Crisis Nursery program in four counties. Three employees hired.
Del and Gene Richter receive 1st ever Volunteer of the Year award.
Hibiscus celebrates 5th birthday with open house for the community.
Girl Scout Leslie Armstrong creates Hibiscus ‘drop box’ for donations to Hibiscus Children’s Center.
Virginia Foy, Hibiscus volunteer, is awarded Volunteer of the Year for the JCPenney Golden Rule Awards.
Substantial increase in bed use at the Shelter is seen; capacity increased to 32 beds.
Board officially changes name to Hibiscus Children's Center Inc., to appropriately reflect the three services offered including the Shelter; an in-home family preservation program, and a primary prevention program providing caretakers with short-term respite care.
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1995 |
1st Annual Dow Finsterwald Golf Classic to benefit Hibiscus Children’s Center held in Martin County.
Safety Room built at Shelter for children to vent emotions without restraint.
Board recognizes risk management responsibilities and develops written policies and procedures for programs.
Ransom Tilton, husband of founder LaVaughn Tilton and supporter of Hibiscus dies at age 71.
Comptroller and part-time Volunteer Coordinator hired.
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1996 |
Psychological Therapeutic Services obtained for children at Shelter through collaborative agreement with Tykes and Teens.
Volunteer program expanded to include 45 people a week tutoring at Shelter.
Volunteer appreciation and recognition programs established.
Virginia Foy, Sharon Skinner and Suzanne Cabrera awarded the Grand All Treasure Coast Award, Image Award and Judges Award at the Image Awards on the Treasure Coast for their program “Project Diaper.”
Virginia Foy of Hibiscus carries Olympic torch through Jensen Beach.
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1997 |
Tykes and Teens counseling expanded to include all programs. Volunteer establishes Thrift Shop to provide children and families with goods through a voucher system. It also provides a nominal source of income.
First year with a waiting list for beds at Shelter; 57 children turned away.
Crisis Nursery Program lauded as national model.
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| 1998 |
Director of Development hired.
10th Annual Hibiscus Children’s Center Art Auction.
Board raises funds for Shelter expansion to meet community's growing needs.
Judy Wolfe receives JCPenney Golden Rule Award.
Family Builders program redesigned for “one person approach.”
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1999 |
10th Anniversary of Shelter celebrated.
First ever Blue Ribbon Luncheon to commemorate Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Shelter expansion opens providing much needed space for Homework/Tutor Club, Therapeutic Care and Weebiscus program.
LaVaughn Tilton is recognized as one of the most influential local people in The Palm Beach Post.
Citizens of Vero Beach form Indian River Guild chapter to benefit Hibiscus Children's Center.
Crisis Nursery provides aid to those affected by the brush fires in St. Lucie County.
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| 2000 |
First “Goombay Getaway” held at Shuckers.
3,000 sq foot addition to the Shelter is completed.
Reunification program develops out of Family Builders program.
Indian River Thrift Shop opens to provide support for families as well as a nominal source of income.
Land is donated in Indian River County for future growth with the dream of a Children's Village as primary goal.
Homework/Tutor Club revamped to assist Shelter children with schoolwork more efficiently.
Fire at Shelter two weeks before Christmas. Community rallies to provide for children's needs and house children safely for almost a week until necessary repairs were made.
Shelter expands. The average length of stay of the children in the Hibiscus Children's Shelter increased to nine months due to a lack of permanent placement for children of the Treasure Coast.
Hibiscus administration office moves to 2400 Old Dixie Highway location.
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2001 |
Planning begins for the Hibiscus Children's Village in Indian River County.
10th Annual Hibiscus Children’s Center Fashion Show.
The Family Builders reunification team is added as a service to families to facilitate reconnecting children in the Hibiscus Shelter and those in out-of-home care with their family. The primary goal is to reduce the amount of time a child or children are in the Shelter or an out-of-home placement and to ensure safety and permanency within the guidelines of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997.
Foster Care Recruitment and Training contract awarded by Florida Department of Children and Families.
Foster Care program staff added.
Shelter capacity increased to 40 beds.
Hibiscus Treasure House Thrift Store relocated to larger facilities in North Shores Plaza in Stuart.
Hibiscus wins Best Charitable Organization for The Best of Martin County Awards.
Continuous Quality Improvement program implemented.
In-house Clinical Program developed for Shelter.
Debut of Treasures of the Tropics, Hibiscus cookbook created by Martin and Indian River guilds.
Two major gift-giving societies established: the Tilton Founding Angels Society and the Hibiscus Legacy Society.
Hibiscus Family Builders client and counselor featured on the nationally televised Maury Povich Show.
Hibiscus awarded Medicaid number to provide mental health services to children and families served through Hibiscus programs.
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| 2002 |
Capital Campaign begins for Hibiscus Children's Village.Kickoff Celebration conducted and land cleared for Hibiscus Children's Village.
Foundation Board formed in Indian River County.
Special Achievement: Sibling family of four is successfully adopted after living at the Shelter for three years.
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2003 |
Jan Swink Huffert is named CEO of Hibiscus Children’s Center .
Hibiscus accredited by Council on Accreditation for Children and Family Services.
Twenty directors named to Indian River Foundation Board.
Additional office opens in Vero Beach.
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2004 |
Hibiscus Children's Village opens in Indian River County.
First Blue Ribbon 5K Run/1M Fun Walk to support Hibiscus Children’s Center.
Hibiscus Foster Care increases services with addition of support services for foster families.
Change in intervention program to provide critical services to families in crisis through the Building Families program.
Building Families changed to the HOPE program (Healthy Opportunities for Parenting Excellence) to better serve families in crisis.
One of four pilot projects in the State of Florida, Hibiscus is awarded the Infant Mental Health Program to provide support and education to strengthen infant bonding and attachment with caregiver.
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2005 |
Hibiscus 20 Year Anniversary celebrated.
1st Annual Hibiscus Children’s Center “Offshore Big 3” Fishing Tournament.
For the Florida Coalition of Children Awards, Hibiscus CEO, Jan Huffert, wins the “Distinguished Service Award”; Hibiscus founder LaVaughn Tilton-Drysdale wins the “One Person Can Make a Difference” award; Judy Crompton wins the “Volunteer of the Year” award; and, Dan Braden receives the “Trustee of the Year” award.
1st Annual Golf Tournament to Benefit Abused Children held in Indian River.
Hibiscus Children’s Center receives the “Community Partnership Award” from Indian River County Junior League for providing Exchange CASTLE with space at Hibiscus Children’s Village for supervised visitations with their clients.
Hibiscus Children's Village Capital Campaign completed.
Hibiscus collaborates with several children's agencies to implement Strengthening Families, a family skills training program.
HOPE program evolves to provide in-home intervention and reunification services to high risk families.
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| 2006 |
Hibiscus Children’s Center holds 1st Annual Bridge Tournament to benefit abused children.
Camp Hibiscus, a summer program for children served by Hibiscus grows to six-week experience.
Weebiscus Preschool added to services at Hibiscus Village.
Hibiscus exceeds 160,000 safe nights of service to abused children since opening its doors in 1989.
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2007 |
Cliff Whitehill named interim CEO of Hibiscus.
“Viva Las Vero” casino night turns out to be a big success.
Hibiscus awarded Foster Care contract to include support services for foster parents and comprehensive “wraparound” services to children.
Therapeutic Group Home opens at the Village to serve children who do not respond to standard treatment and services.
Child Development Center opens at the Village for preschool children providing state of the art childcare services.
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| 2008 |
Hibiscus Children’s Center 1st Juried Art Exhibition.
20th Annual Hibiscus Children’s Center Art Auction.
Port St. Lucie celebrates opening of Programs Office with open house attended by local officials, dignitaries and community members.
Hibiscus successfully completes 1st Annual Support Campaign exceeding all goals.
Soroptimist International names LaVaughn Tilton-Drysdale the 2008 recipient of the “Making a Difference for Women” award.
LaVaughn Tilton-Drysdale receives the “Community Spirit Award” from Martin County commissioner Doug Smith.
The Reef library project is created and implemented at the Shelter providing children with enriching and fun educational opportunities.
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| 2009 |
Thomas B. Maher is named CEO of Hibiscus Children’s Center.
Hibiscus completes 2nd Annual Support Campaign.
Through funding from Kiwanis Club of Vero Beach-Treasure Coast, John’s Island Foundation and Dodgertown, the Kiwanis Pavilion opens at the Village.
The Little Auction That Could raises over $34,000 for Hibiscus Children’s Center.
Hibiscus implements new Diversion program through United for Families.
St. Lucie County Foundation Board formally approved joining the well-establish Indian River and Martin County Boards.
St. Lucie County Guild is established.
The Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten program at the Village achieves the highest state criteria rating.
The Shamrock Center, an affiliate of Hibiscus Children’s Center, opens in St. Lucie County.
A new playground is built at the Shelter. The project was spearheaded by 13 year old Jessie Green of Stuart.
Hibiscus Children’s Center implements a formal strategic planning process.
Bathrooms at the Shelter renovated.
Security cameras are installed at the Village.
Donated shade trees are planted at the Village.
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| 2010 |
Literacy Program implemented with three Literacy Coordinators covering clients through out the Treasure Coast.
Hibiscus receives “Community Champions Award” from Florida’s Department of Children and Families for meeting the urgent needs of Haitian orphans at the Shelter.
Hibiscus launches Substance Abuse Prevention program.
The Shelter is officially named after Hibiscus founder LaVaughn Tilton.
The Developmental Center at the Village is officially named the Elizabeth “Betty Gene” Hensick Child Development Center.
Hibiscus Children’s Center receives St. Lucie Commission resolution "Recognizing the new St. Lucie County Foundation Board for Hibiscus Children’s Center".
Hibiscus awarded “Best Local Children’s Charity” by Stuart magazine.
25th Birthday celebration for Hibiscus Children’s Center.
Over 25,500 children and families have been helped since Hibiscus opened its doors.
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History is being made daily at Hibiscus Children's Center. Click HERE to see how. |