Saving Lives, Preserving Legacies and Building Community: PURRR Adoption, Jewish Family Home Care, Stranahan House, and Broward Children’s Center Lead the Way in South Florida.

October 4th, 2025

Compassion, Care, and Community: Four South Florida Nonprofits Uplifting Lives and Shaping the Region’s Future

From feline welfare to senior support, historic preservation, and services for medically fragile children, South Florida is home to a remarkable network of nonprofits building stronger, more compassionate communities. PURRR Adoption + Sanctuary, Jewish Family Home Care, Historic Stranahan House and Museum, and Broward Children’s Center each serve vastly different missions—but all share a common purpose: to create lasting change that extends far beyond the immediate needs they meet every day.

PURRR Adoption + Sanctuary: Tackling Cat Overpopulation Through Prevention and Compassion

When PURRR Adoption + Sanctuary launched its feline-only, high-volume spay and neuter clinic in 2021, it was more than a milestone—it was a paradigm shift. Executive Director Michelle Schecht calls it “a defining moment” for the organization and the community.

“South Florida faces a critical cat overpopulation crisis, and we realized that adoptions alone weren’t enough,” Schecht explained. “By focusing on prevention through accessible, affordable spay + neuter services, we began addressing the root of the problem.”

Since its opening, PURRR has performed over 10,000 surgeries, averaging about 3,000 each year, all while continuing its rescue, adoption and sanctuary work. This focus on prevention has allowed the nonprofit to make a measurable, long-term impact by saving lives today while reducing future suffering.

PURRR Adoption + Sanctuary

Their approach is twofold: immediate care through rescue, adoption, and sanctuary, paired with proactive prevention. “Every cat placed in a home is one life saved,” Schecht said, “but every surgery prevents dozens more from entering the cycle of homelessness.”

Collaboration remains central to PURRR’s mission. The organization partners with fellow rescues, trappers, and community leaders to expand access to care, while a new partnership with Arc Broward provides employment opportunities for adults with disabilities graduating from animal care programs. “It truly takes a village,” Schecht said. “Together, we can build a stronger safety net than any of us could achieve alone.”

For Schecht, the biggest awareness gap remains around the importance of spay + neuter. “When people understand that spay + neuter is the most humane and effective way to reduce overpopulation, it changes how they view and value these animals,” she explained. “A community that embraces prevention and compassion becomes one where cats are safer, families are supported, and our region is recognized as a leader in humane care.”

About PURRR: Founded in 2018, PURRR Adoption + Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing rescue, adoption, sanctuary, and accessible spay/neuter services to combat cat overpopulation across South Florida. The organization is fueled by passionate cat lovers determined to create a better future for cats and their human companions.

Jewish Family Home Care: Providing Dignity and Independence for Seniors Across Broward County

What began in 2015 as an extension of Goodman Jewish Family Services has grown into one of Broward County’s largest not-for-profit home care agencies. Jewish Family Home Care was born out of a mission to provide dignified, compassionate care to aging Holocaust survivors, but that same empathy now extends to seniors of all backgrounds.

“The creation of Jewish Family Home Care was a turning point,” shared CEO Robin Miller. “That origin instilled a deep commitment to compassion, cultural sensitivity, and high-quality care for seniors—values that continue to shape how we serve more than 400 clients each day.”

The organization focuses on helping seniors age safely and independently in their homes through daily support such as companionship, personal care, and dementia care. Just as important, Jewish Family Home Care invests in long-term solutions, including caregiver training, advocacy, and partnerships with healthcare providers, synagogues, veteran organizations, and nonprofits.

Jewish Family Home Care

“Collaboration is central to our model,” Miller emphasized. “By working closely with community and business leaders who share our mission, we ensure seniors receive the holistic support they deserve.”

Miller also hopes to shift public perception around home care. “Too often, families only think about long-term care when they’re in crisis,” she said. “By raising awareness about the benefits of home care—which keeps seniors safe, healthy, and connected in familiar surroundings—we can transform South Florida into a community where older adults are valued and empowered to live with dignity.”

About Jewish Family Home Care: A not-for-profit agency providing home care services to seniors of all backgrounds, JFHC helps older adults maintain wellness, dignity, and independence at home. Located at 5890 S. Pine Island Rd, Suite 200, Davie, FL 33328, JFHC is affiliated with Goodman Jewish Family Services of Broward. For more information, visit www.jfcares.org or call (954) 908-5677.

Historic Stranahan House Museum: Preserving Fort Lauderdale’s Past, Inspiring Its Future

The Historic Stranahan House and Museum stands as the oldest surviving structure in Broward County and one of Fort Lauderdale’s most treasured landmarks. Executive Director Jennifer Belt credits the property’s survival to a pivotal decision in the 1970s, when George English purchased it from a religious group, recognizing its historical significance.

“George and other community leaders saw that the House was far more than just a building,” Belt said. “Their foresight ensured that future generations would have a place to connect with the city’s earliest history.”

Today, the House serves as both a museum and cultural hub, welcoming more than 30,000 visitors annually, including over 3,000 fourth-grade students learning about Fort Lauderdale’s beginnings. Its mission—to tell the story of pioneers Frank and Ivy Stranahan and the community they helped build—continues to evolve through educational programming and preservation initiatives.

Stranahan House has also launched a capital campaign to expand its facilities with a classroom, welcome center, event pavilion, and catering kitchen, ensuring it remains a cornerstone of community life for generations to come. “Just as George English’s decision saved this landmark, our campaign ensures Stranahan House continues to grow with the community,” Belt explained.

Historic Stranahan House and Museum

Partnerships are at the heart of Stranahan House’s operations, with collaborations alongside Water Taxi, Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale, Riverside Hotel, and Las Olas Company, as well as fellow museums like Bonnet House and History Fort Lauderdale. “We want every person in Fort Lauderdale and Broward County to know who we are and to feel pride that their city’s story begins here,” Belt said.

About the Historic Stranahan House Museum: Located at 335 SE 6th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, Stranahan House preserves and promotes the legacy of Fort Lauderdale’s founding family through tours, events, and educational programs. Open Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., the museum welcomes visitors year-round. Learn more at www.stranahanhouse.org.

Broward Children’s Center: Five Decades of Care for Medically Fragile Children

Since 1971, Broward Children’s Center has provided life-changing services for infants, children and young adults with developmental disabilities and medical fragility. CEO Marjorie Evans remembers its beginnings vividly.

“In 1972, the only option for special needs children was institutionalization,” she said. “There was an article in the Sun Sentinel asking for volunteers—I responded, determined to help parents get the support they needed to keep their jobs and know their children were cared for.”

That spirit of advocacy led to the creation of a nonprofit dedicated to comprehensive care. When institutions closed, Broward Children’s Center became the only facility in the United States providing 24-hour care for medically complex infants and children, addressing not only medical needs but also family well-being through its Social Services department.

Broward Children’s Center

Today, Broward Children’s Center continues to innovate, offering a network of medical, educational, therapeutic, recreational, and advocacy services. The organization is also a founding member of the Pediatric Complex Care Association, a national body focused on improving care for children with complex conditions.

Looking ahead, Evans hopes to open a group home for medically complex young adults, extending the continuum of care beyond childhood. “We’ve always worked toward one goal—taking care of kids and families,” she said. “That’s what defines everything we do.”

About Broward Children’s Center: A private 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Broward Children’s Center is located at 200 SE 19th Ave., Pompano Beach, FL 33060. Its mission is to provide the highest quality care and advocacy for developmentally disabled and medically fragile children. Learn more at www.bcckids.org.

These four nonprofits—PURRR Adoption + Sanctuary, Jewish Family Home Care, Historic Stranahan House and Museum, and Broward Children’s Center—represent the heart of South Florida’s nonprofit spirit: empathy, education, and empowerment. Whether through cats, seniors, history, or children, their missions intersect in one profound way: ensuring that everyone: human or feline has the chance to live with dignity, hope and care.