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Casa Valentina is a residential and support services program that addresses the unique gender-specific needs of young women transitioning from foster care to independent living.

Casa Valentina was formed in 2004 by a group of concerned women who acknowledged the immense challenges faced by young women who age out of foster care at age 18 without the life experience, financial stability and support they need to survive on their own. Facing numerous transitional challenges, these young women are vulnerable to prostitution, incarceration, pregnancy, violence, sexual abuse and homelessness.

In the course of its first two years, Casa Valentina introduced thousands of people in the community to the crisis facing young women emerging from foster care and raised the funds necessary to turn their dream of affordable housing for these young women into a reality.

Today, Casa Valentina has two affordable housing sites located in Miami-Dade County with the capacity to house up to 14 young women ages 18 to 23. Both apartment buildings are located in safe neighborhoods and near public transportation. Residents pay no more than $350 in rent and have the opportunity to live at Casa Valentina for up to 24 months.

In tandem to the affordable housing, Casa Valentina also provides comprehensive support services and a life-skills curriculum to all of its residents. A Casa Valentina Program Director oversees their academic and employment progress, life-skills development, physical and mental health needs, and social and emotional growth. Additionally, individuals and groups from the community provide participants with volunteer mentorship, job-skills training and enrichment programs such as outings to museums and sporting events, cooking classes and yoga.

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide young women in Miami-Dade County who age out of foster care with safe, affordable housing and the support services they need to become successful, independent adults.

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Casa Valentina Board of Directors

Sharon Langer, Chair
Marcia Reisman, Secretary
Sharon Socol, Treasurer
Lisa Schejola Akin, Vice Chair of Special Initiatives
Susan Lampen, Vice Chair of Program

Nancy Luria Cohen
Julie Feigeles
Lynn Hausmann
Anne E. Helliwell
Dr. Diane Krieger
Sheila Duffy-Lehrman
MaryAnne Lukacs
Deborah Magid
Lisa Merritt
Joyce Meyers
Regine Monestime
Nushin G. Sayfie
Shelly Stamler
Adrian J. Villaraos

Claudia Kitchens, Advisor to the Board

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Casa Valentina Staff

Sharon Katz, LCSW
Program Director

Chelsea Wilkerson
Project Manager

Jennifer Gregory
Manager, Special Projects

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Our Partners

Founding Organization Partners

CHARLEE Homes for Children
Women’s Fund of Miami-Dade

Program Partners

Barry University School of Social Work
Children’s Bereavement Center
Community Smiles
Educate Tomorrow
The Financial Planning Association of Miami-Dade
Linda Gassenheimer
Dr. Diane Krieger
Miami Image Consultant
National Coalition of 100 Black Women
Dr. Dian Newman
Planned Parenthood
Brenda Rivera-Lopez
Anamargret Sanchez, Prana Yoga
The Village – SISTA Project
Suited for Success
Total Bank
University of Miami Institute for Individual and Family Counseling
Dr. Marilyn Volker
Women on the Rise!, Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami

Community Partners

Baer’s Furniture
BellSouth
Carls Furniture
Comcast
Conrad Miami
Dade County Bar Association Young Lawyers Section
Susan Galler and the Susan Galler Group
Gibraltar Bank
Hands on Miami/United Way
Law Offices of Matthew Dietz
LNR
Bruce Merwin, Documentarian
St. Philip’s Church
Telemundo
Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Gustavo Waizbrot, One Rockwell Design

Fundraising Partners

Susan Schaffer, 5809
Robin Molan, B.Dazzled!
Florida Association for Women Lawyers
Junior League of Miami
Key Biscayne Giving Circle
Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.
National Council of Jewish Women
NCJW Teens
South Miami/Kendall Bar Association
St. Sophia Philoptochos Society
Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Miami-Dade County
Zonta Club of Miami Lakes

Grant Partners

Children’s Trust
The Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation
The Ethel & W. George Kennedy Family Foundation, Inc.
Henry L. and Katherine Mills Charity Foundation
National Council of Jewish Women
Plymouth Congregational Church
Target Stores
Twenty Little Working Girls

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Visionaries

These first-funders of Casa Valentina are the epitome of women-focused grassroots organizing and philanthropy. Their belief in our cause helped mobilize a groundbreaking effort to help young women emerging from foster care in our community. One Visionary gathering turned into two and three and more. In the end, 180 fabulous women each donated $1,000 and laid the foundation for Casa Valentina to plant permanent roots in the community.

The result of their generosity: We opened the doors to our first apartment building in the fall of 2006. A one-of-a kind, commissioned piece of artwork is erected at the building in honor of all of our Visionaries and major donors.

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Casa Valentina/The Vagina Monologues Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Dogma Grill
Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta
Ellen & Philip Freidin
Junior League of Miami
Susan & Richard Lampen
The Micól Schejola Foundation
Perry Ellis International
Potamkin Companies
Sharon Gurman Socol & Howard Socol

Silver Sponsors

Mike & Constance Fernandez
Gibraltar Bank
Honey Shine Mentoring Program
Jane Katcher
The Langer Family
Mellon Bank

Bronze Sponsors

Advocates for Children & Families
Jill Nexon Berman & Berman Rennert Vogel & Mandler, P.A.
Shelly & Richard Bermont
Capitalink, L.C.
Stephanie R. Carter, Ph.D., P.A.
Jennifer Coberly
Gallagher Financial Systems, Inc.
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Kristine Michael
Lewis B. Freeman & Partners, Inc.
Marsha G. Madorsky, Esq.
Mr. & Mrs. David McCain
Gail Myers & Andy Hall
Lois Siegel
Diane Von Furstenberg

Tina Sponsors

Magali Abad
Sara Adler
Elizabeth S. Baker
Julie Bercow
Fran Berrin
Esther Bialilew
Nancy Billings
Barbara K. Bisno
Rachel Blechman
Ileana Bravo
Eileen Brieir
Pilar A. Bretos
Commissioner Barbara Carey-Shuler
Evelyn & Norman Cohan
Esther Terry Cohen
Arlyn Cypen
Melanie Damiam
Amy N. Dean
Carol Effrat
Colleen Fain
Nadine & Steve Foldes
Andrea Foley-Stapleford
Roberta Fox
Linda Gallant
Behna Gardner
Bunchy (Annabel) Gertner
Rita Glassman
Mary Gomez
Rene Gonzalez-Llorens
Fred Hazouri & Barbara Parier
Ilien Hechtman
Cynthia Barnett Hibnick
Dr. Lexi Hron

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