Danielle St. Hilaire
Danielle St. Hilaire started running away from home when she was only 12 to escape the verbal and physical abuse she suffered at home. The pain was so severe she tried to commit suicide three times, finally landing herself in a mental facility. When the hospital discharged her, Danielle's mother told authorities she no longer wanted to care for her daughter.
At age 13, Danielle became a product of the foster care system and lived in seven different group homes. She found herself face-to-face with teh law so many times that, at age 15, she was sent to the Eckerd Youth Alternative program in Brooksville, Florida for nine months. Although she had not passed the seventh grade, Danielle was able to earn her GED at the school. When she completed the program, she was placed at SOS Children's Village in Coconut Creek.
SOS Children's Village consists of 11 family houses that serve as a home for up to 60 children. The nurturing and support SOS provides prepares them to be productive members of society.
"SOS gave me the stability I needed to stay on the right path," said Danielle. "I finally felt like I had a real family, a positive home environment. I felt like a normal child."
While living at SOS, Danielle gained the skills she needed to live independently. She learned how to live in harmony with others, balance responsibilities and time commitment, handle chores and manage money.
Danielle is now 23 years old and is earning an information technology certificate at Miami College and works fulltime at Social Services Coordinators as a program analyst in Miami Lakes. She plans to qualify as a technology help desk representative and to complete Cisco Networking training.
United Way of Broward County is proud to support SOS Children's Village in efforts to provide the children of our community a safe, nurturing environment to live and break the cycle of abuse and neglect.
