ChildNet: A Look at One of the Chalik’s Favorite Children’s Charities

As a family-oriented law firm, the team at Chalik & Chalik values being a part of our South Florida community. Over the years, we’ve had the good fortune to be involved with a number of the state’s most highly respected non-profits and charitable organizations. One of the firm’s favorites is ChildNet, a charity helping children who have been victims of abuse, neglect and abandonment.

For about four years, we have had the privilege and honor to work with ChildNet by participating in its holiday gift-giving efforts. This includes providing at-need children with toys and other goodies they might otherwise go without. The program matches donors – like Chalik & Chalik – with children served by ChildNet or its partner agencies. Donors then purchase those items for ChildNet to later distribute.

“The staff each selected the name of a child or two and the firm also selected a few lists of children’s wishes,” co-founding partner Debi Chalik said of the past season’s efforts. “We then went to Target, Toys “R” Us and Best Buy to purchase the selected items.”

Each child’s wish list tends to be as unique as the child him- or herself. Some children request roller skates and toys, while others ask for an iPod or a camera. This past holiday season, Debi and Jason Chalik turned the event into a family affair by including their children in the gift-giving process.

“I took my children with me to show them that giving back is important,” Debi said.

More about ChildNet and How it Serves Florida’s Most Vulnerable Children

ChildNet is a private, non-profit organization selected by the Florida Department of Children & Families as the lead community-based care agency to serve Broward and Palm Beach Counties.

The organization’s field staff and supervisors serve many functions in the community, including:

• administering foster care and adoption;
• public awareness initiatives; and
• coordination with child welfare services. 

All told, ChildNet is responsible for 3,200 children within the region’s foster care system. The organization works with 40 agencies in Broward and Palm Beach Counties. The ultimate goal is to match each child with a safe, nurturing and permanent home.

While ChildNet has many resources at its disposal, the entity benefits greatly from the support of those in the community. This is especially true when considering ways to provide children with “something extra” at the holiday season.

The Chaliks first learned about ChildNet’s work when a staff member brought the charity to their attention.

“We discussed it with the office and the entire office became involved,” Debi said. “We like this organization because the kids let you know exactly what they want and we, as participants, can fulfill those wishes.”

Debi said the gifts are not basic necessities, but rather, “a little something to put a smile on each child’s face.” Debi – and our entire team – encourages others to get involved with ChildNet’s efforts in the community.

“We get more out of it than the kids do,” Debi said. “We come together as a law firm and we feel fortunate to do something positive. Each year, we help more children than the year before.”

The firm is committed to helping local parents and children in our communities, and we even discuss several parenting- and children-related topics in the Parent’s Corner section of our blog. And while we hope you’ll never have to, you can call us at 855-529-0269 if you believe you have a legal case and wish to discuss it in detail.