Crockett Foundation's Annual Derby Days

Guests enjoyed entertainment, live musicians, celebrity guests, and “Best Dressed” and “Best Hat” contests. Raffle items included weekend getaways, restaurant dining, gift baskets, Miami Heat and Miami Marlins tickets and VIP concert tickets.

VIP guests included retired NBA player Eddie Jones, former NFL players Henri and Zach Crockett, Duane Starks, Cornelius Bennett and former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Danny Kanell. Public officials in attendance included Broward County Commissioners Barbara Sharief and Chip LaMarca and North Broward Hospital District Commissioners Darryl Wright, David DiPietro, Maureen Canada, David Nieland, Rocky Rodriguez and Sheela Van Hoose. Dr. Nabil El Sanadi, CEO of Broward Health, was also in attendance. Dr. Daniel R. Kanell, medical director of sports medicine and an orthopedic surgeon on staff at Broward Health Medical Center and Broward Health Imperial Point, was honored at the event with the Inspiration Award.

Event Sponsors included Orthopedix-MD, Audi Fort Lauderdale, Related Group, Sabbia Beach, David’s Wholesale, Premiere Beverage, Lifestyle Media and Hackleman, Olive & Judd, P.A.

Broward County leads the nation in the number of high school dropouts. According to research, many students drop out prior to high school because they cannot read, or because of delinquent behavior resulting from not being able to read. The Crockett Foundation’s School is Cool program, at Margate Middle School in Margate, Fla., Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4–6 p.m., focuses on improving literacy among middle school students. Students are encouraged to improve attendance, behavior and course performance through the engagement of technology. Students work with iPads and desktop computers to access online reference materials, complete math and reading exercises and play educational games. The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) approach is utilized to encourage students to embrace technology and develop skills that will help them throughout their lives.

“The Crockett Foundation has continuously been striving to build strong communities through our various educational, mentoring and tutorial programs since its inception in 2002” said Henri Crockett, founder and executive director of the Crockett Foundation. “The Derby Days Belmont Stakes Party was a unique fun-filled event; the outcome of which completed exceeded our expectations. We look forward to making the event even bigger next year.”

Photos by: Darryl Nobles