Community-Based Connections Hosts Green Blazer Gala

The annual event gathered 250 guests in Fort Lauderdale to support youth and family programming.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Philanthropy

Community-Based Connections Hosts Green Blazer Gala

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Community-Based Connections, Inc. recently hosted its fifth annual Green Blazer Awards Gala at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Convention Center. Nearly 250 guests attended the ceremony to celebrate local achievements and support the organization's mission.

Why it matters

Proceeds from the gala provide essential funding for CBCI fatherhood mentoring and family strengthening initiatives. These programs support the organization's broader efforts to improve social outcomes across Broward and Palm Beach Counties.

The organization served 4,000 people and 2,000 families last year, up from its operational baseline over 16 years of service. During this time, the group also conducted 68 fatherhood group session meetings.

The players

Community-Based Connections, Inc.

This organization operates throughout Broward and Palm Beach Counties to provide youth development, family strengthening, and fatherhood mentoring services.

Kirk Brown

He was recognized as an award recipient at the fifth annual Green Blazer Awards Gala.

Carol Hylton

She was honored with an award at the Green Blazer Awards Gala held in Fort Lauderdale.

Brian C. Johnson

He received a green blazer award for his contributions to the community.

Newton Sanon

He was among the individuals celebrated for their service at the recent CBCI awards event.

The details

The gala featured a cocktail reception, seated dinner, live music, and an awards presentation where honorees Kirk Brown, Carol Hylton, Brian C. Johnson, and Newton Sanon received branded green blazer jackets. CBCI has recently expanded its operational footprint to include a new office in Riviera Beach.

The gala was held in October 2026.
CBCI provided 15,000 hours of case management services over the last year.

Market Landscape

The organization's expansion into Riviera Beach follows the regional pattern of scaling community-based social service models to reach wider populations. This move positions the nonprofit to increase its service density across the competitive South Florida social service sector.

Residents in Broward and Palm Beach Counties may see increased availability of fatherhood mentoring and case management resources following the organization's growth. The gala highlights the continued reliance on donor support to maintain these free family services.

The takeaway

Supporting community-based nonprofits is a direct way to bolster local family and youth service capacity. Residents interested in long-term impact should review organizational performance metrics to see how their donations fund measurable hours of care.