A legacy of healing & leadership.

As a 30-year Parkland resident, a father, and a prominent corporate leader, Howard Dvorkin knew he could not sit idle in the immediate aftermath of the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School tragedy. Sitting at his kitchen table with his wife, Gwen, looking at their own children, the reality hit home that the tragedy had struck just miles from their door. For Howard, the understanding of trauma was deeply personal; having lost his father to a sudden heart attack at just 13 years old, he knew firsthand the long-term, unspoken rage and pain that unresolved grief can leave behind if individuals are expected to simply “toughen up” without professional support. He recognized that once the national news cameras left and the initial crisis counseling faded, the community would still face years of deep emotional trauma. Driven by this profound personal “why,” Howard and Gwen immediately stepped forward to ensure their neighbors would have a continuous, compassionate helping hand. Leveraging Howard’s decades of national leadership in consumer advocacy and organizational management, they partnered with local leaders to establish Parkland Cares, with Howard personally funding the foundation’s initial operating expenses to guarantee that every outside dollar went straight to healing. As the Chairman of Debt.com, he mobilized his corporate infrastructure and employees to provide the administrative, marketing, and technical resources needed to sustain the charity. Under Howard and Gwen’s foundational vision, the organization created a permanent funding pipeline that has delivered over $1.1 million in grants and tens of thousands of hours of free, specialized trauma counseling—ensuring that cost is never a barrier to mental health, hope, and long-term recovery for South Florida families.

As a longtime Parkland resident and the former PTA president for a number of years, Stacey’s ties to local schools run incredibly deep. All three of her children proudly attended and graduated from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. While her children had safely graduated before the tragedy took place, the heartbreak struck the very core of the classrooms she spent years supporting. Beside her husband, Michael Udine, the past Mayor of Parkland, past Mayor of Broward County, and current Broward County Commissioner, Stacey stepped forward to lead, spearheading foundational fundraising initiatives alongside Howard Dvorkin to ensure her neighbors would never walk alone. Her deep “why” is rooted in this unconditional love for her community. Serving as the heart of Parkland Cares, Stacey seamlessly bridged the gap between fundraising and helping trauma-informed care providers that guided her community gracefully along the path to long-term healing.

Christine’s connection to Parkland runs deep—it is where she raised her family and volunteered across local schools and charities for over two decades. On the day of the tragedy, her youngest son was inside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Having lived through that collective heartbreak as a mother, Christine’s “why” is rooted in a profound devotion to her neighbors. As Director of Operations, she provides a warm, compassionate hand to community members, listening to their stories and ensuring they are effortlessly guided to the right resources for healing.

Living just miles from Stoneman Douglas High School, Don experienced the tragedy both as a neighbor and a father. As a parent to four adopted children whom he fostered before adoption, Don’s natural instinct has always been to protect, comfort, and provide a safe harbor for children. A former NFL kicker and past South Florida Chapter President of the NFL Players Association, Don channeled his grief into action by rallying sports figures and local celebrities to the cause. He leverages these deep regional ties and corporate partnerships to build a sustainable network of care, ensuring families always have a helping hand pointing them toward recovery.

Having witnessed gun violence firsthand as a child, April has spent her life advocating for underserved communities dealing with emotional trauma. When the tragedy occurred, she was living in the next town over, watching the news unfold through the eyes of a mother with a high school student of her own. April joined Parkland Cares to turn pain into purpose, using her expertise to direct strategic communication and champion authentic storytelling across national media. By de-stigmatizing trauma recovery, April ensures that survivors are heard, comforted, and backed by the long-term mental health funding they deserve.

As a resident of neighboring Coral Springs and the father of a recent high school graduate at the time of the shooting, Evan felt an immediate, urgent need to protect the community his family calls home. His “why” is centered on creating a secure, reliable foundation so that no family has to grieve or heal alone. By providing rigorous fiscal oversight and transparent resource strategy, Evan ensures that every dollar donated is maximized for therapeutic impact, directly funding the localized grants and hands-on care that guide individuals step-by-step toward peace.