Happenings & Stories
BRIDGES Fundraises at Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza
Last week, the BRIDGES program collaborated with the Cypress Bay High School Best Buddies Club and National Honors Society for a fundraiser at Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza. The fundraiser had an amazing turnout and was very successful in raising...
Survivor: Visions Edition XXIV Conference
This year marked the 24th VISIONS Conference and Transition Institute, held at the Sirata Beach Resort and Conference Center in St. Pete. Many organizations, instructors, schools, and leaders came together to learn and be informed about transitioning outside of high...
BRIDGES visits the YMCA
This April, the BRIDGES students visited the YMCA in Weston. The students had the opportunity to tour the facilities, ask questions, and even got to try out some of the gym equipment. They learned all about what working at the YMCA looks like, and all the services the...
BRIDGES Takes a Trip to Weston Regional Park
This month, the BRIDGES class took a trip to the Weston Regional Park. The purpose for this trip was to do a team building exercise outdoors. The students all had a great time, and were excited to get out of their usual classroom setting. Everyone enjoyed the fresh...
BRIDGES visits City Hall
This month, the BRIDGES students got the opportunity to visit City Hall, specifically the City of Weston Emergency Operations Center, or EOC. The EOC building was just recently completed, and houses the EOC, IT Department, Fire Marshal, Police, and other safety...
Team Cypress Bay Top Fundraiser at 2017 DMF Walkabout Autism
The Dan Marino Walkabout Autism fundraiser is one of the best activities that this community puts on. Not only are the participants exposed to the many community celebrities, and provided different fun family activities, music and food; they do so with the backdrop of...
Second Annual Halloween Party
October 29th marked the Second Annual Halloween Party for the Cypress Bay BRIDGES program. Both Parents and HDS Foundation staff members were invited to celebrate with the class. HDS Foundation was very happy to be invited to this party and were ready to have some...
First Community Based Instruction: Office Depot
On September 21st, the students of Cypress Bay’s Social Skills class, sponsored by HDS Foundation’s BRIDGES grant, had their first community based instruction. The students went to Office Depot with a mission. They were instructed to work in groups to purchase items...
BRIDGES at Cypress Bay Prom 2016
The night of May 28th, 2016, is one Cypress Bay High School's BRIDGES’ graduating class will not soon forget. The whole gang suited up in their finest attire to attend their senior prom. After a pre-prom party of refreshments and picture-taking at Foundation President...
BRIDGES End of the Year Dinner
This month, the BRIDGES students had a fun-filled End of the Year Dinner. It was an enjoyable occasion where all of the students came in their best cocktail attire: cute dresses, and button down shirt and slacks. The venue was decorated with blue table cloths,...
DCDT Visions XXIV Conference
This year, the HDS Foundation and some of its Board Members are very excited to be traveling to sunny St. Petersburg, FL to attend the DCDT Visions XXIV Conference from May 3-May 5, at the Sirata Beach Resort and Convention Center. There, we will be attending...
HDS Lights It Up Blue
April 2nd has been declared by the United Nations as World Autism Awareness Day, and April as World Autism Month. This year, the Foundation, the HDS Companies, and the employees dressed in blue to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day. To celebrate World Autism...
BRIDGES Visits the Fire Department
Being a first responder is no easy task, but it is definitely an exciting profession to learn about. This month, the BRIDGES class was able to visit the Fire Department and learn about what it takes to be a firefighter. The BRIDGES students seemed very intrigued by...
BRIDGES visits A Painting Fiesta
This month, the BRIDGES class took a trip to A Painting Fiesta Art Studio for a social skills opportunity and fun outing. This trip allowed the students to explore their creativity through specific guidelines set forth by the studio. The social skills they used were...
Holiday Luncheon and Secret Elf 2017
On December 15th, the students of Cypress Bay High had their annual Holiday Luncheon and Secret Elf gift exchange. The wonderful luncheon took place at Chili’s for a second year. The HDS Foundation staff was able to join the classes festivities. The students picked...
Opening Bank Accounts with Bank of America
On October 1st, all the students of the Cypress Bay BRIDGES Social Skills class and their parents, who came to Cypress Bay for the day, met with a Bank of America representative. The Bank of American representative spoke to them about opening bank accounts for...
Our HDS Foundation Interns – Summer 2016
Over the course of this summer, the HDS Foundation has had two interns on board – Hope Sotolongo-Miranda and Benny Elfont. Hope and Benny have been incredibly helpful in their work at the HDS Foundation. Hope has been successful in putting...
BRIDGES Takes a Trip to Channel 10
On Thursday, May 4th, the BRIDGES students went on a field trip to visit the Channel 10 newsroom. Everyone was very excited to visit the newsroom and learn all about working in journalism. The students had a great time and even got to try out...
BRIDGES goes to Bit-by-Bit
This month, the BRIDGES students had the thrilling opportunity to visit the Bit-by-Bit Medical Therapeutic Riding Center. Bit-by-Bit is a Therapeutic Horse Ranch that provides healing with the help of horses and promotes the independence of those in need of therapy or...
College Living Experience Summer Residential Camp
The College Living Experience’s (CLE) Summer Residential Camp is a great way for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to transition from high school to post-secondary education. The students have a support system so they are not alone when they...
Dan Marino Campus and Open House
This month, the Dan Marino Campus will be hosting two open houses. The Dan Marino Campus provides post-secondary education for young adults aged 18 to 28 with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. There are two campuses, both located in South...
BRIDGES Community Networking Event
The BRIDGES Program was created by The HDS Foundation as a community partnership for high school students with Autism and other Developmental Disabilities, who are on a standard diploma track. The program addresses both mentoring, financial tools/education...
THRIVE Christmas Party
College isn’t just about going to class and writing papers. The full college experience includes meeting new people, making great friends, and having a blast. Social life is an essential and fun part of college, and that is no different for the Project THRIVE...
Second Community Based Instruction at Publix
On September 29th, the students of the BRIDGES Social Skills class at Cypress Bay had their second community based instruction. This one was similar to the first community based instruction at Office Depot, but there were lots of notable differences. This time the...
Cypress Bay BRIDGES Students Graduate 2016
Cypress Bay High School’s class of 2016 officially graduated on June 5at the University of Miami’s BankUnited Center. With a class of 1,100+ and a stunning graduation rate of 95%, it is no surprise that the social skills class seniors all received diplomas; some were...