Fort Lauderdale’s Jack & Jill Center marked a milestone Thursday, holding its 25th Annual Power Breakfast to raise money for early education programs serving working families across Broward County. Former Miami Dolphins center Mike Pouncey and his twin brother Maurkice served as keynote speakers, while WSVN-TV 7Sports anchor Donovan Campbell took the podium as master of ceremonies.
The event, held in Broward County, brought together more than 300 businesses and civic leaders from across the county, according to WSVN. A post from Jack & Jill Center marked the event’s return for its 25th year.
Pounceys Lend Their Platform to a Local Cause
Mike Pouncey, who spent years anchoring the Dolphins’ offensive line before retiring from the NFL, told those gathered that he wanted to support programs that help young people feel empowered, per WSVN’s reporting. He and Maurkice run the Pouncey Foundation, which the outlet reports is built on giving back to less fortunate people and supporting programs like Jack & Jill.
Both brothers were named keynote speakers for the breakfast, and the station’s report notes that Jack & Jill Center’s programs give children opportunities to pursue different paths in life. Their appearance underscored a broader mission: donations collected at the event will support children in South Florida, with event funds powering educational programming and resources for families, the same account states.
Decades of NAEYC-Accredited Programming
Jack & Jill Center provides NAEYC-accredited early education and family-strengthening services to high-need working families, according to the organization’s LinkedIn page. The Power Breakfast’s purpose is to raise funds to support that mission, and money brought in through the center’s events helps provide innovative education, supportive programming and community engagement, per the Jack & Jill Center website.
The Power Breakfast is one piece of a fundraising calendar that keeps the Fort Lauderdale nonprofit running throughout the year. The center’s site lists Light Up Downtown as its holiday-season event and Flip Flops on the Docks as its signature spring gathering, a fundraiser that has been voted Best Nonprofit Fundraiser by Fort Lauderdale Magazine in 2021, 2023 and 2024.
A Milestone Year for the Fundraiser
Reaching a 25th anniversary gives the Power Breakfast added weight this year, with organizers leaning on recognizable faces like the Pouncey twins and a familiar local broadcaster to draw a room full of business and civic leaders. WSVN reports the crowd came from across Broward County, reflecting the kind of community reach the center has built since its founding.
For a nonprofit whose annual events support its programs, Thursday’s turnout adds another chapter in a 25-year fundraising tradition aimed at giving Broward County’s youngest residents a stronger start. As Jack & Jill Center looks ahead to Light Up Downtown and next spring’s Flip Flops on the Docks, the breakfast continues that tradition.
