Amigos For Kids

Amigos For Kids, also known as Amigos Together For Kids, is a United States 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1991 by Jorge A. Plasencia. Based in Miami, Florida, the organization works to prevent child abuse and neglect by valuing children, strengthening families, and educating communities. Its programs have primarily served children and families in underserved neighborhoods across South Florida, with a particular emphasis on communities within the Miami area. The organization combines direct services, family education, community outreach, public-awareness work, and fundraising. Its best-known activities include an after-school program at Jose Marti Park, parenting and family workshops, an annual toy drive, and public-service campaigns addressing child abuse and neglect. The Jose Marti Park program was developed through a public-private partnership with the City of Miami and has provided after-school support to more than 100 underprivileged children. The program model reflects Amigos For Kids' broader approach: pairing practical assistance for children with efforts to improve family stability and community awareness. Amigos For Kids has also used entertainment, sports, arts, and media events to broaden attention to child-protection issues. Its Celebrity Domino Night became a major fundraising and visibility event, attracting public figures, entertainers, athletes, and corporate sponsors. The organization has received support or participation from figures including Gloria Estefan, Marc Anthony, Pitbull, Ingrid Hoffmann, María Elena Salinas, and others. It has organized holiday and Thanksgiving assistance, including toy distributions and meal programs for families facing hardship. In 2010, Amigos For Kids expanded its public-awareness message nationally through Spanish-language and other public-service announcements aimed at United States Hispanic audiences. The organization has trademarked the phrase "There's No Excuse for Child Abuse!" in English, Spanish, and Creole, reinforcing its multilingual outreach strategy. Its work has also included partnerships with civic leaders, companies, artists, and media personalities. In 2017, the group collaborated with República on Broken Crayons, an art and public-service campaign that transformed children's drawings into an immersive presentation about the often-overlooked signs of child abuse. The organization is governed by a volunteer board of directors and has been associated with the National Council of La Raza, now known as UnidosUS. Rosa Maria Plasencia is identified as President and CEO, while Nicole Valls is identified as chair of the board. Amigos For Kids remains an active nonprofit whose work centers on child-abuse prevention, family support, educational programming, and direct assistance for children in South Florida.

Amigos For Kids was established in 1991 by Jorge A. Plasencia as a nonprofit response to child abuse, neglect, and the wider social pressures affecting children and families. Operating from Miami, the organization developed a mission centered on prevention rather than intervention alone. It sought to protect children by educating communities, supporting parents, and creating practical programs for children living in underserved areas. One of the organization's notable initiatives was an after-school program at Jose Marti Park in Miami. Developed through a partnership involving Amigos For Kids and the City of Miami, the program provided structured support for more than 100 underprivileged children. The initiative represented a public-private model in which community resources and nonprofit expertise were combined to offer children educational and recreational support outside school hours. Over time, Amigos For Kids expanded its work into parenting education, family workshops, community presentations, and direct assistance. Its annual toy drive became a recurring holiday program for disadvantaged children, while food and meal distributions addressed immediate family needs. The organization also developed a public profile through fundraising events, particularly Celebrity Domino Night, which used participation by celebrities, athletes, artists, and corporate sponsors to generate resources and attention for child-protection work. Public education became a central part of the group's identity. Amigos For Kids trademarked the phrase "There's No Excuse for Child Abuse!" in English, Spanish, and Creole, allowing it to communicate its prevention message across multilingual communities. In 2010, it expanded the message through public-service announcements aimed at Hispanic audiences throughout the United States. This national outreach complemented its direct work in South Florida and reflected the organization's focus on culturally relevant communication. The organization has maintained relationships with civic officials, national Hispanic organizations, entertainers, businesses, and professional athletes. It was identified as an affiliate of the National Council of La Raza, now UnidosUS, and has been governed by a volunteer board. Publicly identified leaders include board chair Nicole Valls and President and CEO Rosa Maria Plasencia. Amigos For Kids continued to combine fundraising with awareness-building during the 2010s. In 2013, it worked with Miami Heat player Ray Allen on the distribution of Thanksgiving meals. In 2015, it benefited from fundraising associated with actor Gabriel Coronel, received reported support through a Verizon donation initiative, and held Celebrity Domino Night at Jungle Island with corporate sponsorship from Bacardi and Lincoln Motor Company. In 2017, Amigos For Kids partnered with República on Broken Crayons. The project transformed children's drawings into an immersive art experience designed to expose the emotional reality of child abuse and emphasize that warning signs and requests for help can be overlooked. The campaign illustrated the organization's longstanding use of creative media to reach audiences beyond traditional social-service settings. Through these programs and partnerships, Amigos For Kids has developed a model that links child-abuse prevention, family strengthening, community education, and material support. Its principal geographic focus remains South Florida, while its public-service campaigns have reached wider United States audiences, especially Hispanic communities.

• 2017

  Broken Crayons awareness exhibit

  [1]Amigos For Kidsen.wikipedia.org

  In partnership with República, Amigos For Kids presented Broken Crayons, an immersive art and public-service project about child abuse.

• 2015

  Expanded fundraising and corporate support

  [1]Amigos For Kidsen.wikipedia.org

  Amigos For Kids benefited from several fundraising and donation activities, including support associated with Gabriel Coronel, Verizon, and Celebrity Domino Night.

• 2013

  Thanksgiving meal partnership

  [1]Amigos For Kidsen.wikipedia.org

  The organization collaborated with Ray Allen to distribute 250 Thanksgiving meals.

• 2010

  National public-service campaign

  [1]Amigos For Kidsen.wikipedia.org

  Amigos For Kids expanded its prevention message through public-service announcements aimed at Hispanic audiences across the United States.

• 1991

  Organization founded

  [1]Amigos For Kidsen.wikipedia.org

  Jorge A. Plasencia founded the nonprofit organization that became known as Amigos For Kids to address child abuse, neglect, and family needs.

A Miami-centered child-welfare nonprofit that combines prevention education, family support, direct assistance, and high-visibility multicultural awareness campaigns.

• After-school services

  Jose Marti Park After-School Program

  A public-private program created with the City of Miami to provide structured after-school support for more than 100 underprivileged children at Jose Marti Park. It is one of the organization's clearest examples of combining municipal resources with nonprofit child and family services.

• Family education

  Parenting and Family Workshops

  Workshops and parenting programs delivered in the Miami area to help families address child development, parental responsibilities, and the prevention of abuse and neglect. These activities support the organization's emphasis on strengthening families as a means of protecting children.

• Direct assistance

  Annual Toy Drive

  A recurring holiday initiative that collects and distributes Christmas gifts for disadvantaged children. The toy drive provides direct material assistance while also engaging donors and community members in the organization's broader child-welfare mission.

• Fundraising event

  Celebrity Domino Night

  A high-profile annual fundraising and awareness event built around dominoes, celebrity participation, entertainment, and corporate sponsorship. The event has helped Amigos For Kids attract public attention and financial support for its programs.

• Public awareness

  Child-Abuse Prevention Public-Service Campaigns

  Multilingual awareness work centered on preventing child abuse and neglect, including the trademarked message "There's No Excuse for Child Abuse!" in English, Spanish, and Creole. The organization has used broadcast and community communications to reach Hispanic and other audiences.

• Arts-based awareness campaign · 2017

  Broken Crayons

  An immersive 2017 art exhibit created with República that used children's drawings to communicate the hidden reality of child abuse. The campaign focused on how signs of abuse and children's attempts to seek help may be overlooked.

• 2017Broken Crayons

  South Florida

  Amigos For Kids and República created an immersive exhibition from children's drawings to show the emotional impact of child abuse and the ease with which warning signs can be missed.

  Outcome. Used art and experiential storytelling to make child-abuse prevention more visible to the public.

  Source
• 2010National Child-Abuse Prevention Public-Service Announcements

  United States · Hispanic communities

  A national awareness effort using public-service announcements to communicate child-abuse and neglect prevention messages to United States Hispanic audiences.

  Outcome. Extended Amigos For Kids' traditionally South Florida-focused message to a broader national audience.

  Source
• Annual Toy Drive

  South Florida

  A recurring holiday campaign collecting Christmas gifts for children from disadvantaged families.

  Outcome. Provides seasonal assistance to children and mobilizes community donors.

  Source

1. 1Amigos For Kidsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Amigos For Kids official websiteamigosforkids.org