A CHRISTMAS BLESSING BY ANDREW CILLA

December 18 2014

This is the 10th year Freedom Waters patrons, Paul and Michelle Flanigan, have hosted the Freedom Waters Christmas Party at their lovely home located on the Intracoastal Waterway. The party took place as usual during the evening of the Fort Lauderdale Boat Parade.  Our guests were children with cancer, or other life threatening disabilities, and their families, all of whom have participated in Freedom Waters Foundation boat outings.  Close to 200 guests enjoy Paul and Michelle's hospitality, beautiful Christmas decorations, and the largest Christmas boat parade in the country.

I have the honor of serving as the Freedom Waters Foundation president.  It has provided me the privilege of spending time with many courageous young people.  The boy in the photograph above is Aref, a wonderful seventh grader whom I first met in 2011 when he and his family were guests on board my trawler, Rachel Ann, for a Freedom Waters Foundation day on the water.  Aref is cancer free today and spending time with him and so many other wonderful kids at our Christmas Party reminds me of why I stay so committed to the Freedom Waters Foundation cause.  The minute I saw Aref's big smile, I realized I was receiving the first of many special Christmas blessings.  Throughout the night, I continued to observe and relish the privilege of being in the company of so many very special people. Aref aboard my boat during a Freedom Waters Foundation Boat Outing 2011

On behalf of Freedom Waters Foundation, I would like to thank Paul and Michelle Flanigan, and all the volunteers who support our foundation, and to wish them, the kids, their families, the veterans and everyone with a life threatening disability a very Merry Christmas.

To learn more about Freedom Waters Foundation or make a donation go to  www.freedomwatersfoundation.org.