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As we celebrate Thanksgiving, it's not the size of the turkey or the rest of the food, it's really about how many blessings we have in our lives! 

It's not even the one day a year - if every day you consider just one thing - or perhaps more importantly, one person in your life for whom you are grateful, your attitude will change from insufficiency to abundance of what really matters to you.

If you haven't already begun a journey of gratitude, you can start today! Just do it and stay tuned for amazing results!

Greetings, CYP Friends!

Tis the season! I hope the start of this joyous season brings warm greetings to you 😊. The highlight of the month was the awesome opportunity we had to bless many of you with a turkey, pie, and gift card for Thanksgiving.

I hope you all enjoy the holiday and much-needed break! 

At the top of the month, it was great to see many of you attend the Kayaking trip at Okeeheelee Park. What a great day off to be out on boats relaxing in the beautiful weather.

Later in the month, Ritu and Haley, FAU Medical Interns, returned to the virtual platform to facilitate two amazing workshops on how to spend scholarship money and write an effective resume. If you missed the workshop, reach out to us so we can send you the recording 😉. 

I hope you all enjoy all the amazing things this winter season brings 😊. Don't forget to sign up for the holiday party on Saturday, December 21st. We hope to see you then!

Stay tuned for more fun, and don't forget to check out your event photos on our Instagram! Be sure to keep an eye out for upcoming activities as well.

Want to see pictures of you and your friends at the events? Visit (and follow!) our Instagram: @caregivingyouthproject.

Thank you.

Andreana Holliman, BA

What a great time we had Kayaking at Okeeheelee Park! The weather was perfect!

Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude and togetherness, and this year, AACY made sure Caregiving Youth and their families felt supported and appreciated.

Thanks to our amazing donors and volunteers, we delivered Thanksgiving meals, gift cards, and special gift baskets to many families in our program. These gifts were more than food and treats—they were a reminder that Caregiving Youth are valued and never alone.

With each meal and basket, we helped make Thanksgiving a little brighter for the families we served. Thank you to everyone who made this holiday one to remember!

Email Andreana Holliman at andreana@aacy.org for questions or details!

This part of the newsletter aims to give you a platform to share your stories and experiences and to raise awareness of the challenges and triumphs of being a caregiver in middle and high school.

You'll hear from Caregiving Youth from all over our CYP programs in Palm Beach County, caring for loved ones with various medical diagnoses and conditions. They will share their insights through writing prompts, creating a space for their voices to be heard.

We hope that you will find these stories inspiring and informative. We also encourage all of you to participate! Keep writing and sharing!

Rianna is in the 11th grade and is a Caregiving Youth for her mom, who was diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Her father works throughout the day and night, so being that she is the eldest female in the household/sibling in her family, she takes on much responsibility and has stepped up in areas where her mother is not able to.

One of the challenges she faces as both a student and a caregiver is the lack of support from her older brother. While she is capable of managing caregiving on her own, she wishes for a bit more assistance to help lighten her load.

A few of her responsibilities are taking care of her siblings at home, getting the kids ready in the morning for school on time, and preparing meals for the household. She also helps take care of her mom with her Activities of Daily Living, medication, and more.

She is a very bright student and is in the medical program at school and she has many goals and aspirations she will be attaining in the future despite her current circumstances.

One of the most rewarding aspects that come from being a Caregiving Youth is the appreciation that she receives from her family members and the CYP. Although they know that she would be caregiving in a heartbeat regardless, it feels good to simply hear a “good job.” She would also like to help child caregivers who are in her situation or similar in the future as well.

Thanks, Rianna, for telling us about what you do to help at home. Your story shows how tough and brave kids like you can be. By sharing, you'll get others to notice and care more about young people who look after their families. Keep being awesome!

Mentors are more than just helpers—they can be friends, coaches, and someone you can count on. The bond you build with a mentor often lasts much longer than school, bringing positive changes to your life and even your family.

At our recent AACY Community Caregiver Brunch, we got to hear Marc Charles share his story. Marc started with AACY in 6th grade and stayed involved all the way through high school. He talked about how AACY helped him grow into the person he is today. Even more inspiring was seeing his mentor, Eliot Popper, still by his side after all these years. Their story shows how strong and meaningful these connections can be!

This month, we celebrated something truly special: National Caregiving Youth Week, which took place November 11-17, 2024, during National Family Caregivers Month!

Thanks to Representatives Lois Frankel, María Elvira Salazar, and Barbara Lee, a bipartisan resolution was introduced to honor over 5.4 million Caregiving Youth in the United States. This week highlighted the incredible work you do every day—balancing school, friendships, and caregiving responsibilities for loved ones who are ill, injured, or disabled.

This recognition wasn’t just about acknowledgment—it was about making sure you know that you are seen, valued, and not alone. Leaders like Rep. Lois Frankel and her team have worked tirelessly to bring attention to the important role young caregivers like you play.

As we look toward 2025, we hope more state and federal governments will take action to include Caregiving Youth in policies that help caregivers of all ages.

From all of us at AACY: thank you for all that you do. This month was about YOU, and we are so proud to celebrate you!

This month, the City of Doral also did something amazing—they officially recognized Youth Caregiver Awareness Day! This special day honors kids and teens under 18 who take care of family members with chronic illnesses, disabilities, or age-related needs.

A huge thank you goes to Councilman Rafael Pineyro, who started this proclamation, and Angelica M. Ballestas, his Chief of Staff, for sharing her story about being a Caregiving Youth. Angelica’s bravery in telling her experience helped spread the word about the important work AACY is doing.

We hope this recognition will lead to more help for Caregiving Youth in Doral schools.

In the photo:

• Marisol Goffman, Assistant Director - AACY South Team
• Schmy Dieujuste, AACY Family Specialist

Thank you, City of Doral, for celebrating Caregiving Youth and their important role in their families and communities!

Join us and spread the word! To participate in our program, Caregiving Youth Project (CYP) participants must reside in Palm Beach County and can be referred through personal outreach, recommendations from school staff, or other organizations. Our support is provided both at school and in the home.

If you are a Caregiving Youth or know someone who is but they don't live in Palm Beach County, please encourage them to email us at info@aacy.org. We are committed to helping them find resources, no matter where they reside in the United States.

988 Crisis Hotline

We at AACY believe that prioritizing mental health is a year-round endeavor. When you're having a difficult time, it's important to seek help. Thankfully, there is a new phone resource available no matter where you are in the US!: Just dial the 9-8-8 hotline.

This hotline is available 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Don't suffer in silence - get help and keep hope alive.