About Friends of DIP
 As we begin our 8th year as a tax exempt 501(c3) charity, we are proud of how far we have come in a relatively short time. Today, we have over 130 family and individual members. Our outreach programs and speaking engagements have brought many more supporters beyond our membership.
Working with the Broward Department of Parks and Recreation, we have helped promote Deerfield Island through expanded educational programs, activities and advocacy.
Completed projects include donating kayak storage racks, planting and maintaining the original butterfly garden, purchase of benches and chairs for the new outdoor classroom, and the developement of educational activities for kids visiting the island. Thanks to a grant from the "Claire Friedlander Famiy Foundation", we designed, purchased and installed the 3-dimensional Wingspan Exhibit. We were able to purchase the "Tony the Tortoise" sculpture and bring it to the island as the new mascot with donations from the local community.
We have been instrumental in developing an Ambassador program on the island to greet visitors, provide information and distribute educational material.
Thanks to our corporate supporter, JM Family Enterprises, Inc., we have donated $45000 to the parks department to complete an ADA compliant walkway for the new planned expanded Butterfly Garden.
2023 promises to be an active year for both FoDIP and theParks Department with many new projects in the works.
We are proud that the Friends of Deerfield Island Park has been a partner with the Broward Department of Parks and Recreation in establishing the island as a showpiece of what community input can accomplish with county government for it's citizens.
Meet our Board of Directors
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Diana Lopez
President |
Meryl Kafka
Vice President |
Karen Hutson
Recording Secretary |
Helene Wechterman
Treasurer |
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Laurie Capone
Director-at-Large |
Irene Devlin
Director-at-Large |
Kathryn Hendrickson
Director-at-Large |
Fred Kraske
Director-at-Large |
Shirley Lane
Director-at-Large |
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Mel Nass
Director-at-Large |
Phylis Philipson
Director-at-Large |
Beverly Schilke
Director-at-Large |
Caroline Steffan;
Director-at-Large |
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Ira Wechterman
Founder & Past President
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