Bring a Hope Sunshine Club to Your School
For more than 20 years, Hope Sunshine Clubs have empowered students throughout Broward County to become leaders, advocates, and ambassadors for hope in their schools. Through student engagement, peer support, leadership development, and mental wellness activities, Hope Sunshine Clubs have helped create safer, more connected, and supportive school communities.
While Mental Health America of Southeast Florida has been working through the process of updating and aligning program language and materials to meet evolving school district requirements, we have continued to strengthen and maintain a fully vetted Hope Sunshine Club curriculum that remains available to participating schools.
Today, although dedicated funding for the program is limited, our commitment to students remains unwavering.
Continuing the Mission
Mental Health America of Southeast Florida is continuing to support Hope Sunshine Clubs while resources and supplies remain available. Every available dollar, resource, and volunteer effort is being invested directly into sustaining opportunities for students and schools that wish to participate.
We believe that students cannot wait for funding to experience connection, belonging, leadership opportunities, and positive mental health support. That is why we remain committed to keeping Hope Sunshine Clubs active while we pursue permanent funding and staffing solutions that will allow us to expand our reach.
Opportunities for Students
Students who actively participate in a Hope Sunshine Club may also be eligible to apply for the Hope Sunshine Club Anthony Alacca Scholarship Program during their senior year, recognizing their commitment to leadership, service, and promoting mental wellness within their school community.
Why Start a HOPE Sunshine Club?
✅ Promote positive mental health awareness and wellness
✅ Increase student connection, belonging, and peer support
✅ Develop youth leadership and advocacy skills
✅ Reduce stigma surrounding mental health challenges
✅ Encourage kindness, resilience, and emotional well-being
✅ Provide students with opportunities for community service and scholarship recognition
A Call to School Leaders
We invite principals, counselors, social workers, teachers, and student leaders to partner with us in sustaining and growing this important initiative. Schools interested in establishing or continuing a Hope Sunshine Club are encouraged to reach out.
Even as we seek long-term funding and dedicated staffing support, we do not want financial limitations to become barriers to student engagement. Our goal is to continue serving as many schools and students as possible while building support for the future of this proven program.
H.O.P.E Helping Overcome Problems Effectively
HOPE Sunshine Club
The HOPE Sunshine After-School Club no longer receives funding for this preventive service. We are actively seeking alternative support as state and federal funding priorities shift.
The HOPE Sunshine After-School Club is approved by the Broward County School Board for a full school-year curriculum that engages middle school, high school, and college students.
Club members host weekly meetings at each school that has an active HOPE Sunshine Club. In addition, the HOPE Sunshine Club Teen Board brings together representatives from each club to share information, collaborate, and support one another in strengthening their individual clubs.
Why Students Choose to Join a HOPE Sunshine Club — In Their Own Words
“What HOPE does is create a community where people can confide in each other and learn from each other as well. It’s a welcoming environment when the pressures of grades, family, or others can often become overwhelming. It’s also a club that gives opportunities for students to learn and grow by participating in events that expand their knowledge and empathy whilst creating a more understanding community as a whole.” [I.]
The importance of HOPE is to provide students with an open and welcoming environment to allow them to express themselves freely. This safe space is where relationships are built among students, and they can speak openly about anything on their mind or any struggles that they are facing. HOPE educates students about problem solving and how to healthily overcome issues while removing the stigma surrounding mental health. They’re also given the opportunity to help others and the community. HOPE actively spreads positivity.” [C.]
“HOPE gives everyone who feels helpless and alone a sense of family and love. We forget our differences and come together to help each other get through our problems and learn how to solve problems. Hope creates leaders and allows teenagers, and their parents, an opportunity to understand each other and build empathy. Hope gives you a chance to become a better version of yourself and be the change you want to see in the world. HOPE gives hope.” [O.]
I’m Thumbody
We are no longer working with Broward County Public Schools after many years of partnership. However, we are pleased to offer this program free of charge to any family wishing to share it with their child.
I’m Thumbody is a one-hour self-esteem program originally designed for second grade students. Since 1983, the program has reached more than 372,550 children in Broward schools. What began as a volunteer-led initiative expanded in 1997 through a funding grant from DCF/SAMH. Although that funding ended several years ago, I’m Thumbody continues to be a valuable tool for families and communities.
The program teaches children that they are unique and special—just like their thumbprints. It encourages respect for self and others, responsibility for attitudes and actions, and knowing where to go for safe help. These concepts support bully prevention efforts as well.
During the presentation, children are introduced to the idea of good mental health, the positive value of differences, and ways to turn negative thoughts into positive ones. They also learn the importance of talking about their feelings and strategies to manage anger in healthy ways.