Agenda 03/12/2019 Item #5A03/12/2019
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Presentation of the 2019 “Against All Odds” award to Christina Harding-Cruz.
OBJECTIVE: To present the 2019 “Against All Odds” award to Christina Harding-Cruz.
CONSIDERATIONS: The annual “Against All Odds” award program recognizes individuals who have
overcome great challenges that most of us have not faced and who, despite their circumstances, have
excelled and given back to the community.
At their meeting on January 22, 2019, agenda item 16.E.3, the Board approved staff’s recommendation to
name Christina Harding-Cruz as the recipient of the 2019 award.
Ms. Christina Harding-Cruz grew up in Immokalee, one of five children in a single parent household.
Her father suffered from alcohol abuse and, like many who suffer from that di sease, he could not be there
for the family like he may have wanted. Her father’s absence was difficult for Christina’s family, both
emotionally and financially. Christina, her mother and four siblings lived in a one -bedroom “shack”
dwelling until moving in with relatives; 15 people living together in a three-bedroom trailer. Christina
always admired her mother because her mother gave up everything she had to make sure there was food
on the table, including pawning most of her valuable belongings.
Christina knew at a young age that she wanted to work hard and dedicate herself to helping others. While
in high school, she received college credits through the dual enrollment program and graduated high
school with an associate’s degree. In 2017, she earned her bachelor’s degree with magna cum laude
honors. Christina was the first in her family to graduate from high school and college. She founded
“Love is Not an Option,” a group that helps the homeless in Immokalee and has volunteered her time at
several non-profit agencies, including the Pace Center for Girls where she worked with at-risk young
women and was eventually offered a job leading programs. Christina currently works full-time at the Pace
Center and is pursuing a master’s degree in social work from the University of Central Florida. Despite
incredible hardship, Christina has grown to be a selfless and determined young woman who empowers
others and makes a positive impact on lives in Collier County.
FISCAL IMPACT: The cost of the award and engraving did not exceed $135.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: There are no Growth Management impacts.
RECOMMENDATION: To present the 2019 “Against All Odds” award to Christina Harding-Cruz.
PREPARED BY: Mike Sheffield, Director, Communication and Customer Relations
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. Nomination of Christina Harding-Cruz (PDF)
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03/12/2019
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 5.A
Doc ID: 8043
Item Summary: Presentation of the 2019 “Against All Odds” award to Christina Harding-Cruz.
Meeting Date: 03/12/2019
Prepared by:
Title: Executive Secretary to County Manager – County Manager's Office
Name: MaryJo Brock
02/14/2019 10:47 AM
Submitted by:
Title: County Manager – County Manager's Office
Name: Leo E. Ochs
02/14/2019 10:47 AM
Approved By:
Review:
Communication and Customer Relations Mike Sheffield Additional Reviewer Completed 02/22/2019 11:56 AM
Administrative Services Department Len Price Additional Reviewer Completed 02/26/2019 4:54 PM
County Manager's Office Leo E. Ochs County Manager Review Completed 02/28/2019 4:08 PM
Board of County Commissioners MaryJo Brock Meeting Pending 03/12/2019 9:00 AM
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reaklng th, cycl, of poverty throush ,du,atlon
November 2, 2017
Nominee: Christina Harding Cruz
Jorge Perez, Guadalupe Center Tutor Corps College Coordinator
Christina Harding-Cruz has been successful against all odds. Growing up in lmmokalee, Florida
as one of five children was challenging for Christina and her single mother. Her father was not
around and suffered from alcohol abuse. As with many that battle this decease, her father
could not be there for her family like he may have wanted to. Christina recalls her 5th grade
graduation, waiting for her father to come and witness her accomplishment, but he never made
it .
Her father's absence was not only hard for Christina and her family emotionally, but also
financially. Growing up in a single parent home was tough. Christina grew up in a one -bedroom
shack before eventually moving in with relatives, 15 of them living in a three -bedroom trailer.
Christina has always admired her mother because she gave up everything she had to make sure
they had food on the table, including pawning off most of her valuable belongings.
Christina always knew she wanted to help others. She seized all of the opportunities that she
could so that she could be successful in reaching her goals. While in high school, Christina
joined several organizations including the Guadalupe Center's Tutor Corps Program. Through
this program, she tutored academically at risk students in grades K - 2nd after school, received a
wage and college prep, and accrued scholarship money for college . In addition, she began
taking college credits through the Dual Enrollment Program at lmmokalee High School and
eventually began her college career at Valencia Community College in Orlando, Florida.
Receiving her Associates degree from Valencia in only one year, she transferred to Florida Gulf
Coast University where she majored in Social Work. She graduated with a Bachelor degree in
May 2017 with Magna Cum Laude honors.
Christina's life goal is to help everyone she can because as she says, "Love Is Not an Option".
This is the same name of the group Christina founded to help the homeless in the lmmokalee
community. During the 2016 holiday season, Christina collected variou s items and distributed
them personally to the homeless in the community. She felt this population's needs were not
being met and she wanted to do something about it herself. She looks to continuing this event
again this year, and for many more years to come.
And as if all this were not enough, Christina began volunteering at the Pace Center for Girls
working with the at -risk young women of lmmokalee. She was eventually offered a job at Pace
which she accepted because she wanted to lead and mentor the pro gram's young women. She
initiative a number of new programs including Leadership Mondays and Tutoring Tuesday to
help build confidence, leadership, and life skills using the "7 habits of Highly Effective Teens".
5.A.1
Packet Pg. 27 Attachment: Nomination of Christina Harding-Cruz (8043 : Against all Odds Presentation)
In a continuation of what Christina feels is her life's work, Christina now works for the David
Lawrence Center as a Forensic Specialist. She is responsible for more than 80 cases, serving as
an advocate and liaison with the court system for her clients that fal l under Florida State U Stature 9.16 (clients that are incompetent to proceed or not guilty by reason of insanity).
Christina is truly committing her life to helping others, not just in words, but in everyday
actions.
Future plans call for completion of a Master's degree in Social Work beginning this year at
Florida Gulf Coast University. She hopes to run her own non -profit organization and wants to
continue focusing on helping young women. She says she sees so much potential in them, and
as with her own personal journey, she knows that they can overcome any challenges they face.
They just need a little help.
Mailing Address
Christina Harding Cruz
3481 Carson Lakes Circle
lmmokalee, FL 34142
5.A.1
Packet Pg. 28 Attachment: Nomination of Christina Harding-Cruz (8043 : Against all Odds Presentation)
Collier County Board of County Commissioners
“Against All Odds” Award Program
Nominee:
Christina Harding, 239-246-0177, christinaharding@yahoo.com
Nominated by:
Noemi Y. Perez, The Immokalee Foundation Executive Director
239-430-9122, Noemi.Perez@Immokaleefoundation.org
Submit by Dec. 31, 2018 to:
Communication and Customer Relations Division
Maria Pizarro, 239-252-8113, maria.pizarro@colliercountyfl.gov
Nomination (600 words maximum):
Christina Harding was in elementary school when her young life went from one type of difficult to
another.
Her family had been struggling financially and with an abusive father. When her parents separated and
her father died, Christina, her four siblings and her mother moved into a three-bedroom trailer with 11
other relatives in Immokalee.
For four years, they ate their meals in soup kitchens, shared rooms in a small dwelling, and barely got by.
During that time, Christina developed a resolve to better her life. In seventh grade, having done very well
in school, she was accepted into the Take Stock in Children college scholarship program through The
Immokalee Foundation.
“The Immokalee Foundation has brought out so much in me that made me into the woman I am today,”
she said. “They believed in me and helped me to believe in myself, equipping me with essential life skills,
college prep, ACT training, tutoring and so much more."
She was also growing into an empathetic person with a keen understanding of what others in similar
circumstances were going through.
She became the first in her family to graduate from hi gh school and go on to college, where she studied
social and human services at Florida Gulf Coast University and graduated with a 4.0 GPA. While an
FGCU student, she founded Love Is Not an Option, a project to help local homeless people obtain
necessary personal items.
“I saw a need in our community, so in December 2015, I created a partnership with Catholic Charities to
host my first event,” she explained. “Individuals suffering from homelessness are invited and given a
meal, along with a bag full of sanitary items. Various agencies and local churches all donate or help
collect items, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, Band-Aids, shampoo, soap and socks, as well as snacks
and cards with words of encouragement.”
In partnership with St. Matthew’s House and Catholic Charities, Christina recently expanded the program
to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she had visited a few years ago and noticed a large homeless population.
Tulsa residents have taken the reins since then; her goal is to develop the program to a national level.
With a partner, she also started a weekly support group for young people, and another for women in need
of emotional healing at Friendship Baptist Church.
In the meantime, she is pursuing a master’s degree from University of Central Florida and expect s to
complete her degree in December 2019.
5.A.1
Packet Pg. 29 Attachment: Nomination of Christina Harding-Cruz (8043 : Against all Odds Presentation)
While pursuing higher education, Christina has gained work experience as a forensic social worker at the
David Lawrence Center and PACE Center for Girls, where she now works full time.
Christina has helped with The Immokalee Foundation fundraisers and assisted summer counselors in
activities with the Boys and Girls Clubs.
She has been the recipient of multiple scholarships, including the Greater Naples AAUW, a prestigious
women’s club empowering girls.
In addition to working full time for PACE, Christina will be starting a year-long internship in January as a
medical social worker for NCH Healthcare.
“My prayer as a kid was to make a difference in thousands of lives, and it’s happening. I’m living my
dream, but my story continues. I can’t wait for the next chapter after my master’s degree program,” she
said.
Despite incredible hardship, Christina Harding has become a pers on who empowers others and makes a
positive impact on lives in Southwest Florida.
Christina deserves to be recognized because she is a selfless, courageous, and determined young woman
who exemplifies the meaning of the “Against All Odds” award.
5.A.1
Packet Pg. 30 Attachment: Nomination of Christina Harding-Cruz (8043 : Against all Odds Presentation)