Congratulations Jonathan Carrillo: Nearly A Quarter Century Of Leadership To Hallandale Beach
By Stephen Cummings
February 8, 2024
The Kiwanis Club of Hallandale Beach presented Club President, Jonathan Carrillo with the President’s Award for outstanding leadership and service to the Hallandale Beach Community for nearly a quarter century.
Carrillo has served as Club Treasurer, Club Vice President, President Elect and President over his many years of membership. Jonathan has been recognized as building the Hallandale Beach Police Athletic League where he serves as Program Director with over 1,400 boys and girls participating in several different sports and activities. He has played a critical role in fundraising benefitting Kiwanis charities and had led efforts purchasing uniform shorts for all the students attending Gulfstream Academy, building the beautiful garden at the school and working on the committee for the very successful Family Science Night hosted at Foster Park with 100 attendees.
Jonathan has been employed by the City of Hallandale Beach for over thirty years beginning his career with the Parks and Recreation Department after graduating from the University of Florida.
Carrillo is highly organized and has displayed a natural affinity working with our youth making him a logical choice to be designated as the Program Director for the Hallandale Beach Police Athletic League when it was reorganized in our city in 2006.
From its nascent beginning, Jonathan is credited in building the bustling sports program to over 1,400 children participating in basketball, baseball, football, track and field, bowling, soccer and cheerleading.
Jonathan’s areas of expertise extends far beyond organized athletics as he excels in fundraising supporting the numerous programs within his organization.
The Annual Police Athletic League Comedy Show hosted at the Sport of Kings Room in Gulfstream Park attracts over 300 patrons treated to some of the most hilarious comedians. A buffet dinner is served before the show and ticket holders can participate in 50-50 raffles and bid on a wide variety of coveted items at the silent auction.
Well-known and respected within the community, Jonathan has had prizes donated to be raffled off to procure necessitated funds to run his programs. Recently, one lucky ticket holder won a round trip ticket on JetBlue.
Christmas time is a season for joy and happiness and Carrillo has been instrumental in ensuring that over 100 deserving children receive presents from Santa Claus in the Annual Shop With A Cop Event. Although our local Walmart has historically been very generous helping support this program where throngs of Local Law Enforcement and Civic Volunteers take the kids shopping with a gift card, the COVID-19 Pandemic did not deter Jonathan from continuing the tradition as he asked the children what they wanted and gifts were bought and distributed at Foster Park in Hallandale Beach.
Jonathan’s leadership abilities with the Kiwanis Club of Hallandale Beach have greatly contributed to the club’s success and longevity spanning thirty years.
Most recently, he championed an initiative with Kenny Cohan purchasing uniform shirts for all the students at Gulfstream Academy and organized a work party two years ago beautifying a garden at the school.
Each July, Jonathan can been seen volunteering at the sorting and packing location for the Kiwanis Christmas In July Extravaganza benefitting over 2,000 homeless youths providing shoes, socks, underwear, shirts, shorts, pants and toiletries and serving food at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise where the event takes place.
Each year at Thanksgiving, Jonathan ensures that our Kiwanis Club distributes turkeys to 100 needy families that he identifies and raises funds for providing complimentary bicycles and helmets for deserving children.
As the young athletes in PAL travel to competitions, Carrillo has utilized car washes and restaurant raffles and pasta dinners as a means to raise money.
In summary, Jonathan exhibits indefatigable energy and a gregarious disposition among his peers and club members revered by all the young adults whom he mentors.
The Kiwanis Club Of Hallandale Beach proudly congratulates Jonathan Carrillo on this latest accolade.