(Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) – Linda Carter, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Broward, has announced that Ron Malec, a quiet champion for recovering addicts is the first recipient of the For Good Award. A Fort Lauderdale resident, Malec is the driving force behind Fort Lauderdale’s Keystone Halls’ recovery program. He received $30,000 to invest back into Keystone Halls’ nonprofit programs. The For Good Awards are part of the Community Foundation’s “Re-engage for Good” campaign aimed at ensuring new retirees can use their skills and interests to make a difference in their communities. “Ron’s decision to give back is one we hope the more than 250,000 Baby Boomers in Broward will emulate,” said Carter. “These Boomers are members of the largest, healthiest, best educated generation to ever approach retirement. Imagine their impact if, like Ron, they devote the second half of life to social entrepreneurship that makes our community better.” Also honored were Pat Owen, whose Second Chance Society’s Hand Up program provides clients the resources and training they need to become self sufficient, and Jackie Rosen, who spent the last 25 years channeling grief over her son’s suicide into a passionate crusade to help prevent this all too common tragedy through education, advocacy, research and support. These finalists received $10,000 each to support their causes. For Good Awards honorable mention recipients were Dr. Augustine McDaniel, Jack Drury and Mary Macomber. Dr. McDaniel is a passionate volunteer with the Broward Infant Health Practice Initiative (BIHPI) which implements the Shower to Empower program to address black infant mortality. Jack Drury founded the South Florida arm of the Wheel Chair Foundation and is a tireless fundraising volunteer for the organization. Mary Macomber, a strong champion for hunger, is a leader in a number of organizations and has worked to help move this issue forward in our community. The award was made possible by The Harry T. Mangurian, Jr. Foundation, Inc. with additional program support from AutoNation, Berkowitz Dick Pollock & Brant, Northern Trust, Lifestyle Magazines, the Sun Sentinel, New York Life, the Signature Grand and Content Creators. The Community Foundation received more than 70 nominations from across Broward County when it announced the For Good Awards’ search for social entrepreneurs 60 or older who were making a difference after retirement. Nominees included those working to improve the arts, education, healthcare, social services and many other areas impacting the Broward County community. Malec started off his career as a CPA in Chicago working for Arthur Andersen. He then became interested in real estate and spent the next 20 years creating a successful development business building single family homes, post offices and apartments. He was a millionaire by the time he was 31. Years later in 1988, the father of seven moved to Florida, but a battle with alcoholism left him destitute. Thanks to the intervention of therapy and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), he began helping others struggling with the same challenge as a volunteer with the Institutions Committee, which brings AA meetings into jails and hospitals. When he was approached to help turn a halfway house around, he jumped in with both feet. He tapped his years as a successful businessman and personal experience to transform Keystone Halls in Fort Lauderdale from an eight-bed program into a 93-bed, 12-home program for both men and women. Today, transitional housing and support services are offered to homeless alcoholics and persons with addictive disorders, as well as homeless veterans and persons recently released from prison. Keystone Halls offers a supportive, transitional environment with an emphasis on the individual taking responsibility for his or her own successes and failures. “I regard myself as a salesman,” he said. “I have to sell my clients on sobriety, so when someone does well I make a big deal about it.” When asked about this honor, Malec quickly changes the subject from himself to his mission, choosing instead to focus on how much the award money will help Keystone make up the shortfall of recent budget cuts. “We’re the best program around,” he says with pride. “Every person we keep off the streets and out of jail saves our community as much as $100,000 a year. It’s an extra plus when we get someone a job, too.” Malec and his fellow For Good Awards honorees represent a real trend in our society today. “Seniors are choosing work over a life of leisure, contributing to society while feeding the economy, too. Keeping our most seasoned workers in play is good for America,” stated writer Laura Vanderkam in a recent USA Today article, “This isn’t Grandpa’s retirement.” This trend is the essence of the Community Foundation’s Re-engage initiative to encourage people in their post-career years to use their time, talent and years of experience to improve our community and lead needed change. “Our goal is to foster a more engaged citizenry and a strong Broward,” said Carter. “Through Re-engage for Good new partners and innovative ideas will emerge. The potential to improve our community is tremendous.” To find out more about the Re-engage for Good program or to nominate someone for the 2012 For Good Award, contact the Community Foundation of Broward at www.cfbroward.org or 954-761-9503. The Community Foundation of Broward has been connecting people who care with causes that matter for the past 26 years. In addition to leading community solutions, it is the trusted steward of 400 charitable Funds, each crafted and professionally managed to fulfill the donors' unique charitable wishes…For Good. For Ever.