Extraordinary Foster Dad Recognized for Helping Struggling Young People in Care

May 11, 2022

Port St. Lucie - Sometimes, all a child needs is an adult willing to take a chance.

Larry Lack took that chance in March of 2021, when he opened his Port St. Lucie home for the first time to children in the local foster care community. He hasn’t shied away from a challenge since.

“During his first year as a foster parent, he welcomed 14 boys into his home – many of whom had challenging behaviors,” said Jill Poole, licensing and caregiver support director for Community Connected for Kids, the organization that oversees the child-welfare community in Indian River, Martin and Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties. “Mr. Lack was willing to see past what was reported to him on paper, opening up his home and heart to give these young men a chance.”

CCKids recently awarded Lack the Topaz GEM – or Going the Extra Mile – award for his dedication to foster care. The recognition is part of a series of awards given throughout the year to caregivers and employees in the CCKids community of care.

“He has shown great dedication to our youth in the very short period of time he’s been licensed,” Poole said. “He goes out of his way to show them how much he cares.”

Lack received a plaque and a $100 gift card as part of his award. He proudly displays the plaque, but he used the gift card for the children in his home.

“I have never experienced a time in my life that I was ever abused or did not have enough to eat,” he said. “I have been blessed in my life and I wanted to do what I could to help kids that were going through traumatizing times.”