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22 x April 15 — May 5, 2021 x www.SouthwestOrlandoBulletin.com Ameena Malik admits she’s “a little bit of an overachiever,” but the Bay Hill resident and 20-year-old University of Florida junior is more than a little motivated. The daughter of physician parents, Ameena is a licensed Realtor, pre-med major and the CEO/founder of her own nonprofit agency, Malik Supportive Housing Services. Founded July 2020, Malik Supportive Housing Services was born from Ameena feeling “profoundly affected” by the COVID-19 pandemic. Heartbroken and overwhelmed, she wanted to do something to help and soon realized she could put her acquired skills to work with her most valuable resource, the real estate license she obtained in 2019. Her housing organization — maliksupport iveservices.com — works by scouring parks and shelters for homeless clients with the help of Ameena’s brother. The clients are found acceptable housing free of charge, and once off the street, the new residents are provided financial literacy information and other services to help them get back on their feet. To date, Malik Supportive Housing Services has assisted a dozen clients in just seven short months. The funding for this monumental endeavor comes from investors, Realtors and solicitation mailings. Ameena recently learned grant-proposal writing and submitted 10 grant applications SOUTHWEST Selfless Service to Others Bay Hill Resident Makes a Difference Ameena Malik of Bay Hill, a pre-med student at the University of Florida, supports people in need of housing. to corporations, the state of Florida, and private foundations whose missions include a focus on eliminating homelessness. She also consults with Habitat for Humanity and is looking for other collaborative partners. Working from her college apartment, Ameena enlists the help of friends and family SPOTLIGHT by Leona Braun members — including her three siblings Ali, Aleena and Aliya — to achieve her goals. “My mom calls us her A-Team,” Ameena said. The organization also employs a paid fulltime program director with a background in social service, referred to Ameena by her mentor and part-time secretary. In all, her team consists of five dedicated individuals and many family volunteers. “Without them, there would be no program,” Ameena said. A graduate of Orlando Science Schools’ gifted program, Ameena hopes to attend medical school at either the University of Central Florida or University of South Florida. “It’s important that my family be nearby,” she said. “My ultimate goal is to return to my Orlando community to be an effective contributor and the best version of myself.” Growing up in an extended family of many physicians, Ameena spent her high school years volunteering in hospitals and health clinics, even serving as a physician’s personal assistant. Her mother, Nasreen Razack-Malik, M.D., refers to Ameena as “an experienced humanitarian and extraordinarily committed to academics and community service.” Ameena is passionate about medicine and medical research. Someday, she hopes to find the right balance of healing patients while delving into the mysteries of medicine. “Patient interaction will always be an important part of my medical career,” she said. Ameena hopes to bring heightened awareness to her cause of getting people in need off the streets and into homes. She intends to oversee and expand the housing services program well beyond medical school and plans to offer accredited internships to work in the program as well as specific life skills training for the clients. She hopes her peers will learn from her example. “If you have a good idea, research it,” Ameena said. “Do something. It will be very rewarding.” If you know someone who could be helped by Malik Supportive Housing Services or if you would like to volunteer, email them at mshservices2020@gmail.com, call 407-993- 2115 or visit maliksupportiveservices.com. ª Now Open 12500 Overstreet Rd. Windermere, FL 34786 Oversteet Rd. is 1/4 mile south of the intersection of Chase Rd. and Hwy 535 in Windermere. Open 7 days a week from 9-5 beckblueberries11@gmail.com WE NOW HAVE 2 LARGE HAND WASHING STATIONS. EQUIPMENT IS SANITIZED BETWEEN USES. PLENTY OF ROOM FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING.
n Pulse tragedy remembrance exhibition Representatives of the Orange County Regional History Center announced details of the special remembrance exhibition, Community: Five Years After the Pulse Tragedy, designed to reflect how the tragedy’s impact extended well beyond the physical boundaries of Central Florida. The exhibition will be on display through Aug. 15, 2021, at 65 E. Central Blvd. in downtown Orlando. Communities both locally and across the globe were touched by the mass shooting at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub on June 12, 2016. Visitors to the exhibition can follow the story of the club, from its earliest conception through 2016, as well as the widespread response to the devastating event, both immediately and in the years since. By telling this important part of Pulse’s collective history, the history center seeks to celebrate the spirit of community and honor the 49 victims and all those who were affected. Free admission will be offered June 5 through June 13. For more information, visit www.thehistorycenter.org/ exhibition/community-pulse/. n Kiwanis Club of Orlando celebrates 100 years The Kiwanis Club of Orlando (KCO), one of Central Florida’s most active, involved community service organizations, is celebrating 100 years of helping children. The club, which has contributed more than $7.5 million to community organizations in addition to countless thousands of hours of volunteer time, will celebrate its century of service throughout its 100th year — which began Oct. 1, 2020 — with a wide variety of special events. The KCO 100-Year Anniversary Gala will culminate with a fundraising gala Sept. 18 at a Central Florida golf club. As the highlight of the gala, KCO’s foundation will award grants totaling $160,000. Four community organizations from 19 nominated by KCO members will receive grants. One organization will receive $100,000, and three will receive $20,000 each. NEWS & BUSINESS BRIEFS www.SouthwestOrlandoBulletin.com x April 15 — May 5, 2021 x 23 compiled by Lauren Salinero The Kiwanis Club of Orlando sponsors Edgewater High School’s Key Club for more than 50 years. n Lighthouse of Central Florida receives $7,000 in donations Lighthouse Central Florida received two grants from Orlando West Orange Chamber of Commerce representatives held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of a Sonny’s BBQ in Ocoee. Elks Lodge 1079, totaling $7,000. The nonprofit will use the donations to provide education, independent life skills, and jobreadiness training and coaching to Central Floridians living with Orlando Elks Lodge 1079 presents one of two $3,500 checks to Lighthouse of Central Florida. Pictured (l. to r.) are Aubie Dingwell, five-year trustee; Ralph Vemos, acting exalted ruler; Georgiana Tynes, director of fund development; and Beatrice Lopez Masso, marketing and development coordinator. WOCC builds partnerships, strong businesses and commitment to the community by serving as the leading business advocate in Central Florida, vision impairment or blindness, along with their families. Celebrating its 45th anniversary this year, Lighthouse is the only nonprofit provider of life-changing vision rehabilitation services in Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties. BUSINESS BRIEFS Orlando Ballet School officials announced the school’s status as the only American Ballet Theatre-certified school in the Southeast. Last month, students ages 7-16 completed their ABT testing. The school’s high-quality dance-training curriculum emphasizes dancer health and child development, in addition to following the ABT technique. Orlando Ballet School’s summer dance camps start June 7. For more information, visit orlandoballet.org. The First Academy will hold an open house April 21. Virtual tours are also available. Founded in 1986, TFA is a Christ-centered, college-preparatory, private school that serves more than 1,450 students from preschool through grade 12. To RSVP for the open house, visit thefirstacademy.org/new. photo courtesy of WOCC West Orange Chamber of Commerce ambassadors celebrate the opening of a Sonny’s BBQ in Ocoee. facilitating opportunity to nearly 1,000 member businesses. For more information about WOCC, call 407- 656-1304 or visit wochamber.com. ª
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