Our Story
The origin & the mission.
When a community is shattered by an unimaginable tragedy, the immediate response is a wave of public grief, intense media coverage, and an influx of short-term relief. But as Parkland Cares founder Howard Dvorkin, CPA recognized from the very beginning, the true crisis often begins when the spotlight fades.
Psychological trauma does not adhere to a standard 24-hour news cycle. The emotional and neurological wounds inflicted on survivors, families, and first responders require years of sustained, specialized investment to heal. Deep-seated trauma—ranging from hypervigilance and isolation to prolonged grief—can stay silent for years before manifesting.
Parkland Cares was built on this exact psychological reality. We recognized that true community recovery requires a bridge between immediate crisis intervention and decades of ongoing, trauma-informed care. By providing consistent, reliable funding to local mental health agencies after the tragedy left the front pages, we ensured that survivors never had to navigate their healing journey alone, in the dark, or without resources.
Once the cameras are off, once the reporters are gone, and once the police leave, you still have a massive amount of hurt to deal with. Long-term devastation. If that is not addressed, it will destroy people’s lives.
Howard Dvorkin, CPA — Founder
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February 2018
Founded in Response to Crises
Established in direct response to the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School to fund immediate crisis counseling for a shattered community.
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2018-2020
Rapid operational scaling.
Connecting students, teachers, staff, and families directly to trauma therapists as the need for sustained care became clear.
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2021
Mission expansion.
Broadening mental health grant funding to local nonprofits specializing in long-term trauma across South Florida.
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2025 — Conclusion
A mission fulfilled.
The successful winding down of fundraising after satisfying our long-term funding targets for the community.