Finalists Named for 11th Annual 211 Brevard Stars of Space Coast Awards, Winners Will Be Named Dec. 5

Organizations Power Brevard’s Mental Health, Food and Community Support

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA — The people who answer calls in the middle of the night, help put food on tables, offer a safe place to land, and walk families through their darkest moments rarely ask for recognition.

But each year, the Stars of Space Coast Awards pause long enough to shine a light on those quiet acts of service that hold the community together.

Finalists have now been named for the 11th annual awards, presented by 211 Brevard, honoring nonprofit organizations whose work strengthens the health and stability of residents across the Space Coast.

Winners will be announced at a ceremony scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 5, at the Space Coast Health Foundation’s Center for Collaboration on U.S. 1 in Rockledge.

Tickets are available at 211brevard.org.

“Every day, we answer calls to our Community Helpline or Crisis Lifeline. We try to de-escalate situations and ensure the safety of the caller,” said Belinda Stewart, communications manager for 211 Brevard.

“But many times, once the immediate crisis has passed, we rely on our nonprofit partners to provide the next layer of help. These awards celebrate that work.”

Founded in 2015, the Stars of Space Coast Awards were created to recognize the agencies and organizations that form the backbone of Brevard County’s social safety net — the groups that respond when families experience a mental health emergency, run out of groceries, face housing instability, or need someone to call.

This year’s honorees represent what health experts call the “social determinants” — or drivers — of health: the everyday conditions that influence whether people thrive or struggle.

“Health and well-being are the hallmarks of a strong community,” Stewart said.

“For more than a century, we’ve known that factors like mental health, family connections, and access to food are central to good health. In our industry, we call those social determinants, and they’re exactly what this year’s finalists address.”

Three award categories are being presented, each sponsored by a local organization and focused on a critical area of community well-being:

Space Coast Credit Union Supernova Award for Mental Health Finalists:

■ Children’s Home Society

■ Counselors for Change

■ Space Coast Health Centers

The Viera Company All-Star Award for Neighborhood and Community Finalists:

■ Boys & Girls Clubs

■ Club Esteem

■ Neighbor Up Brevard

Publix Super Markets Charities Community Star Award for Food Security Finalists:

■ Children’s Hunger Project

■ Hands for Healing

■ Space Coast Brigade of Hope

Spectrum News 13’s Greg Pallone will serve as master of ceremonies, guiding guests through a program that spotlights both the organizations and the people behind them.

A Lifeline for the Community

At the center of the awards is 211 Brevard itself — the nonprofit organization that operates the community’s 24/7 helpline.

From suicide intervention and emotional support to referrals for food, housing, and utility assistance, the helpline serves as a single point of contact for residents navigating crisis.

Special initiatives also provide targeted support for veterans, families with young children, individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing housing, and family caregivers.

In 2023, 211 Brevard quietly marked 60 years of service to the Space Coast — six decades of answered calls, steady voices, and connections made during some of life’s most difficult moments.

Now, as the organization prepares to name this year’s “stars,” the awards serve as both celebration and reminder: that the strength of a community is often measured not by grand gestures, but by the people who show up — again and again — when it matters most.

Residents can access confidential help by dialing 2-1-1, texting a ZIP code to 898211, or calling the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which is staffed locally by trained specialists.

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