News Flash Home
The original item was published from 8/17/2012 10:07:17 AM to 8/17/2012 10:07:33 AM.

News Flash

City of Homestead News

Posted on: August 17, 2012

[ARCHIVED] Vice-Mayor Jon Burgess’ Family Wins Family of the Year

Scholastic Parent & Child magazine announced the winners of its third annual Family of the Year contest. The Burgesses were chosen from hundreds of entries for their compassion and commitment to rescuing and fostering canines in need. As first-prize winners, the Burgess family will receive $20,000 in college savings bonds and be featured on the cover of Scholastic Parent & Child’s June/July 2012 issue, released on Monday, May 21. The Family of the Year contest celebrates families across the country who are giving back and paying it forward within their communities.
The inspiring efforts of Vice-Mayor Jon Burgess and his family to give back to their community and, more specifically, the canine community made them the perfect choice to be named this year’s Family of the Year, said a press release distributed by the magazine. Leading the pack is mom Charelle Burgess, a pet adoption and rescue activist who co-heads This is the Dog!, a local nonprofit organization devoted to finding homes for abandoned and stray animals. Since she joined the organization twelve years ago, more than 2,000 animals have been placed in safe homes throughout Miami-Dade County. To date, the Burgesses have fostered approximately 25 dogs and have three dogs of their own. Charelle logs 40+ hours a week volunteering and organizing monthly fundraisers, including local stand outs like “Yappy Hour,” the “Strut Your Mutt” dog parade and an annual “Grrrrage” Sale. Dad Jon, City of Homestead Vice-Mayor and a private boat captain—socializes the aggressive strays on pack hikes with a designated trainer. And even the youngest of the pack, six-year-old J.R., is making his mark. On his 4th birthday, J.R. asked his party guests to bring donations instead of gifts; $100 went directly to the mutts. With pet overpopulation at an all-time high in their South Florida zip code, the Burgesses stress the critical importance of spaying and neutering and actively promote adoption from shelters rather than high-end breeders.

“We are thrilled to recognize the Burgess family as our 2012 Family of the Year,” says Nick Friedman, editor-in-chief, Scholastic Parent & Child. “They’re active role models for their community when it comes to good pet ownership while also working to find solutions to improve the quality of lives for the thousands of homeless, sheltered, and endangered animals. They give a voice to those who have none and for that we honor them.”

Vice-Mayor Jon Burgess’ wife Charelle Burgess says “We’re helping animals who are truly innocent bystanders. They didn’t ask to be abandoned. Our mission is to connect a dog that needs to be loved with a family that wants to love a dog. That’s what’s so special for me.”

Scholastic Parent & Child is one of today’s leading parenting magazines, reaching more than 7.5 million parents. Parent & Child was created for families with children ages birth to 12, and one hundred percent of the editorial content is dedicated to informing parents on topics that serve the entire family, including child development, well being, health, activities, travel, fashion, and food. To visit the magazine’s online site, log on to www.scholastic.com/parents.

Vice Mayor Jon Burgess and Family 2012

Facebook Twitter Email

Other News in City of Homestead News

CDBG Survey

CDBG Plan Meeting

Posted on: March 7, 2023
Solid Waste Schedule Flyer - Featuring Garbage Truck Picking Up trash

HPS Solid Waste Schedule

Posted on: March 2, 2023
Turkey Point Siren Testing

Turkey Point Siren Testing March 3rd, 2023

Posted on: February 28, 2023
Flyer describing Surplus Auction on Saturday Feb. 18 2023 at 9 A.M.

Homestead Surplus Auction

Posted on: February 17, 2023
Flyer for SW 328 St Miami-Dade County Project

New Roadway Project Along SW 328 ST

Posted on: February 16, 2023
CDBG Survey

CDBG Plan Meeting

Posted on: February 1, 2023
Pink and White City of Homestead Breast Cancer flyer January_February

Free Breast Cancer Screening Information

Posted on: January 25, 2023
SW 4th ST repaving flyer

SW 4th ST Repaving Project

Posted on: January 13, 2023
Roby George Park Pool

Roby George Park Pool Closed

Posted on: January 3, 2023
HPS Sanitation

2023 Solid Waste Schedule

Posted on: January 3, 2023
Town Hall with Vice Mayor Guzman (Orange Flyer)

Town Hall Meeting with Vice Mayor Guzman

Posted on: December 27, 2022
Colleague Helping Research Grant

Homestead CRA Industry Day

Posted on: December 2, 2022
Hurricane Ian Update Graphic 9.28

Hurricane Ian Updates

Posted on: September 28, 2022
Hurricane Ian Solid Waste

Hurricane Ian Updates: Solid Waste

Posted on: September 27, 2022
Hurricane Ian Graphic

Hurricane Ian Updates

Posted on: September 27, 2022
Hurricane Ian Updates Graphic

Hurricane Ian Updates

Posted on: September 26, 2022