Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida Honors Female Leaders at Emerald Awards, Raising Over $110,000

The Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida hosted the prestigious Emerald Awards honoring female leaders in Broward County, raising more than $110,000 to support programs that inspire girls to build courage, confidence and character. The event recognized five remarkable women whose leadership and community impact serve as powerful examples for the next generation of female changemakers.

Rita Case, president and CEO of Rick Case Automotive Group, received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Philanthropy, celebrating her decades-long legacy of transformative community support. Case oversees the nation's largest retail automotive group owned and operated by a woman and has spearheaded fundraising initiatives generating more than $100 million for local organizations. Her philanthropic work includes co-founding landmark programs like Rick Case Bikes for Kids, Rita Case WOMEN Build with Habitat for Humanity and 4EveryKid with Soles4Souls.

Four additional honorees were recognized for their professional achievements and community service. Alisa Bert, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Broward Health, oversees a $1.9 billion budget and has led transformative initiatives resulting in multiple credit rating upgrades for one of the nation's largest public health systems. Rebecca Bratter, Deputy Managing Partner for Greenspoon Marder, founded the nonprofit Kids Can to encourage children's volunteerism while driving national strategy and growth at her law firm.

Cindy Mason, Market Leader for Florida Blue in Broward County, brings over 20 years of leadership experience in healthcare operations and sales strategy. Julie Price, President and CEO of Arc Broward, has dedicated nearly 40 years to advancing inclusion and equity for individuals with disabilities, rising from Direct Support Professional to CEO while delivering innovative empowerment programs.

Lisa Johnson, CEO of Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida, emphasized the importance of these role models, stating that they inspire daughters to find their voice and dream big. The luncheon at the Four Seasons featured a silent auction, honoree recognition and a panel discussion moderated by trial lawyer and legal analyst Katie Phang. The event's success was supported by numerous sponsors including UKG as Diamond Sponsor and Publix Super Markets Charities and Rick Case Automotive Group as Ruby Sponsors.

The Emerald Awards celebration underscores the critical role of visible female leadership in shaping young women's aspirations. By highlighting women who have broken barriers in automotive, healthcare, law and nonprofit sectors, the Girl Scouts reinforce their mission to create confident, strong women who drive meaningful community change. The funds raised will directly support programs that continue this important work across Southeast Florida.