Mitch Needelman for Brevard County Clerk of the Circuit Court

Mitch and Joan Needelman have loved children all their lives. Junior High school sweethearts and together ever since, they have both devoted their lives, both personal and professional, to aiding children and making the world a better place for those kids who seem to exist outside the world we would all like to live in.

As public servants (Mitch served in law enforcement for over 30 years before being elected as a Florida State Representative in 2000, and Joan has worked for service agencies such as the Palm Bay Fire Department and the City of Palm Bay), they have always given back to the community where they live. But they have given specially to the kids who need them most, right here in Brevard County.

As the District #31Representative, which serves most of Brevard County, and Chair of the Department of Juvenile Justice, Mitch saw first hand during his years in the House of Representatives how the system fails the kids of Florida. Rather than nurture them and help them into better circumstances, with redirection of their lives in positive and meaningful ways, the Juvenile Justice System, overcrowded and understaffed, warehouses these kids in detention centers until they are either released or “age out” of the juvenile system and graduate into full fledged adult criminals.

The Needelmans are not strangers to the plight of the children of our communities. For over 20 years they have personally assisted families in need during the Christmas holidays. With a small group of dedicated volunteers, they have provided gifts, clothing food, and hope to those who need a hand during the holiday season. By modest calculation, they have assisted more than three THOUSAND families and children through the years, with aid from generous contributors, but always from private donations from friends and businesses. They have never taken assistance from any of the large and famous charitable organizations that pop up every year at Christmas and then disappear in January.

This is a remarkable achievement, if you think about it. Especially because it is all funded from the private sector.

When Mitch retired from legislative office in 2008, and Joan retired from city service, they decided to go full time with their charitable work. When Mitch was in the legislature, he had worked with PAL (Police Athletic League) to secure funds for some of their programs. He and Joan decided to expand those programs, and assist disadvantaged kids, especially those identified as “at risk” for going down the path to career criminals.

They established the “4 the Kids of Brevard” organization as a registered 501c3 charity, and set it up to meet the criteria of registered charitable organization. They quickly received this designation, and set the wheels in motion to expand their ideas and programs into year round activities.

Right now “4 the Kids of Brevard” funds music programs with the Melbourne Municipal Band to teach these at risk kids to play musical instruments and be part of a functioning community youth band. What began as a summer program to involve the kids in meaningful activities during the break from school has been a huge success. Tracking and measuring their progress has shown increase in self-esteem, improved attendance and grades in school, and reduced behavior that gets them “in trouble”. If contributions allow, this program will be expanded into a full time activity for these kids.

“4 the Kids” also contributes generously to local sports programs in disadvantaged neighborhoods, supports the residential youth detention facility at Space Coast Marine Institute, does a screening and referral program for eyeglasses for disadvantaged children, while still supporting the Christmas program.

In 2009, in a year when the economy brought the Christmas program a record number of applicants, no one was turned away and over 250 children received a Christmas to remember, complete with gifts, a party with games and a visit from Santa arriving on a Harley Davidson.

Mitch and Joan have also portrayed Santa and Mrs. Santa in the Melbourne Christmas Parade for 16 years, and participate in the July 4th Melbourne celebrations every year with Joan playing in the Band Concert at Front Street Park, and the whole family marching in the parade.

Married for over 38 years, Mitch and Joan have encouraged their son and his family to advocate for the charities, and they work as a family to keep the programs for the kids going Grandson Joshua is already involved in the Christmas programs, and has helped for two years with the toy drive. Lily, while still a little small to volunteer, attends all events and is learning the value of helping others. Family is first, but service to the community is an integral part of their lives, and it is being passed down to the next, and the next generation in the Needelman household.