Miramar police officers, local youth, Sunbeam Properties and Development and the Miramar Park of Commerce celebrate another successful year of “Hangin’ with 5-0” summer camp, where students and police officers forge impactful relationships

As part of a 13-year-long tradition, sponsor Sunbeam Properties and Development and the Miramar Park of Commerce recently joined the Miramar Police Department and Hangin’ with 5-0 campers for an end-of summer-celebration.

Hangin’ with 5-0 is an annual not-for-profit summer camp program organized by Miramar Police Athletic League and the City of Miramar to support at-risk youth. After nearly being eliminated by the city due to budget cuts in 2008, Sunbeam Properties and Development and the Miramar Park of Commerce stepped in to help keep the critical program running. During the 13 years of sponsorship, more than 850 students in Miramar have enjoyed a free, one-of-a-kind summer camp experience.

“Sponsoring this camp has become an annual tradition for the Miramar Park of Commerce, so it’s always uplifting to attend the lunch each year, meet the campers and officers and hear about the life enriching activities they’ve enjoyed together throughout the summer,” said Ryan Goggins, Vice President, Acquisitions, Leasing and Marketing for Sunbeam Properties and Development. “This is a one-of-a-kind, grassroots program for students and officers to bridge the gap and build relationships. Hangin’ with 5-0 camp has positively altered the course of many children’s lives, so we are incredibly proud to support such an effective and inspiring program.”

The nine to 14-year-olds who participate in Hangin’ with 5-0 are selected by school resource officers and guidance counselors for the program. The campers participate in a weekly summer camp free-of-charge, which includes trips to the movies, excursions to the beach, live animal shows, airboat rides and more alongside Miramar’s dedicated police officers. Each day, breakfast and lunch are served, and the program concludes with a celebratory lunch.

“We’ve had skeptical parents and reluctant students enter the program, only to request that camp be extended a week or two more by the end of the summer,” said Miramar Police Athletic League Executive Director Scott Hadley. “The camp keeps children involved in healthy activities throughout the summer and engaged with positive role models. We’ve even had several students participate in the camp that have gone on to become police officers themselves.”

In addition to Hangin’ with 5-0, Sunbeam Properties and Development supports the City of Miramar through other nonprofit organizations, having donated resources for the Ansin Sports Complex and the Ansin Family Gallery in the Miramar Cultural Center. The Miramar Park of Commerce has also been the site for supply drives for America’s Moms for Soldiers, several holiday toy drives for Miramar children in need with the Miramar Police Department, a school supply drive for children who have a military parent on deployment and a food drive for United Way of Broward County.