First Free Bus Loop Connects the Homeless to Essential Services

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - July 28, 2025 - The Rotary Club of Fort Lauderdale is proud to announce the official launch of Rotary Connection, the first free bus loop service in the U.S. dedicated to connecting individuals across Broward County experiencing homelessness with needed services. The initiative will officially launch with an event on Friday, August 1st, 2025. Weekday operations will begin on Monday, August 4, 2025 at 7am.

Launch Event
When: Friday, August 1st at 10:00 AM
Where: Fellowship Recovery Community Organization (FCRO) parking lot
101 SW 27th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312

Co-hosted by Rotarians Rick Riccardi, Board Chairman of FRCO, and Gwynne Beatty, the launch event will showcase the uniquely branded Rotary Connection bus. Rotary Connection aims to provide practical solutions to improve access to support services, strengthen public safety and support Broward County's economic growth. Currently, even with a bus pass, many can't reach services. Without access, many give up trying.

"This isn't just a bus-it's a practical solution to a major gap in service delivery," said Rick Riccardi, co-organizer, Rotary member, and Board Chairman at FCRO. "By removing transportation barriers, we're improving access to care and helping people take steps toward stability and self-sufficiency."

Rotary Connection is powered by key support from the Florida Blue Foundation, Changing Lives - North Broward and Go Therefore, whose leadership and investment have been essential to making the service a reality.

This groundbreaking service provides free, reliable transportation to essential resources including food, healthcare, IDs and other documents, Veteran support, recovery programs, mental health support, medications, Community Court, clothing, job training, mailboxes, Legal Aid and more. Rotary Connection will be staffed by trained specialists performing intake and collecting critical reporting data such as passenger activity per stop, further assistance needed, and success monitoring.

The bus wrap was designed by 17-year old American Heritage High School student Sam Danzig, winner of the Rotary Bus Wrap Student Art Competition. "My design concept was basically just a welcoming, uplifting design. I leaned towards using pastels and brighter shades to give a warmer feeling, but at the same time underlying tones of happiness," said Danzig.

The initiative has received strong support from key partners, including City of Fort Lauderdale officials, City of Fort Lauderdale Police Force's Homeless Outreach Unit, Henderson Behavioral Health, LifeNet4Families, and TaskForce for Ending Homelessness, all of whom recognize Rotary Connection as a vital tool for improving access to services through better coordination.

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Contact:
Gwynne Beatty
gwynne.beatty@gmail.com
954-648-9258

List of Stops

Broward County Main Library
Broward County Central Courthouse
Mission United
Broward Health Medical Center
Second Chance Society
Florida Department of Health, Broward County
BARC (Broward Addiction Recovery Center)
Children Diagnostic & Treatment Ctr. (CDTC)
Las Olas Blvd & A1A
Sebastian St & A1A
Sunrise Blvd & A1A
Galt Ocean Mile Library
Coral Ridge Mall - Church of Christ
Holy Cross Hospital
Denny's - Commercial & Fed Hwy
Imperial Point Library
Broward Health Imperial Point
Light of the World Clinic
Fort Lauderdale Behavioral Health Center
Goodwill Career Center
Social Security Administration
Flite Center and South Florida Wellness
Broward County Housing Authority
Henderson Behavioral Health
Healthy Start Coalition
Dept. Children & Families
Dept. Motor Vehicles
Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH)
U.S. Post Office
All Saints Mission
Care Resources
SunServe
Archways
The Hack
Housing Authority of the City of Fort Lauderdale (HACFL)
5th Ave Temple Church
Broward HealthPoint Bernard P. Alicki Care Center
Broward Health Specialty Care Center
LifeNet4Families
Legal Aid
Fellowship Recovery Community Organization

Rotary Club of Fort Lauderdale
1126 S. Federal Highway #171
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

Press contact:
Gwynne Beatty
gwynne.beatty@gmail.com
954-648-9258

Rotary is a global service organization made up of 1.4 million people, in over 46,000 clubs, across more than 200 countries, with the mission of making a difference together.

This release was published on openPR.