DAVIE, Fla. — Some people talk about making a difference. Andy and Janeth Fernandez decided to do something about it.
What began as a simple act of compassion in response to a heartbreaking tragedy has grown into Firewall Centers, a nonprofit organization serving thousands of Broward County students every day through free after-school education, mentoring and life-changing support.
For Andy Fernandez, the journey started in 2001 after watching a news report about 13-year-old Sherry Maresco, a South Florida girl who died from a drug overdose while left unsupervised. The story deeply affected him.
“All of a sudden, that happened on the news and he said, ‘Janeth, we should go to that trailer park and see if there are other kids that we can talk to,’” Janeth, who is a former educator, said.
The couple followed through on that impulse. Alongside another couple from their church, they began hosting weekly gatherings for children at the Davie mobile home park where Sherry had lived.
At first, the focus was on building relationships, character and faith. But it quickly became clear that the children needed more than encouragement.
“It’s great to build their character, to talk about faith,” Andy said. “But it’s also necessary to provide them an education.”
The realization led to a life-changing decision.
In 2003, Andy and Janeth, who owned a successful manufacturing business, decided to devote themselves fully to serving underserved youth. A year later, Andy sold his warehouse and equipment to pursue the mission full-time.
“The next year in 2004, that’s when I sold off my little warehouse, my equipment and said this is what we are going to do for a while and see where it goes,” he said.
That leap of faith became Firewall Centers.
The nonprofit provides free, high-quality after-school programming designed to help students succeed academically and personally. The organization’s name comes from the biblical passage Zechariah 2:5, reflecting its goal of creating protective barriers around young people and helping them navigate life’s challenges.
“For us, we’re setting up firewalls in the lives of students,” Andy explained.
The organization’s mission is rooted in what the founders describe as the greatest commandment: to love others.
“Everything revolves around living love every day,” Andy said.
For many students, that love has translated into opportunity.
Abner Molina was one of them.
As a young boy, he first visited Firewall Centers for a simple reason.
“They invited me in for a sandwich and I was like, ‘Oh, free food,’” Molina recalled.
What he found was much more than a meal. Through the mentorship of Andy Fernandez and the support of the organization, Molina developed skills, confidence and ambition.
“And that’s how I met Pastor Andy, and he’s been a solid rock for me in terms of mentorship,” he said.
Today, Molina, 31, is the CEO of his own technology company.
“It took me 10 to 12 years to get to the position that I am right now, and it’s just the start to everything I’ve dreamed of,” he said.
His story is one of many success stories that have emerged from Firewall Centers over the past two decades.
What started in a modest modular unit inside a mobile home park has expanded into an organization operating at 14 Broward County schools. The nonprofit now serves approximately 2,000 students each day, providing educational support and mentorship to children who might otherwise fall through the cracks.
Yet despite the growth, the mission remains tied to the memory of the young girl whose story inspired it all.
Sherry Maresco never had the chance to realize her dreams. But her legacy lives on through the thousands of children whose lives have been touched by Firewall Centers.
“I think that she would definitely say that she made a difference,” Andy said.
At this point, he noted, the organization has impacted tens of thousands of young people—and will continue to reach many more in the years ahead.
The future of Firewall Centers includes expansion into Miami-Dade County schools and, eventually, other states. But for the Fernandez family, the goal remains the same as it was when they first walked into a mobile home park more than two decades ago: helping children build brighter futures.
From one child’s tragedy emerged a movement of hope—proof that a single act of compassion can change countless lives.
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