Palm Beach County Youth Services Department's Finance, Contracting and Administrative Services Division Director Michelle Liska, along with Aaron Maharaj, financial analyst III, and Bridget Williams, procurement specialist, received the Empowering Our OST Community Award during Prime Time of Palm Beach County's virtual Advancing Afterschool Awards Ceremony on May 14.

The award honors exemplary individuals for their work in the field and recognizes their commitment to quality standards, dedication to children and contributions to the afterschool field.

The team was nominated by department Director Tammy K. Fields for coordinating the procurement and distribution of one touch supplies for out-of-school-time programs. These supplies were critically needed throughout the county during the pandemic when sharing of supplies was not possible.

“We are going to see a lot of affects from the pandemic on many of the youth in our communities," said Michelle Liska. “Ensuring that the department was able to empower out-of-school-time programs to continue to provide services and reduce the disruption that children were experiencing was very important for us to achieve."​