leaaisja_web.jpgWILTON MANORS — The goal was to create a beautifully designed, safe, warm and educational environment for the children and to help foster their love of learning.

So the Designing Spaces Dream Team — from the Lifetime network home improvement television show now in its 8th season — created a brand new activity space filled with books, games, televisions and a snack station.

As viewers of the Designing Spaces special, Kids Spaces of Hope – A Labor of Love will see, the Dream Team watched as hundreds of children and Kids In Distress supporters were able to see the children’s activity center for the first time since the team began its renovation.

The show is set to air on the Lifetime network in a two-part special Aug. 2 and 9.

Designing Spaces hosts Debbie Marie and David Jones revealed the new activity room last month. Following the reveal, the revolutionary music group Black Violin and rapper A. Star played a special performance for the children. Characters Clifford the Big Red Dog and Curious George from the famous children’s stories, and mascot Stanley C. Panther of the Florida Panthers came to Kids In Distress to join the fun.

“It is a testament to the relevance of our mission that Designing Spaces has taken an interest in what we do to serve our community,” said Kids In Distress Marketing Manager Brittany Soule. “This transformation will have such a powerful impact on the daily lives of the young children in our center.”

Since 1979, Kids In Distress (KID) of Broward and Palm Beach counties has served as a licensed  nationally accredited agency working for prevention of child abuse, preservation of the family, and care and treatment of abused and neglected children.

KID partners with corporations, organizations, municipalities, schools, and individuals to provide basic services to the underserved population in South Florida last year helping more than 7,000 children and families through prevention, foster care, preschool, family counseling clinic and emergency residential programs.

“The Designing Spaces Dream Team was overjoyed and excited to be doing this makeover for Kids In Distress, in order to help highlight their dedication to the amazing work they have been doing in the community for years,” said Lysa Liemer, executive VP of programming and chief operating officer of Designing Spaces.  “In tight economic times funding for programs is limited and money for the ‘extras’ is hard to come by.

We wanted to provide our strong helping hands to make a difference in the lives we touch by giving the gifts of hope, comfort, and care, and to successfully nurture and preserve the health and wellness of vulnerable children, which is a true labor of love.”

Photo: Le'Aaisja