The Do the Right Thing of Miami, Inc. organization and law enforcement agencies recognized Brandon Sabalza on Jan. 19 at an awards ceremony. The event, held at Miami Police headquarters in downtown Miami, honors kids each month who make good choices when it may not be easy to do so. Brandon is a sophomore at Barbara Goleman Senior High School. He won the award for helping a student.
“Brandon intervened and was able to deescalate the situation,” said Ariadna Espinosa, executive director of Do the Right Thing of Miami, Inc. Brandon then called adults for help and “... demonstrated maturity in a difficult situation and knew just what to do to keep his classmate safe,” she said.
The organization gave Brandon and other students who were recognized last month several prizes, including a mini tablet; a plaque; a T-shirt and bumper sticker; two tickets to a Miami Marlins baseball game; free pizza from sponsor Papa Johns and gift cards and tickets to Zoo Miami and Island Queen Cruises.
Shown in the photo, from left are Mr. Slice, the Papa Johns mascot; Miami Police Asst. Chief Thomas Carroll; Miami-Dade Police Department Division Chief Shawn C. Browne; Barbara Goleman Senior High School Counselor Gioanny D’Elia; Luis Sabalza, Brandon’s father; Brandon Sabalza and his mother, Janeth Rada and First Asst. Chief Cherise Gause.
Photo provided by Do the Right Thing of Miami, Inc.