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OUR STORY
It all began in 1969, when Judge Frank Orlando, the Chief Juvenile Court Judge in Fort
Lauderdale, recognized the urgent need for a new approach to juvenile justice. A visionary
ahead of his time, Judge Orlando saw that young people needed mentorship, opportunities,
and support—not confinement. Driven by this belief, he teamed up with his friend Bob Rosof,
Director of the Florida Atlantic Ocean Science Institute (FAOSI), to launch a groundbreaking
initiative that would forever change the lives of countless young people.
From its humble beginnings in Boca Raton, this initiative quickly spread to Tampa, St. Petersburg,
and Jacksonville, evolving into the Associated Marine Institutes (AMI). As AMI grew, so did its
unwavering commitment to putting kids first. In 2009, to better reflect its expanded mission,
AMI became AMIkids.
Today, more than 55 years later, this visionary experiment has become a national nonprofit,
transforming the lives of over 165,000 young people across the United States. AMIkids continues
to empower young people to discover their true potential and build bright, successful futures.
Judge Frank Orlando and Bob Rosof
