Luis and Toni Ariza with one of the graduates. {Aphelion Graduate Foundation}
The Aphelion Graduate Foundation, founded in 2024 by Coral Springs residents Luis and Toni Ariza, is continuing its mission to uplift students who have overcome significant personal challenges to reach the milestone of high school graduation.
This year, the foundation celebrated a major milestone of its own by nearly tripling community and local business support compared to its inaugural year.
That boost in donations enabled the nonprofit to honor every one of the eight graduates of Cross Creek High School—a Pompano Beach school dedicated to serving students with developmental, intellectual, emotional, and behavioral disabilities—with an unforgettable celebration.
Each graduate honoree received a catered luncheon courtesy of Publix, an ice cream celebration donated by Let’s Chill Homemade Ice Cream, gift cards from Chick-fil-A and Five Below, custom Class of 2025 tumblers from The Blonde Peach Boutique, and commemorative 2025 Aphelion Graduate Foundation medals.
Two exceptional seniors were selected by Cross Creek faculty to receive the prestigious 2025 Aphelion Graduate Award. Each award included functional, personalized gifts valued at $350, generously donated by JM Family Enterprises, Trader Joe’s, Boomers Boca Raton, Top Golf, Home Depot, 4 Rivers Smokehouse, and Costco. Adding a touch of beauty to the event, Darby’s Florist provided floral bouquets for the foundation’s volunteers.
A standout moment from this year’s celebration was the presentation of a full scholarship for one Aphelion Graduate Awardee to attend weekly cheer and dance classes at Elite Athletics Gym in Margate throughout the 2025–2026 season.
All of the support raised—totaling $3,355—was applied directly to the graduating honorees, ensuring every dollar made a meaningful impact.
Founders Luis and Toni are Board Certified Behavior Analysts and have served the local disability community for nearly two decades. In recognition of her contributions, Toni was awarded the prestigious Cathy Lee Buchanan Behavior Change Success Award by the Florida Association for Behavior Analysis in 2024.
Luis and Toni Ariza with one of the graduates. {Aphelion Graduate Foundation}
Looking ahead, the Aphelion Graduate Foundation plans to expand its impact with a new initiative for the 2025–2026 school year. The foundation will launch a program to engage local students in disability rights and advocacy training, allowing them to earn volunteer hours while promoting inclusivity in area schools.
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