BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. — When Shashayne Maxwell walked into the lobby of Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital on the morning of Dec. 11, 2025, she wasn’t just volunteering. She was returning to a place that once supported her family and helped her discover just how strong she could be.

Maxwell, who will celebrate her third year with Florida Power & Light Company this July, joined fellow employees and Miami Dolphins cheerleaders at the 22nd annual Kiss Country Cares for Kids Radiothon. The event raised a record‑breaking $344,003—the highest total in the Radiothon’s history—to support the hospital’s mission of providing world‑class care to children across South Florida.

For Maxwell, volunteering wasn’t just an act of service; it was personal.

In 2014, Maxwell’s son began feeling unwell shortly after returning from a summer in Boston. What began as a routine visit to urgent care quickly escalated. Doctors suspected diabetes and rushed him to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, where his diagnosis was confirmed. He was admitted the day before his 12th birthday.

“He spent a week there,” Maxwell recalls. “The staff was incredible. They paid attention to every detail. They basically saved his life.”

Her son spent two days in the ICU before transitioning to the pediatric ward, where hospital staff made sure he wouldn’t miss out on celebrating his milestone birthday. They decorated his room with balloons and a handmade banner. A clown rode in on a tiny tricycle. Nurses stopped in with gifts and cheers.

“They made him feel like everything was going to be okay,” she says. “In such a scary moment, they gave him hope, and they gave me hope, too.”

Years later, when Maxwell arrived for the Radiothon, she recognized the clown who helped her son celebrate, now retired, but still volunteering.

“She remembered my son’s name,” Maxwell says. “I couldn’t believe it. You don’t often get moments like that.”

Maxwell admits that returning to the hospital brought a wave of emotions.

“It was bittersweet,” she says. “But I felt compelled to show up and give back to another child who might be going through something just as terrifying.”

As stories from families filled the airwaves during the Radiothon, Maxwell reflected on how deeply the hospital’s work touches the community. With more than 360,000 pediatric patient interactions each year, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital serves as a lifeline for families across the region, including many in FPL’s service area.

“To know that I was part of something that will help those families meant everything,” Maxwell shares. “It reminded me how much empathy and kindness there is in our community.”

Her experience strengthened her commitment to service and community involvement. She credits her family—including her husband, who also works for FPL—and her colleagues for their steady support throughout the years.

 “This office is so family‑oriented,” she says. “I know I can ask for help when I need it, and someone will be there.”

That same sense of care extends beyond the workplace. In 2025, employees volunteered more than 55,000 hours in their communities. Through volunteerism and community partnerships, FPL is committed to powering strong communities and making them better places to live, work and raise a family.

Today, Maxwell balances her career, family and the final stretch of her MBA program at Florida Atlantic University, where she’ll graduate this summer. She says her experiences have shaped her perspective and strengthened her resolve to serve others.

As she reflects on her journey, Maxwell says she hopes others find encouragement in her story.

“There’s always a blessing somewhere, even in the hardest moments,” she says. “Looking back at everything we’ve been through, I know I can do this. And if I can, someone else can too.”