"Uncle Nick" turned tragedy into hope for hundreds of babies
MIAMI - Nick Silverio never had children of his own, but his unwavering compassion has made him a cherished figure in the lives of hundreds of families.
As the founder of A Safehaven for Newborns, a South Florida-based organization dedicated to preventing infant abandonment, Silverio has become a beacon of hope for babies and mothers in crisis.
His journey began after enduring personal heartbreak, but his tireless efforts have since saved more than 400 lives, proving that love and dedication can transform unimaginable loss into an enduring legacy.
"It's just amazing to me. I'm very emotional and deeply moved by it all," Silverio said.
Silverio is the driving force behind the organization devoted to preventing infant abandonment.
The idea came to him after the death of his wife, Gloria.
"We experienced 22 miscarriages, one on Christmas Eve," he shared. "We nurtured all the nieces and nephews in our family. Then one night, alone in my home, I was flipping through a magazine, not paying attention. My fingers stopped on a page, and I felt compelled to look. It was about the escalating crisis of babies being abandoned in the world."
Today, Silverio is known as "Uncle Nick" to far more than just his nieces and nephews.
Thanks to his tireless work, more than 400 babies have been saved from abandonment.
One of those children is now a junior in college.
Gloria Hope was left at a fire station in Deerfield Beach over 20 years ago. She was recently reunited with the firefighters who took her in as a two-day-old infant.
"It's because of A Safehaven for Newborns that I'm here today," Gloria Hope said during the organization's annual "A Wonderland in Safehaven" Gala at the Intercontinental Hotel in Downtown Miami last month.
"It's because of Safehaven that I have the loving parents and family I do today. And I love Uncle Nick. He's such a great person."
One of the firefighters who found Gloria Hope as a newborn agreed.
"He's such a humble and great guy. What he's doing for the community and humanity is incredible. I'm not a religious person, but he's doing God's work," the firefighter said.
A Safehaven for Newborns doesn't just save infants; it also supports mothers in need.
The organization has counseled more than 7,000 women in crisis.
"We help them in any way they need," Silverio explained. "And we do it all at no charge. We never judge anyone, for any reason."
Silverio's impact resonates deeply with those touched by his work.
"He's got such a presence in everyone's life who is even slightly involved with this organization," Gloria Hope said. "He's amazing."
Earlier this year, Florida's Safe Haven Law expanded the window for parents to surrender newborns from 7 days to 30 days.
No matter when the call for help comes, Silverio says he's always ready to answer it.
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