Florida's Children First

Champions for Children & Children’s Rights

  • Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County (Palm Beach 2023)
  • Esther Jacobo (Miami-Dade 2023)
  • Michael Aubin (Jacksonville 2022)
  • Jay Howell (Jacksonville 2022)
  • Ted Babbitt (Palm Beach 2022)
  • The Junior League of the Palm Beaches (Palm Beach 2022)
  • Dick Batchelor (Orlando 2022)
  • Andy Gardiner (Orlando 2022)
  • Judge Jeri Beth Cohen, Retired (Miami-Dade 2022)
  • Commissioner Nikki Fried (Broward 2020)
  • Judge Sandy Karlan (Miami-Dade 2019)
  • Randell Alexander, MD (Northeast FL 2018)
  • Mari Frankel (Palm Beach 2018)
  • Dennis Grady (Palm Beach 2018)
  • Foundation for Foster Children (Orlando 2018)
  • Junior League of Tampa (Tampa Bay Area 2018)
  • Judge Maria Sampedro-Iglesia (Miami-Dade 2018)
  • The University of Miami Children & Youth Law Clinic (Miami-Dade 2018)
  • Belinda Keiser (Broward 2018)
  • Michael Higer (Broward 2018)
  • Tracey Connor (Orlando 2017)
  • Children’s Services Council of Broward County (Broward 2017)
  • University of Florida First Coast Child Protection Team (Northeast FL 2016)
  • Bradley Myles (Palm Beach 2016)
  • Akerman, LLP (Orlando 2016)
  • Senator Anitere Flores (Miami-Dade 2016)
  • Dr. Frederick Lippman (Broward 2016)
  • Senator Rob Bradley (Northeast FL 2015)
  • Kathleen Kroll (Palm Beach 2015)
  • Retired Judge Lee E. Haworth (Sarasota 2015)
  • Senator Eleanor Sobel (Broward 2015)
  • Representative Erik Fresen (Miami-Dade 2014)
  • Representative Charles McBurney (Northeast FL 2014)
  • Judge Ronald A. Alvarez (Palm Beach 2014)
  • Elaine Webb-Alvarez (Palm Beach 2014)
  • Senator Bill Galvano (Sarasota 2014)
  • Senator Nancy Detert (Sarasota 2013)

Non-Profit Champions for Children

  • Foster Power – Bay Area Legal Services (Tampa Bay Area 2023)
  • Friends of Foster Children (Palm Beach 2023)
  • Florida Foster Care Review (Miami-Dade 2023)
  • H.O.M.E.S. – Linda Taylor (Broward 2023)

Corporate Champions for Children

  • Universal Orlando Resort (Orlando 2023)
  • Anita Byer, Setnor Byer Insurance & Risk (Broward 2020)
  • Mark Lowery & the JAX Cares Foundation (Northeast FL 2019)
  • Aaron Hill & Reed Nissan (Orlando 2019)
  • Shook Hardy & Bacon, LLP (Tampa Bay Area 2018)
  • G4s – Corporate Partner (Broward 2015)

Special Recognitions

  • Christina Spudeas –  Lifetime Achievement in Child Advocacy (Broward 2022)
  • Paloma Vigil – Youth Leadership Award (Miami-Dade 2021)
  • Walter “Skip” Campbell, in memoriam (Broward 2019)
  • Finnis Faine, in memoriam (Orlando 2018)
  • Safe Children Coalition – Outstanding Supporter of Youth Advocacy (Sarasota 2017)
  • Matthew Dietz – Outstanding Advocate for Special Needs Children (Miami-Dade 2017)
  • Senator Nancy Detert – Champion for Florida Youth SHINE (Sarasota 2015)

Child Advocates

  • Kelley Parris (Tampa Bay Area 2023)
  • Lucas Daniel Boyce (Orlando 2022)
  • HQEEDY – High-Quality Early Education for Dependent Youth Collaborative (Tampa Bay Area 2022)
  • Glen Casel (Orlando 2022)
  • Robert Latham (Miami-Dade 2022)
  • Rich Komando (Northeast FL 2019)
  • Vicki Tate & The  Alliance for Women Executives (Palm Beach 2019)
  • Hon. Melissa McKinlay (Palm Beach 2019)
  • Young Professionals of Wellington (Palm Beach 2019)
  • Guys With Ties (Orlando 2019)
  • Liz & David Kennedy (Tampa Bay Area 2019)
  • Gloria West-Lawson (Tampa Bay Area 2019)
  • Cuban American Bar Association Pro Bono Legal Services – CABA (Miami-Dade 2019)
  • Magistrate Judette Fanelli (Palm Beach 2018)
  • Derrick Stephens (Orlando 2018)
  • Martha Ahr (Palm Beach 2017)
  • Susan Stockham (Sarasota 2016)
  • Commissioner Sandra Murman (Tampa Bay Area 2016)
  • Hon. Carlos Martinez & the Public Defender’s Office (Miami-Dade 2016)
  • Katherine Fernandez Rundle & the State Attorney’s Office (Miami-Dade 2016)
  • Stuart Singer & Carl Goldfarb (Broward 2016)
  • Hank & Mary Coxe (Northeast FL 2015)
  • Melissa Landry (Orlando 2015)
  • Buddy Schulz (Northeast FL 2014)
  • Gerry Glynn (Orlando 2014)
  • Children’s Services Council (Broward 2014)
  • Secretary Wansley Walters (Miami-Dade 2013)
  • Jessica Rae, Esq. (Tampa Bay Area 2014)
  • Valerie Stanley (Northeast FL 2013)
  • Charles Bender (Palm Beach 2013)
  • Linda Coffin (Palm Beach 2013)
  • Rosemary Armstrong & Crossroads for Florida Kids (Tampa Bay Area 2013)
  • Commissioner Kevin Bruckner (Tampa Bay Area 2013)
  • Kirk Brown (Broward 2013)
  • Lyn King (Northeast FL 2012)
  • Brenda Stewart (Northeast FL 2012)
  • Chief Judge Belvin Perry, Jr. (Orlando 2012)
  • Pat Williams (Orlando 2012)
  • James Walsh, Esq. (Palm Beach 2012)
  • John Walsh, Esq. (Palm Beach 2012)
  • Jordana Goldstein (Broward 2012)
  • Bruce Weihe (Broward 2012)
  • Barbara Briggs, Esq. (Palm Beach 2011)
  • Donna Biase & Debbie Ellman – Best Foot Forward Foundation (Palm Beach 2011)
  • Tammy McGuire (Northeast FL 2011)
  • Susan Khoury (Orlando 2011)
  • Jeff Faine (Orlando 2011)
  • Dottie Berger MacKinnon (Tampa Bay Area 2011)
  • Former DCF Secretary George Sheldon (Broward 2011)
  • Junior League of Greater Fort Lauderdale (Broward 2011)
  • Jesse Diner (Broward 2010)
  • Children’s Board of Hillsborough County (Tampa Bay Area 2010)
  • Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County (Tampa Bay Area 2010)
  • Tracey McPharlin (Palm Beach 2010)
  • Dr. Gerold Schiebler & Mrs. Audrey Lincourt Schiebler (Northeast FL 2010)
  • Nancy Farage (Tampa Bay Area 2009)
  • David Penn (Tampa Bay Area 2009)
  • Nora Collins-Mandeville (Palm Beach 2009)
  • Mari Frankel (Palm Beach 2009)
  • Rita & Les Gorenflo (Palm Beach 2009)
  • Tom Patania (Northeast FL 2009)
  • Former DCF Secretary Bob Butterworth (Broward 2009)

Media Advocates

  • Jorge Estevez (Orlando 2019)
  • Lorena Inclán (Northeast FL 2018)
  • Chris O’Donnell (Tampa Bay Area 2018)
  • Mark Douglas (Tampa Bay Area 2018)
  • Pat Beall (Palm Beach 2017)
  • Kate Santich (Orlando 2017)
  • Gia Tutalo-Mote (Broward 2017)
  • Paige Kelton (Northeast FL 2016)
  • Bob Opsahl (Orlando 2016)
  • Vanessa Echols (Orlando 2015)
  • Audra Burch, Carol Marbin-Miller, and the Miami Herald’s “Innocents Lost” Team (Miami-Dade 2014)
  • Martha Sugalski (Orlando 2013)
  • Alexandra Zayas (Tampa Bay Area 2013)
  • Carol Marbin Miller (Broward 2013)
  • Justice Coalition’s Victims’ Advocate (Northeast FL 2012)
  • Carrie Hoeppner (Orlando 2012)
  • Liz Quirantes (Palm Beach 2012)
  • Jackie Barnard (Northeast FL 2011)
  • George Diaz (Orlando 2011)
  • Kristi Krueger (Broward 2011)
  • Jim Sackett (Palm Beach 2010)
  • Jennifer Waugh (Northeast FL 2010)
  • Dawn Lopez (Northeast FL 2009)

Tracey McPharlin Award / Pro Bono Counsel of the Year

  • Mamie Wise (Tampa Bay Area 2017)
  • Stephen Todd (Tampa Bay Area 2016)
  • Abigail Beebe (Palm Beach 2015)
  • Elizabeth Hapner (Tampa Bay Area 2015)
  • Stacie Schmerling (Broward 2015)
  • David DiPietro (Broward 2014)
  • Anne Alper (Broward 2013)
  • David Bazerman (Broward 2012)
  • Walter Honaman (Broward 2011)

Foster/Adoptive Families

  • Robert C. Lamarche (Broward 2023)
  • Chris & Danielle Fellerhoff (Tampa Bay Area 2022)
  • Sara Hmielowski & Alex Seda (Northeast FL 2019)
  • James Ladson (Northeast FL 2018)
  • Maria Bates (Tampa Bay Area 2018)
  • Terry & Kathy Beyer (Tampa Bay Area 2017)
  • Elyse Silver (Tampa Bay Area 2016)
  • The Markowski Family (Tampa Bay Area 2015)
  • Seketa Culver (Northeast FL 2014)
  • Randy Pawlowski (Orlando 2014)
  • Pat Crowley (Orlando 2013)
  • Penny Jones (Orlando 2013)
  • Devera Decosta (Northeast FL 2013)
  • Dan & Cindy Walls (Palm Beach 2013)
  • Tina & Burton Scaff (Northeast FL 2012)
  • Chris & Jenny Calvert (Palm Beach 2011)
  • Don & Susan Talbott (Palm Beach 2011)
  • Cheryl McCall (Northeast FL 2011)
  • Michael & David Gagne (Broward 2011)
  • Kim & Terry Abbott (Tampa Bay Area 2010)
  • Todd & Holly Cannon (Palm Beach 2010)
  • George & Delores Wilson (Northeast FL 2010)
  • Linsey Brewster-Jenkins & Alexeve Jenkins (Broward 2010)

Outstanding Youth Mentors

  • Denise Sasian (Miami-Dade 2018)
  • Dietra Barfield (Sarasota 2017)
  • Alejita Rodriguez (Tampa Bay Area 2016)
  • Jayson Caines (Sarasota 2015)
  • Jeff DeMario (Palm Beach 2015)

Outstanding Youth Advocates

  • Aheim King (Tampa Bay Area 2023)
  • Eric Perry (Tampa Bay Area 2023)
  • Sophia Coffey (Palm Beach 2023)
  • Valery Guzman (Orlando 2023)
  • Dominique Rosario (Miami-Dade 2023)
  • Joshua Mincey (Broward 2023)
  • Lavarian Ouma (Jacksonville 2022)
  • Shawn Mitchell (Tampa Bay Area 2022)
  • Selena Young (Tampa Bay Area 2022)
  • Tee Legend Lamore (Palm Beach 2022)
  • Josh Ogozaly (Orlando 2022)
  • Rufus Wallace (Miami-Dade 2022)
  • Kyle Johnson (Broward 2022)
  • Elijah Sylverin (Broward 2022)
  • Heaven Williams (Broward 2020)
  • Kelsey Burton (Northeast FL 2019)
  • Alexia Nechsyev (Palm Beach 2019)
  • Nicole Cordova (Orlando 2019)
  • Kosha Curry (Tampa Bay Area 2019)
  • Justice McGuill (Tampa Bay Area 2019)
  • Colesha Cormier (Miami-Dade 2019)
  • Palens Pacius (Miami-Dade 2019)
  • Rebekka Behr (Palm Beach 2018)
  • Miracle Thomas (Palm Beach 2018)
  • Esperanza Harb (Orlando 2018)
  • Portia Duncan (Tampa Bay Area 2018)
  • Ke-Ana Durham (Miami-Dade 2018)
  • Christopher Reymos (Broward 2018)
  • Marc Louis (Broward 2018)
  • Monyay Randall (Sarasota 2017)
  • Maria Batista (Palm Beach 2017)
  • Jasmine Persaud (Orlando 2017)
  • Carlene Melton (Orlando 2017)
  • KaDeidra Cloird (Tampa Bay Area 2017)
  • Anna Zhang (Tampa Bay Area 2017)
  • Cameron Santamarina (Miami-Dade 2017)
  • Patricia Etienne (Miami-Dade 2017)
  • Brian Thompson (Broward 2017)
  • Shang Han (Northeast FL 2016)
  • Jazzman Lezama (Palm Beach 2016)
  • Ke’Onda Johnson (Palm Beach 2016)
  • Tabatha Barnes (Sarasota 2016)
  • Lisa Jaweed (Orlando 2016)
  • Martavius “Marty” Lowery (Orlando 2016)
  • Dan Scott (Tampa Bay Area 2016)
  • Edward Cody (Miami-Dade 2016)
  • Teirvondria McCall (Broward 2016)
  • Chelsea Bramblett (Northeast FL 2015)
  • Janice Goldsberry (Palm Beach 2015)
  • Mitchivena “Meme” Tresalus (Sarasota 2015)
  • Julia Schaffer (Orlando 2015)
  • Miranda Phillips (Tampa Bay Area 2015)
  • Lamont Dennis (Broward 2015)
  • Kenisha Anthony (Miami-Dade 2014)
  • Anastasia Pederson (Northeast FL 2014)
  • Laura Fredrickson (Palm Beach 2014)
  • Dariane Taylor (Palm Beach 2014)
  • Jason Hodge (Sarasota 2014)
  • Andrew Trepte (Orlando 2014)
  • Jessica Overstreet (Tampa Bay Area 2014)
  • Daniel Pettus (Tampa Bay Area 2014)
  • Shadai Simmons (Tampa Bay Area 2014)
  • Aaron Dames (Broward 2014)
  • Taevon Pierre Harvin (Broward 2014)
  • Isabella & Gabriella Glazer (Broward 2014)
  • Taj Banks (Orlando 2013)
  • Kierra Perkins (Northeast FL 2013)
  • Tashana Sheilds (Palm Beach 2013)
  • David Sarris (Palm Beach 2013)
  • Robert Stalker (Sarasota 2013)
  • April White (Tampa Bay Area 2013)
  • Andrea Cowart (Tampa Bay Area 2013)
  • Kaydrin Herbert (Broward 2013)
  • Breon Callins (Broward 2013)
  • Brandon Burke (Broward 2013)
  • Shawna Nealey (Northeast FL 2012)
  • Malcolm Bright (Northeast FL 2012)
  • Ashtavia Maddox (Orlando 2012)
  • Na’Kira Hodges (Palm Beach 2012)
  • Francis Jeune (Palm Beach 2012)
  • Tamarra Lestage (Broward 2012)
  • Stephen Satchell (Broward 2012)
  • Earle James (Palm Beach 2011)
  • Chauncey Johnson (Northeast FL 2011)
  • Nicole Bryant (Northeast FL 2011)
  • William L. Belt, Jr. (Orlando 2011)
  • Alice Powell (Orlando 2011)
  • Georgina Rodriguez (Tampa Bay Area 2011)
  • Danielle McMahan (Tampa Bay Area 2011)
  • Christopher Bahamundi (Broward 2011)
  • Derrick Riggins (Tampa Bay Area 2010)
  • Nancy Gonzales (Tampa Bay Area 2010)
  • D’atra Franklin (Palm Beach 2010)
  • Manny Oliver (Palm Beach 2010)
  • Lauren Lindgren (Northeast FL 2010)
  • Terale Drake (Northeast FL 2010)
  • Michael Louis (Broward 2010)
  • Darlene Archille (Tampa Bay Area 2009)
  • Josh Kelchner (Tampa Bay Area 2009)
  • Obadiah Payton (Palm Beach 2009)
  • Melissa Bright (Northeast FL 2009)
  • James Felton (Northeast FL 2009)
  • Mez Pierre (Broward 2009)
Links

Florida's Children First

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