Children-First

Children First Blog

Want to know the latest news? You'll find it all in the most recent newsletter HERE!

January 22, 2020

Children First Welcomes New Slate of Board Leadership for 2020

Children First, Inc., the exclusive provider of Head Start and Early Head Start services in Sarasota County, is excited to welcome the new slate of board leadership for 2020. Lisa Giglio is the former co-owner of Freedom Boat Club, and has served as an early childhood educator and Director of Education at Sylvan Learning Center. [...]

December 30, 2019

Guest Editorial: Sarasota County’s children need you for a friend

By Reverend Brock Leach – Director, Children First Board, Chair Emeritus 2013-2015 In a world of big, future-threatening problems, how should we invest what poet Mary Oliver calls “this one wild and precious life”? I want to make the case for kids. As a minister who works to strengthen communities, I’ve become convinced that what fundamentally ails [...]

November 22, 2019

Children First Receives a $1.25M Grant to Amplify Family Strengthening Services

Dropping your child off at a safe and reliable preschool should ease nerves for most parents, but for many, the challenges of the day are just beginning. Financial trouble, food instability, reliable employment, and access to education are struggles many families in our community face. That’s why Children First has to be so much more [...]

September 30, 2019

Leadership Team with Award

Herald-Tribune: Children First Named a “Best Place to Work!”

October 22nd, 2019 – What Makes a Best Place to Work? Residential and commercial services, insurance, health care, social services, manufacturing services and a hair salon. The Herald-Tribune’s 2019’s list of Best Places to Work in Sarasota and Manatee contains quite a variety of workplaces, from larger companies to small and medium-sized companies alike. And ‘alike’ is the operative [...]

July 15, 2019

Children First Chosen to Lead Literacy Effort

Children First has been selected for a matching grant through the Reading is Fundamental (RIF) literacy network for its commitment to lifelong learning. Books for Ownership is RIF’s flagship reading program that enables children to select new, age-appropriate books to take home and is supported by resources for educators, caregivers, and volunteers in order to [...]

July 15, 2019

Early Education Partnership Formed

Sarasota, FL – Children First and State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) are proud to announce the formalization of an Early Childhood Education Partnership. Students in the Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education will complete their final teaching internship in Children First Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms. These students will intern with [...]

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Children First, Inc.

2 days ago

We loved having the monthly new member meeting for The Junior League of Sarasota at our Dr. Elaine Marieb Early Learning Center! Members had the opportunity to learn about the history of the Junior League's involvement with Children First as a founder of the agency in 1961.

Special thank you to all of the women who brought in donations of diapers, clothing, and more! ... See MoreSee Less

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Children First, Inc.

3 days ago

Happy Valentine's Day from your Children First family! You fill our hearts with joy, love, and gratitude. Thank you for always being there for the children and families we serve. We couldn't do it without you. 💜💛❤️ ... See MoreSee Less

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Children First, Inc. is at Lilly Pulitzer (St Armands Circle Park, Sarasota, FL).

3 days ago

If you are near St. Armands today, stop by Lilly Pulitzer for our "sip and shop" from 10am-6pm! 10% of proceeds will be donated back to our comprehensive services💗Happy Valentine's Day! ... See MoreSee Less

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Children First, Inc.

4 days ago

Bonus points to anyone who still has their portrait from our 2013 gala at Michael's on East! Let us know in the comments below what your favorite part of a past Children First celebration was, or post a picture of your portrait! #tbt ... See MoreSee Less

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Children First, Inc.

6 days ago

Don't forget to tune in to FOX 13 News - Tampa Bay tonight at 6:50pm to see Children First featured on "What's Right with Tampa Bay?" Special thank you to program parents Wendy and Eliezer Rivera for speaking so beautifully on what it is like to be a part of the Children First family. ... See MoreSee Less

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February 3, 2020

Tampa Bay Newswire: Children First Welcomes New Slate of Board Leadership for 2020

January 19th, 2020 – Children First, Inc., the exclusive provider of Head Start and Early Head Start services in Sarasota County, is excited to welcome the new slate of board leadership for 2020. Lisa Giglio is the former co-owner of Freedom Boat Club, and has served as an early childhood educator and Director of Education [...]

January 22, 2020

Children First Welcomes New Slate of Board Leadership for 2020

Children First, Inc., the exclusive provider of Head Start and Early Head Start services in Sarasota County, is excited to welcome the new slate of board leadership for 2020. Lisa Giglio is the former co-owner of Freedom Boat Club, and has served as an early childhood educator and Director of Education at Sylvan Learning Center. [...]

January 13, 2020

WEDU PBS: Area Nonprofits and Volunteers Announced as Finalists for 15th Annual “Be More” Awards

January 13th, 2020 – Tampa, FL — WEDU PBS announced today the finalists for the 2020 WEDU Be More Awards. The fifteenth annual WEDU Be More Awards will take place on Thursday, February 27, 2020 at the Bryan Glazer JCC in Tampa. The annual community event will begin at 11:00 a.m. with the Hall of [...]

December 30, 2019

Car Credit of Tampa: Children First, Inc. Selected As December Winner By Corazones de Car Credit

December 24th, 2019 – Tampa used car dealership Car Credit’s “Corazones de Car Credit” charitable organization has selected Children First, Inc. as its monthly winner for December 2019. Corazones de Car Credit, a program which recognizes Tampa Bay area charitable organizations for helping those newly immigrated to the country, awarded Children First, Inc. $2,000. Founded in [...]