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Children First Blog
Read our most recent newsletter HERE!
April 25, 2023
“Thy loving smile will surely hail the love-gift of a fairy tale.”
On April 1, the magic of Lewis Carroll’s “Through the Looking Glass,” his sequel to “Alice in Wonderland,” created a festive backdrop for the 23rd Annual Fairytale Ball, hosted by Children First at Michael’s on East.
In the words of Alice, “The only way to [...]
February 16, 2023
Children First, Inc., the exclusive provider of Head Start and Early Head Start services for Sarasota County, is proud to announce that parent and Policy Council Liaison Maria Somera and CEO Philip Tavill have been honored by the Florida Head Start Association (FHSA) for their impact in elevating excellence in Florida’s Head Start Community.
Representing nearly [...]
February 2, 2023
Kathleen Sullivan, MACD, the Vice President of Programs at Children First, has been elected to serve on the National Head Start Association’s (NHSA) Region IV Board of Directors. In her role, Ms. Sullivan will help to oversee Head Start’s Region IV, the southeastern United States, representing more than 170,000 children, 40,000 staff and 300 [...]
February 1, 2023
We are proud to announce our slate of board leadership for 2023, and the addition of three new directors!
At our agency’s annual board reception on January 24, the Reverend Brock H. Leach was formally welcomed as Board Chair. Keith G. Johnson, VP at Truist Private Wealth, was welcomed as Vice Chair, Elizabeth [...]
October 20, 2022
As a supporter of Children First, you help us to provide high-quality early childhood education and family strengthening services to the most vulnerable children and families in our community.
We invite you to safeguard our life-changing programs for generations to come by joining our Legacy Society –Children First Forever – by notifying us of your [...]
October 12, 2022
Areli Gervacio, who now works as the receptionist at the Children First Orange Avenue campus, came here from Mexico in 2000, when she was only 15 years old. She and her sister joined her parents who had moved here four years earlier. The young mother of five children, now ranging in age from 2-18, has [...]
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A heartfelt thank you to the Sarasota City Foundation for their incredible generosity! Their recent donation of $25,000 will play a pivotal role in supporting our agency's family strengthening services through the Nurturing Dads Initiative, an integral component of our award-winning Families First Institute.![]()
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"We at the Sarasota City Foundation are thrilled to support the Nurturing Dads Initiative through the Families First Institute. We believe in the power of community and are committed to investing in programs that strengthen families and foster positive growth. It's our privilege to contribute to such a meaningful cause and see the impact of our support in the lives of families in Sarasota,” says Erik Arroyo, Founder, Sarasota City Foundation. ![]()
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The Sarasota City Foundation has a mission to bridge the gap between public and private resources to meet the immediate needs of the Sarasota Community. We are deeply honored to be a beneficiary of their commitment to creating positive and lasting change. Thank you for your support!
It's the most wonderful time of the year! Jennifer Mathey of Pixie Health Insurance recently donated to our holiday program, helping ensure this holiday season is magical and bright for all.![]()
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Jennifer and her family are Children First alumni, making these gifts for our children and families extra special. Thank you for your support! 🌟What an honor. Pixie Health Insurance was giving a great opportunity to adopt ![]()
through Children First, Inc. Years ago this same organization helped me & my son so I felt it in my heart ❤️ to give back:). I just hope these gifts will help the family ‘s 🎄 Christmas a little brighter.
During the 2023 AFP National Philanthropy Day celebration, Children First was thrilled to honor long-time supporters and volunteers Kathy & Tom Cook for their continued commitment to our children, families, and staff, alongside volunteers from the Venice Area Quilters Guild, who have been stitching a legacy of love for our children since 2005. ![]()
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Spotlighting the long history of caring and sharing that is so much a part of our local community, the Southwest Florida Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals annually honors individuals, businesses and foundations for their leadership commitment to philanthropy.
Giving Tuesday is tomorrow! ![]()
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We invite you to join the national movement of building a world where generosity is part of everyday life. By investing in the quality services provided by Children First, you give the gift of a better life to our most vulnerable young children and their families.![]()
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Thanks to the generosity of our Changemaker Collective, all gifts will be matched, dollar for dollar, up to $600,000. If you would like double your impact, please follow this link: www.childrenfirst.net/donate/. Thank you for your support!
February 27, 2017
![Elizabeth [...]](https://www.childrenfirst.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Liz-Stamoulis-edit-scaled.jpg){kind=link}
Children First, Sarasota County’s exclusive provider of Head Start and Early Head Start programs, was awarded the WEDU “Be More Informed” Nielsen Marketing Campaign Award during the 2017 WEDU Be More Awards Luncheon & Ceremony in Tampa on February 23. Children First was recognized for our “Raise Your Hand” campaign. The “Be More Informed” award [...]
