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April 25, 2023

A Journey Through the Looking Glass

“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 Parent, CEO Honored for Statewide Impact

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

VP of Programs Kathleen Sullivan Named to National Head Start Association Region IV Board of Directors

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

Children First Names New Board Leadership and Directors for 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

A Legacy of Love: Stephanie & Allen Hochfelder

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’s Journey

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 [...]
February 27, 2017

Children First wins WEDU ‘Be More’ Award

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 [...]
March 25, 2017

Black Tie (Observer): Fairytale Ball teaches guests the power of a little pixie dust

SARASOTA (March 25th, 2017)– Between the cascading garden light-covered entrance and the columns transformed into enchanted forest-esque trees, guests walked into more than just a ballroom at the Children First Fairytale Ball. “A Sprinkle of Pixie Dust” was held on March 25 at Michael’s On East, but really, attendees walked into a fairytale that began with drinks, [...]
March 29, 2017

Herald Tribune: A beautiful fairy tale for Children First

SARASOTA (March 29th, 2017)– Decorated with giant, colorful flowers and toadstools — not to mention twinkling pixies with a sprinkle of pixie dust, of course — the Michael’s on East ballroom was transformed recently into a child’s fantasyland for the Fairytale Ball, benefiting Children First. Nearly 350 elegantly attired guests — with a few even donning [...]
April 12, 2017

Observer: Children First creates ‘Jo’s Place’

SARASOTA (April 12th, 2017)– Jo Rutstein served on the Children First Board of Directors from 2009-14, but her impact is still being felt. Recently, the organization hung a sign reading “Jo’s Place” near its new playground. It recognizes her help in securing a grant to fund the new playground from the Rotary Club of Sarasota, [...]