Children First Blog

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 [...]
September 30, 2022

Hurricane Ian Update: September 30, 2022

EDITED: October 3, 2022 September 30, 2022   Dear Children First Family, We hope this communication finds you and your loved ones safe and well. In accordance with Sarasota County School District’s announcement today, Children First will continue to be closed through Monday, October 3 and until further notice so that we can support everyone directly impacted by Hurricane [...]
August 18, 2022

Philanthropy in Action: Katherine & Frank Martucci

We are proud to announce the naming of our agency’s Teacher Resource Room for long-time supporters Katherine and Frank Martucci. We held a special ceremony with board members and staff in honor of their most recent gift of $150,000, directed by Frank in honor of Katherine’s board leadership and volunteerism.   The Martucci’s philanthropic spirits has them [...]
August 1, 2022

Preparing for the New School Year!

For the first time since March of 2020, we are excited to resume our annual and in-person pre-service staff training event at the State College of Florida Lakewood Ranch Campus! Children First staff gathered for a full day of professional development and training on July 27. VP of Programs Kathleen Sullivan and VP of Philanthropy Jessica [...]