SARASOTA, FL – 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 today. Children First was recognized for its “Raise Your Hand” campaign.
The “Be More Informed” award recognizes the execution of creative and results-driven original marketing campaigns using multimedia platforms including, but not limited to, broadcast, print, social media and/or grassroots awareness campaigns. Applicants were required to demonstrate direct impact to established goals. The other finalists in this category were the Auto Club Group Traffic Safety Foundation, Inc., Big Cat Rescue, Children’s Board Heart Gallery of Tampa, Humane Society of Tampa Bay, Inc. and Miss America’s Outstanding Teen, Inc.
“We are humbled and honored to be recognized as a winner in the WEDU Be More Awards,” said Philip Tavill, president and CEO of Children First. “The Raise Your Hand campaign has been unique in so many ways, and certainly effective. We are incredibly grateful to our campaign ambassadors and all those who are supporting this initiative for the vulnerable children and families we serve.”
The Raise Your Hand Campaign, which officially launched in April 2016 and is still in progress, is a $3.8 million initiative to expand services for at-risk children and their families in Sarasota County. The campaign’s four goals are: to enhance services for families with emotional and behavioral health needs, to intensify the role of family advocates who offer guidance and support to families served by Children First, to offer increased individualized attention for students in the classrooms, and to serve more children and families in need. Campaign Ambassadors were featured on multiple media channels, explaining why they support Children First. The organization has raised more than 90% of its goal for the campaign and is still gratefully accepting donations at this time.
According to WEDU, the Be More Awards are an effort to celebrate the human spirit and showcase the best work by nonprofit organizations throughout 16 counties in West Florida. The judges are impartial business, philanthropic and civic leaders from the WEDU viewing area.
For more information about Children First, call (941) 953-3877 or go to childrenfirst.net.
About Children First
Founded in 1961 and designated as one of the top 10 Head Start programs in the country, out of 1,800 similar programs nationwide, Children First strengthens children and families by improving the quality of their lives through a comprehensive approach to development, education, health and well-being. At 13 sites throughout Sarasota County, Children First offers full-day preschool, infant and toddler care, as well as nutrition and health care assistance, to children ages birth to five years old from low-income families. Through Children First, the children receive the social and cognitive skills needed to enter kindergarten and elementary school on track. For more information, call (941) 953-3877 or go to childrenfirst.net.