SARASOTA – The Florida Center for Early Childhood will host its Fifth Annual Champions for Children Breakfast, honoring local early childhood advocates, on Thursday, April 2. The event will take place from 8 – 9:30 a.m. at the Sarasota Yacht Club. The Champions for Children Breakfast began in 2016 from a desire to recognize individuals, groups or businesses in southwest Florida who are making a positive difference for children. This event continues to shine a light on those who advocate for children and share the mission of The Florida Center: helping to foster strong families and expand the potential of young children. The Florida Center invites friends and supporters to attend the breakfast, connect with other individuals and agencies, and honor the following recipients: Champions for Children Award: Dr. Washington Hill, MDAs an obstetrician specializing in high-risk pregnancies, Dr. Hill helped boost maternal and infant health in our region through prevention and intervention efforts that focused on the effects of the opioid epidemic. Agency Impact Award: Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation The foundation’s commitment to mental health advocacy has brought innovative and creative solutions throughout the region resulting in the first dedicated, full-time, mental health professionals in Starfish Academy preschools. Volunteer of the Year: Sandy Humenik With years of marketing expertise at her fingertips, Sandy Humenik has worked tirelessly to support awareness and fundraising for children in need of life-changing services. Family Champion of the Year: The Gustin FamilyCurren was flourishing at Starfish Academy, utilizing on-site therapy services, when his father was killed in a car crash. After the accident, the family sought counseling, determined to overcome their their grief and move forward with support of The Florida Center’s programs. Please register for the event online at www.thefloridacenter.org/events or RSVP by March 20 to merab.favorite@thefloridacenter.org or call 941-371-8820 x 1025. About the Florida Center for Early Childhood:For more than 40 years, The Florida Center for Early Childhood has been the leading provider of therapeutic services, early education and healthy development for young children in southwest Florida, offering a seamless delivery of services for the whole child and their family. Today, the agency is nationally recognized for its early childhood expertise in a variety of specialties. The Florida Center provides developmental therapies, mental health counseling, Starfish Academy preschool, the Healthy Families home-visiting program, and the state’s only Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Clinic. |