History

We are a nonprofit, nonpartisan movement of Floridians advocating for the policies and investments that help each child in Florida thrive in their first five years. We amplify the voices of parents and educators, engage elected officials, and highlight the role of business leaders.

To see a list of our founders, click here.

1996

Then-Florida-Gov. Lawton Chiles asked 55 citizens from around the state to make recommendations for the future of public education in the next millennium. Among them was David Lawrence Jr., then-publisher of The Miami Herald.

1999

Dave Lawrence reading to children

David Lawrence Jr. chaired the task force on school readiness that led to an important law consolidating early childhood education and child-care programs into one integrated program.

1999

Two generous and public-spirited Miami couples, Dr. Jane and Gerald Katcher and Jan and Daniel Lewis, together with David Lawrence Jr., formed The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, which became a national model for high-quality early childhood development, care and education. The foundation’s work promoted a dramatic increase in high-quality childcare and early learning centers, and helped tens of thousands of children get health insurance coverage.

2001

ECIF Teach More Love More logo

The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation launched a successful public awareness campaign, Teach More/Love More, which became the model for today's statewide Help Me Grow parenting resource program

2002

The Children's Trust original logo

Thanks to the efforts of the Foundation, Miami-area voters agreed by a 2-1 margin to increase their property taxes to create a dedicated funding source, The Children's Trust of Miami-Dade, which was charged with giving children the essential foundations to achieve their full potential.

2002

Jeb Bush, Alex Penelas and Dave Lawrence

The Foundation again succeeded in moving Florida voters to pass a constitutional amendment in November -- championed by Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas, Lawrence and others -- to make high-quality pre-kindergarten available and free for all four-year-olds in the state.

2005

Jeb Bush with kids
Jeb Bush with kids

In December 2004, FL HB 0001A passed and was signed into law in 2005, making Florida one of only three states to offer universal VPK.

2008

The Children's Trust was required by law to be reauthorized by Miami-Dade voters, who this time approved it by an overwhelming 85.4 percent.


 

2010

The Pilot (The Palm Beach Project): The Foundation organized 30 neighborhood meetings in Palm Beach County in March as a one-month test market for a new organization.

2010

That summer, The Children's Movement of Florida begins, with Lawrence serving as board chair. The Movement is focused on making Florida the best state in the nation for children.

2010

Barnetts for ReadingPals

Since The Movement's start, two other couples--Mike and Constance Fernandez of Miami and Barney and Carol Jenkins Barnett of Lakeland--have been key benefactors along with the Katchers.

2010

Milk Party video screenshot

In October, The Movement organized 17 regional committees throughout Florida. to assist in organizing and launching 17 "Milk Party" rallies from Pensacola to Key West with a total attendance of 15,000.

2011

Adult reading to two smiling boys

ReadingPals, a statewide initiative, was launched with our partner, United Way. This early literacy program engages close to 1,000 trained volunteers each year in a weekly mentorship of more than 1,500 young children from pre-kindergarten to third grade.

2011

The Listening Tour: That summer, The Movement team returned to the same 17 cities in which it held Milk Party rallies the previous September to meet with the regional committees – more than 400 business, civic and political leaders dedicated to Florida's children – to discuss The Movement's next steps.

2012

2012 media tour: Led by Lawrence and political strategist Sergio Bendixen, we traveled to 10 major media markets in September -- meeting with local organizations, editorial boards and media people -- to announce our 2012 legislative agenda and host "Books and Cookies" reading events at local early learning centers.

2012-2014

Help Me Grow logo

With the passage of HB 5001, we worked to gain state support to create Help Me Grow Florida, a comprehensive parent resource system available by calling 211. It is now available in 38 of Florida's 67 counties.

2014

We partnered with the Florida Chamber of Commerce to create The Business Alliance for Early Learning. This business-led coalition pushes for innovative early education systems at the state level.

2014

TurboVote: Launched a highly-publicized, three-week voter registration campaign using the online platform TurboVote. Coordinated with dozens of partners across the state to register more than 800 new voters in Florida, along with developing a strategy for coordinating with childcare centers to conduct voter registration during drop off and pick up.

2016

Assembled a 13-member board of directors that includes many of the state’s most influential decision makers.

2016

Prior to 2016, when HB 5101 passed, legally residing immigrant children had to wait five years to receive health insurance. With our advocacy, most particularly that of benefactor Mike Fernandez, we were able to ensure tens of thousands of children now receive the pediatric care they need.

2016

Worked with a nationally-recognized firm to develop a statewide advocacy strategy that expanded The Movement’s grassroots base to tens of thousands of supporters.

2017

The legislature creates the Committee on Early Grade Success to create a plan for early learning reforms that will guide legislation and funding decisions in the years to come.

2018

HB 1091 passed thanks to the unified voices of early childhood advocates across Florida. This bill establishes quality measures for early learning centers that contract with the state for subsidized child care, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely and we can demonstrate real, positive outcomes for children enrolled in early learning.

2019

#100Mayors for Early Childhood: We built a list of more than 100 mayors from around the state who support early childhood, and had them sign on to a letter to the Governor to make children’s issues a priority.

2020

Original Built to Thrive Banner

Built to Thrive Summit: The Movement launched its first annual virtual summit, engaging more than 700 live participants with an interactive, fast-paced agenda. We heard from national experts and local change makers, bridging the worlds of politics, business, and early childhood. Our keynote speaker was Jack P. Shonkoff, M.D.

2020

Original Bosses for Babies banner

Launched our “Bosses For Babies” initiative that brings together business champions for early childhood, highlighting the many ways companies can make an impact and inspiring others to take action. Family-focused practices are proven to boost a company’s workforce and contribute to community prosperity.

2021

Continuing to build on the recommendations of the Early Grade Success Committee, the Legislature passes HB 419, a comprehensive VPK reform bill which made historic improvements to standards and for early learning programs.

2022

The legislature appropriates more than $200 million of new funding for early learning, and Governor DeSantis says "Early learning and early literacy really is the key."

Founders

In 2010, at the founding of The Movement, a bipartisan coalition of 28 of the state’s most prominent citizens came together to work on behalf of Florida’s children.

  • Carol Jenkins Barnett

    Chair and President, Publix Super Markets Charities

    Lakeland

  • Sam Bell III

    Former House Majority Leader; now with Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney law firm

    Tallahassee

  • Allan Bense

    Former House Speaker; now president of GAC Contractors

    Panama City

  • Cecilia Bryant

    Attorney and former vice chair of the State University System Board of Regents

    Jacksonville

  • Bob Butterworth

    Former attorney general and Department of Children and Families secretary; now Of Counsel at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney law firm.

    Fort Lauderdale

  • Marta Casas-Celaya

    Director of government and community affairs for Comcast

    West Palm Beach

  • Betty Castor

    Former legislator, education commissioner, University of South Florida president and chair of the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board

    Tampa

  • Scott Clemons

    Former legislator and mayor; now president of The Clemons Company

    Panama City

  • David Dennis

    President and CEO of Eckerd Youth Alternatives

    Clearwater

  • Manny Diaz

    Former mayor and president of U.S. Conference of Mayors; now senior partner in Lydecker Diaz law firm

    Miami

  • Rob Gidel

    Former chair of the Florida Polytechnic University board; now managing partner of Liberty Capital Advisors

    Orlando

  • Pegeen Hanrahan

    Former mayor; environmental engineer and principal in Community and Conservation Solutions

    Gainesville

  • Kathryn Hensley

    Former K-12 and college educator; now St. Lucie County School Board member

    Fort Pierce

  • Ed Jennings

    Former legislator; now U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development administrator

    Gainesville

  • Toni Jennings

    Former lieutenant governor and legislator; now chair of Jack Jennings & Sons construction

    Orlando

  • Greg Langowski

    Former executive director of the Palm Beach Republican Party; now regional director for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio

    Palm Beach

  • David Lawrence Jr

    Retired Miami Herald publisher; now chair of The Children’s Movement of Florida

    Coral Gables

  • Roberto Martinez

    Former U.S. attorney and State Board of Education member; now partner in Colson Hicks Eidson law firm

    Coral Gables

  • Gepsie Metellus

    Executive director of the Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center

    Miami

  • Jon Mills

    Former House Speaker; now dean emeritus and professor at University of Florida’s College of Law and Of Counsel at Boies Schiller & Flexner law firm

    Gainesville

  • Sandy Murman

    Former legislator; now Hillsborough County commissioner

    Tampa

  • John “Q” Quiñones

    Former legislator and Osceola County commissioner; now an attorney and certified mediator

    Kissimmee

  • Nan Rich

    Former legislator and board member of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

    Weston

  • Mario Rubio

    State policy director for the city of Jacksonville

    Jacksonville

  • Burt Saunders

    Former legislator; now an attorney with GrayRobinson law firm

    Naples

  • H.T. Smith

    Former National Bar Association president; now an attorney, law school professor and community leader

    Miami

  • Bill Sublette

    Former legislator; now an attorney and head of his own law firm

    Orlando

  • Margaret Tidmore

    Mentor coordinator and parent liaison at New Horizons Learning Center

    Panama City