Pictured from left to right: Honoree Melissa Larkin Skinner, SCC President and CEO Brena Slater, honorees Joan Geyer and Graci McGillicuddy, and SCC Vice President Jacqueline House. Photo by Rod Millington.

In mid-March, Safe Children Coalition celebrated its 2nd annual Giving Breakfast, presented by Sunset Automotive Group, during which Joan and Bob Geyer, Graci McGillicuddy, and Melissa Larkin Skinner were recognized as the 2024 Champions for Children. The event took place at Michael’s On East. The program included a welcome by SCC President and CEO Brena Slater and Vice Chair of the Board, Lee Lipton. After enjoying a served breakfast, the guests heard from each honoree about their work in our community to improve the lives of at-risk children and strengthen area families. A heartfelt part of the event was Lisa Mitchell’s story: the mother of four daughters was without a job and using drugs and alcohol several decades ago when she was approached by Jone Williams, who was trying to get the HIPPY, Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters, program off the ground. Not only did Mitchell participate in the program, she encouraged other families in her neighborhood to do the same. Event emcee Joe Girvan of Alpert Enterprises moved the program along and led the paddle raise, which brought in nearly $140,000. The program ended with an update on SCC’s Youth Shelter campaign. The campaign has raised nearly 65 percent of what SCC expects the facility to cost. The nearly 9,000-square-foot building will provide safe emergency, temporary housing for youth ages 10-17. It is the only Youth Shelter designated for Sarasota and Desoto counties and serves Manatee County youth as well. It is being designed to reduce the list of youth waiting for safe shelter and will alleviate the waiting list of teens in need of shelter services. For more about SCC, visit sccfl.org.

Pictured from left to right: Honoree Melissa Larkin Skinner, SCC President and CEO Brena Slater, honorees Joan Geyer and Graci McGillicuddy, and SCC Vice President Jacqueline House. Photo by Rod Millington.

http://sccfl.org/