The 2021 Chiles Advocacy Award winner will be honored on April 5, 2021
History of the Chiles Advocacy Award
The Chiles Advocacy Award is named in honor of the former three-term U.S. Senator and two-term Florida Governor Lawton Chiles, and his influential First Lady, Rhea.
The wisdom and experience Lawton and Rhea Chiles gleaned during his decades of public service taught them that society’s most precious natural resource – its’ children and their families – deserve the special attention of our communities and representatives in governmental office. Their record of leadership on crafting state and national policy, including health care access, early education, child abuse prevention, delinquency services, and family support programs is legendary, and will benefit children and their families for generations to come.
This award is presented annually to a Floridian who has dedicated their life to improving the lives of children and families, and who has successfully engaged others to promote statewide policies and programs that benefit those children and families. This year’s recipient will be invited to participate in the Children’s Week Florida Virtual Teen Town Hall on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, helping inspire young minds and motivate the next generation of advocates.
If you know someone who is deserving of this honor, please click below to download and submit a nomination by February 18, 2021.
2020 Chiles Advocacy Award Winner:
Jack Levine
Jack Levine, founder of the 4Generations Institute and previous President of Voices for Florida’s Children, was named the 2020 Chiles Advocacy Award winner in January 2020 at the Children’s Week Advocacy Awards Dinner and Reception.
“Jack Levine communicates in no uncertain terms about the vital link between the quality of life of our children and our social and economic well-being,” wrote David Lawrence, founder of the Children’s Movement of Florida, who nominated Jack for this honor.
Upon learning of this prestigious award, Jack responded: “This special recognition is one which so many thousands of colleagues and allies will deservedly share. I loved Lawton and Rhea Chiles for who they were and what influence they exerted on so many advocates.”
“Advocacy is a true team endeavor,” Jack continued, “It is the collective passion, persuasion and powerful energy of parents and grandparents, professionals and volunteers, public officials of every political persuasion, and a new generation of young self-advocates whose voices resonate whenever there’s a wrong to be corrected or a barrier to be overcome.”
“Florida, in all of our diversities, provides the perfect laboratory for uniting our voices and achieving our goals for success,” Jack explained. “That is a legacy worthy of our ardent advocacy.”
Chiles Advocacy Award Past Winners
The recipients of the Chiles Advocacy Award exemplify integrity, dedication, and a commitment to improving the lives of Florida’s children and families. We thank you and we honor you for shining a bright light on the importance of advocacy for every generation of children.
| 2020 Jack Levine |
2009 Jim Mills |
| 2019 Barbara Mainster |
2008 Maryann Barry |
| 2018 Dr. Wil Blechman |
2007 Karen Woodall |
| 2017 Carol Barnett |
2006 Ann Levy |
| 2016 Modesto E. Abety |
2005 Ed Feaver |
| 2015 William E. Gladstone |
2004 Budd Bell |
| 2014 Drs. Louis B. & Julia Revell St. Petery |
2003 BeBe Furnside |
| 2013 Dr. Gerald L. & Mrs. Audrey Lincourt Schiebler |
2002 David Lawrence |
| 2012 Dr. Charles Mahan |
2001 Linda Merrell |
| 2011 George Sheldon |
2000 Susan Muenchow |
| 2010 Dick Batchelor |
1999 Rhea Chiles |