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.
We hope you will join us for the Chiles Advocacy Awards livestream and other Children’s Week Florida virtual events (March 15 – April 12).
2021 Chiles Advocacy Award Winner:
Lo Berry
Estrellita “Lo” Berry’s is the past President of the National Healthy Start Association and current Director at REACHUP, Inc. Lo serves on numerous local, state, and national boards that benefit and support the health and well-being of Florida’s infants, young children, and their parents, especially those within African-American communities.
Some of the incredible work done under Lo’s leadership at REACHUP, Inc. includes initiatives that help raise awareness and foster efforts to reduce African-American infant mortality in Florida, through advocating for programs that increase involvement of churches and fathers. In addition, she has lead the cause in develop¬ing evidence-based strategies for improving health care for African-American mothers and infants. Her numerous statewide contributions through REACHUP, Inc. and many other organizations make her deserving of this special recognition.
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 |