Children First, Inc., the exclusive provider of Head Start and Early Head Start services for Sarasota County, is proud to announce that its 2025 Changemaker Collective generated nearly $1.85 million in support of children and families.
The Changemaker Collective is a leadership-driven matching gift initiative that brings together philanthropists who go above and beyond in serving our community and investing in the tools children and families need to achieve their full potential. In 2025, Children First launched a $600,000 matching gift challenge, with every contribution matched dollar-for-dollar to inspire increased giving and broaden community participation.
The key philanthropists comprising the 2025 Collective included Anonymous, Liza & Carl Caruso, the Jean J. and Laurence S. DeLynn Foundation, Lisa & John Giglio, Carol & Richard Kalikow, Brock & Julie Leach, Joan & Dr. Bart Levenson, Keith Monda & Veronica Brady, Linda Rhault, Gaye & Jack Schwarz, Joe & Nora Stephan, Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation, and Tim & Teresa Tyrrell – Palm One Associates.
Funds raised through the Changemaker Collective provide critical scholarship support that ensures children and families can access Children First’s comprehensive services. These include full-day early childhood education, nutrition, mental and behavioral health supports – including postpartum and perinatal care – and Family Strengthening Services such as the Families First Institute and Job Skills Training.
The initiative also supports long-term educational investment through the Future Scholars Fund, a 529 college savings initiative currently serving more than 60 families.
At multiple sites across Sarasota, Venice, and North Port, Children First provides comprehensive services to hundreds of children from low-income backgrounds, ages birth to five, and their families each year. Through early childhood education, nutrition, health and wellness services, emotional and behavioral support, and family strengthening programs, Children First works alongside families to build a foundation for long-term success.
With 617 individual gifts and nearly $1.85 million raised, the 2025 Changemaker Collective demonstrated the impact possible when philanthropic leadership inspires the broader community to come together in support of children and families.