600 Pinellas Community Leaders Honored Individuals Putting Kids First at JWB’s Signature Annual Event

On Friday, October 24, 600 community leaders and child advocates gathered at the St. Pete Coliseum to celebrate JWB’s Annual KidsFirst Awards Luncheon with a theme of “For the Love of Kids.”

Each year, JWB gathers community leaders, elected officials and more to celebrate incredible humans who provide life-changing services to kids: in their homes, schools, and neighborhoods; young adults with promising futures who overcame obstacles; and DOZENS of deserving nominees vying for a leadership award, named for two legendary leaders and long-standing members of the JWB Board.

• Nearly 30 Pinellas leaders were nominated for the Dillinger-McCabe “Putting Children First” Leadership Award. The top recipient was named in a surprise presentation at the penultimate moment of the program. G. Scott Goyer (below), retired CEO of YMCA of the Suncoast, was recognized for fundamentally changing how our community protects and supports children. His leadership with the Suncoast YMCA spanned more than two decades and has forever changed countless lives: 
  • He didn’t just implement programs but built systems with lasting impact and value, and was involved on numerous local, state, and national task forces to address drowning prevention, achievement gaps, and child sexual abuse prevention.
  • Appalled by the rise in sexual crimes against children, Goyer fought to bring a national model to Pinellas County for child sexual abuse prevention. He also secured funding to implement prevention programs within schools and to train other nonprofit leaders on the model, thereby expanding capacity countywide and protecting the lives of countless children!
  • One of his largest impacts was tackling drownings of children head-on, ensuring children of underserved communities–who faced the highest drowning risks–had access to free water safety and swim lessons – not only with the YMCA but advocated for other organizations and funders to follow suit. He was instrumental in launching a regional “Be Water Smart from the Start” drowning prevention campaign, in partnership with the Tampa Bay Rays.
  • Although now retired, Goyer’s impact and lasting change live on in the infrastructure that was built, policies that were influenced, and other leaders that were mentored and developed to ensure children’s lives continue to be strengthened and their futures full of limitless possibilities.

• In addition, the event honored four KidsFirst Cooperman-Bogue awardees, “boots on the ground” social service professionals working tirelessly to improve the lives of children and their families.
  • Pilar Bradley (pictured below, second from left) is the Family Services Manager for Preserve Vision Florida. However, her title falls short of capturing the heart, hustle, and humanity she brings to her work. For more than 13 years, she has made it her mission to ensure that children in need of eye care screenings, exams, and glasses receive them. Reminding us that children need good eyesight to learn, she truly exemplifies her organization’s mission to give every child a vision of their own bright future!
  • Johanny Crisostomo (below, far left) has been an infant/toddler educator for nearly two decades; she honed her skills and poured her heart into creating an environment where little ones can grow, thrive, and build the foundation for lifelong learning. She excels at using play and structured activities based on age-appropriate curricula to foster social, emotional, and cognitive development. Her team at R’Club Child Care lovingly refers to her as the “Toddler Whisperer” for her ability to connect, motivate, and teach young students!
  • For U.S. Air Force veteran Paul Kleeman (below, second from right), what began as a short-term volunteer opportunity with the City of Clearwater’s out-of-school time program, has become a passion project. Since 2019, he has professionally tutored more than 400 students from the Clearwater area. But the magic lies in his ability to earn trust and build authentic relationships–and his greatest reward happens when he walks into the building each day after school. “Mr. Paul, Mr. Paul,” his students enthusiastically shout. “Work with ME!” 
  • Gabriella Moran (below, far right) is more than a trained behavior analyst for Directions for Living’s First Five program: She’s also a coach, counselor, and problem-solver for children, parents, and educators. She works one-on-one and in small groups with children who have experienced trauma, helping these little ones build emotional regulation, self-advocacy, and the confidence to stay in their classrooms to learn and succeed. Families consistently refer to her supportive and skilled work as life-changing!

• Three promising young people were also recognized as H. Browning Spence Education Awardees. These students, who have aged out of foster care or are experiencing homelessness, received scholarships to help further their education and transition to adulthood:
  • Jasmia Evans—nominated by Starting Right, Now—is a 20-year-old freshman at Eastern Florida State College, where she’s pursuing a social work or mental health degree. Her mantra is “things happen for a reason” –even tough things. (pictured below, second from left, with Mrs. Spence on the left and Matt Spence on the right)
  • Sayuri Vargas Hernandez (not pictured) was also nominated by Starting Right, Now. The 21-year-old senior at St. Leo University has big dreams for a future in business management and has acclimated to college life well–she even serves as a Student Ambassador, giving tours of the school to prospective students and families.
  • Gabriel Green (pictured below, second from right) was nominated by Family Support Services and Suncoast Voices for Children; 20-year-old Gabe is planning to attend Pinellas Technical College this December to study automotive mechanics. He plans to scale up his existing mobile car detailing business into a custom car service center. Gabe regularly shares his story so others who may struggle know that a person’s past does not define or dictate one’s future.

NEW THIS YEAR: A key feature of this year’s event was a teaser video and onsite demonstration station previewing JWB’s dynamic Kids Data Center, an easy-to-use interactive tool that offers limitless opportunities (below). The Kids Data Center paints a picture of a child’s overall well-being by examining education, health, social, and economic factors. But this tool is more than just data; it’s a guide to understanding a community’s strengths and areas for growth. The Data Center helps families, businesses, and communities make informed decisions, visualize the potential for transformation at the neighborhood level, and guide community improvements and investments—making it a powerful tool for collaboration, empowerment, and change.

The nation’s first independent board enacted to guard the rights and needs of children—with nearly 80 years of putting children first—JWB’s investments last year strengthened the lives of 77,00 children and families through 98 quality programs with 51 Pinellas County nonprofits. JWB and its partners believe that investing in their futures makes sense–dollar and cents in terms of return on investments down the road and common sense because helping children reach their full potential is not just worthy: it’s essential.