The link between addressing child abuse and stopping sex trafficking is a simple one for Graci McGillicuddy. The Sarasota philanthropist said girls forced on the street to sell their bodies should be viewed as victims.

“What upsets me is we have people out there doing that, committing sex abuse,” McGillicuddy said. “They are buying services and doing these awful things to children… We are a nation of pedophiles when you think of the number of kids we have being abused.”

Senate President Bill Galvano this month appointed McGillicuddy, chair of the All Star Children’s Foundation, to the new Statewide Council on Human Trafficking Direct-Support Organization Board of Directors. “Graci has been a champion for victims of child abuse for over thirty years,” Galvano said. ““Having served as an advocate for helping abused and exploited children at both the state and local level for decades, her passion and knowledge will be a great asset.”

McGillicuddy, along with husband Dennis, focused much of her nonprofit work in recent years on links between childhood trauma and long-term mental health. For year’s she’s worked on child protection and strengthening safety and prevention in the foster care system.

She sees a direct link between all that work and the human trafficking problems facing the nation today.

A high percentage of children who end up in the clutches of human traffickers started as runaways from foster homes, some of them already victims of abuse. “Within four years they are in the hands of a pimp,” she said. “They tell them they will take care of them. Then they drug them up and put them out on the street.”

That cycle must end. She hopes the Statewide Council will help get a further grip on the problem. “I just want to take kids, give them a hug and let them know I’ve got your back,” she said.

McGillicuddy wishes more people would put a priority of helping others rather than passing judging or devoting political energy into selfish interests.

“I believe, like [Nelson] Mandela, ‘That children are our greatest treasure.  They are our future!’” she said.  “And, I pray that I can be an effective member of the Statewide Council.”

Photo by Wyatt Kostygan.

Dr. Sylvia Earle, founder and president of Mission Blue and a National Geographic Society Explorer-in-Residence since 1999, will headline Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s annual Better Together community-education luncheon on March 13, 2020.  An iconic ocean scientist who has logged more than 7,500 hours under water and is affectionately called “Her Deepness” by colleagues and the media, Earle will discuss the topic “Saving Our Seas.” 

“Sylvia Earle is one of the most respected ocean scientists of all time,” said Mark S. Pritchett, President and CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation. “She understands so well how our oceans sustain our planet and what we must do to protect them before it’s too late. Our Gulf Coast communities must hear Dr. Earle’s urgent message.”

Sylvia Earle is an oceanographer, explorer, author, and lecturer with a lifetime of experience as a field research scientist, government official, and director for corporate and nonprofit organizations. Her pioneering career includes many firsts—from first person to walk solo on the bottom of the sea under a quarter-mile of water to first woman to serve as Chief Scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Dr. Earle has led more than 100 expeditions, authored more than 225 publications, and earned more than 30 honorary degrees. Among more than 100 national and international awards and honors, she was named TIME Magazine’s first “Hero for the Planet,” a “Living Legend” by the Library of Congress, and a 2013 winner of the Hubbard Medal by National Geographic. Earle’s research concerns the ecology and conservation of marine ecosystems and development of technology for access to the deep sea.

“Think of the world without an ocean, you’ve got a planet a lot like Mars,” Earle says in Mission Blue, the 2015 Emmy Award-winning Netflix documentary about her life and work. “No ocean, no life. No ocean, no us.” Reservations for the luncheon, which will be held at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, will be available in January. 

Photo of Dr. Sylvia Earle.

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The John and Mabel Ringling Museum of Art has announced a new a slate of officers and appointed four members to the board. Nancy J. Parrish will serve as Board Chair, Jeffrey R. Hotchkiss as Vice Chair, Edward M. Swan, Jr., CFA as Treasurer and Dr. Sarah H. Pappas, as Secretary for the next fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2020. The Honorable Dennis Archer, Leon R. Ellin, Leslie (Les) Victor Pantin and Debra Short were named to the Board.

Nancy J. Parrish, Chair, is a private investor and collector. Nancy was founding co-chair of Human Rights Watch, northern California Chapter. She served two terms as Development Trustee of Friends of UCSF’s Dept. of Psychiatry’s Hospital Board, focusing on the creation of a children’s center. Nancy served as a board member and Chief Negotiator with the federal government for Plum Orchard Foundation, whose mission was to preserve the historic Carnegie estate within the Cumberland Island National Seashore. She currently serves as vice president of The Children’s Guardian Fund of Sarasota.

Jeffrey R. Hotchkiss, Vice Chair, is a retired President of Teradyne (NYSE:TER), a Boston based manufacturer of systems for the testing of electronic products. In Mr. Hotchkiss’ thirty-eight year career at Teradyne, he has held roles in various sales, marketing and division management positions, including chief financial officer from 1997-1999. In 2000, he founded Empirix Inc. and served as the president and chief executive officer for four years, before returning to Teradyne as President of the Systems Test Group.

Edward M. Swan, Jr., CFA, Treasurer, is a resident of Sarasota spending part of the year on Martha’s Vineyard. He received a BA from Tufts University and a MBA from the Wharton School. He also attended a director development program at the Kellogg School (Northwestern University). He was a captain in the U.S. Air Force. Ed has over 35 years of experience in institutional investment management, marketing and enterprise management.

Dr. Sarah H. Pappas, Secretary, was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and spent the early years of her life in Havana, Cuba and Mexico City. Her family later moved to the United States where she attended high school and Penn State University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree, a master's degree from the University of South Florida, and her doctorate from Nova Southeastern University. Her experience in Florida's higher education system includes 44 years of holding progressively more responsible positions at three community colleges and the University of Central Florida.

The Honorable Dennis Archer is the Chairman and chief executive officer at Dennis W. Archer, PLLC. His areas of practice include appellate, arbitration, commercial and business litigation, and labor law. After earning his law degree, Mr. Archer practiced as a trial lawyer and taught as an associate professor at the Detroit College of Law and an adjunct professor at Wayne State University Law School. In 1994, Mr. Archer succeeded Coleman Young to become Detroit’s 59th mayor.

Leon R. Ellin serves as chief financial officer and Executive vice president for Voit Corporation, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas Mr. Ellin is 75 years old and has served as a business consultant for the following companies: Champion Products, Inc.; Wilton Brands, LLC (Wilton Industries, Inc.); Edward Don & Company, LLC; and Colgate- Palmolive Company.

Leslie (Les) Victor Pantin is Founder and President of Pantin/Berber Silverstein Public Relations. The firm, whose services include media and community relations, social media, crisis communications and special events, is a unit of Berber Silverstein Group (BSG), a full service advertising, marketing and media placement agency.

Debra (Deb) Short grew up in the Midwest and attended the University of Missouri- Columbia, majoring in Art History. However, after 25+ years in the retail management and buying arena for Bealls Department and JC Penney Department Stores, Short was fortunate to find her way back to her first love, the appreciation of art, by volunteering at The Ringling. 

Feld Entertainment Vice President of Creative and Marketing Services Dominique LeClezio is joining the Realize Bradenton board of directors for a three-year term. Born and raised in South Africa, LeClezio has earned degrees in marketing and economics and completed post-graduate work in marketing management. Prior to his work at Feld Entertainment, he earned both local and international recognition for this work on brands including McDonald’s, Levi Strauss, Volkswagen and Tervis Tumbler. The Realize Bradenton board promotes redevelopment and economic growth in downtown Bradenton by transforming public places and engaging people using arts, culture, heritage, and food to build a vibrant, healthy Bradenton.