Children First is proud to announce a significant planned gift commitment to the agency’s legacy society, Children First Forever, from long-time supporters and community philanthropists Stephanie and Allen Hochfelder. As the exclusive provider of Head Start and Early Head Start services for Sarasota County, Children First serves children and their families living at or below the Federal Poverty Level ($23,030 for a family of 3) across 15 locations each year. The Hochfelders also committed to a multi-year gift of $300,000 that will go toward the agency’s annual support fund. The first installment has already been dispersed with the focus on raising staff salaries and supporting overall employee well-being.

“As a classroom volunteer and former Speech Pathologist, I’ve seen firsthand the critical work that the teachers and staff are putting in each day as they engage with our community’s most vulnerable children and families,” says Stephanie Hochfelder. “Allen and I understand how meaningful a quality education can be and how impactful it is to be given an opportunity to overcome your circumstances to succeed. We also know that the more you give, the more you have. That is why we felt compelled to leave our legacy with Children First, and the incredible children and families the agency serves.”