Champion for Children Foundation of Highlands County, Inc.

09/04/2026

🎗️ September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. 🎗️
For us, childhood cancer isn’t just a statistic, they has names, faces, families, and stories.
Today, we are supporting 13 Lindsey’s Wish kids in our community who have been affected by childhood cancer. Each child’s journey is different, but every family deserves to know they don’t have to face it alone.
Through Lindsey’s Wish, the Champion for Children Foundation is honored to walk alongside these children and their families offering support, encouragement, and help with the very real challenges that come with a childhood cancer diagnosis.

08/21/2026

What a wonderful night celebrating some of the incredible people who make Highlands County so special! ❤️
The Champion for Children Foundation was honored to sponsor the Teen of the Year award at the Highlands News-Sun Highlander Awards. We are so proud of all three outstanding finalists and thrilled to congratulate Olivia Wilson, this year’s Teen of the Year! 🎉 These young people are already making a difference in our community, and we can’t wait to see what their futures hold.
The evening was made even more special when our newest team member and Family Resource Specialist, Deb Garrison, was named Volunteer of the Year! 🏆 We are so excited to have Deb joining our Foundation family, and this recognition is a beautiful reflection of the heart for service she brings to our community.
Congratulations, Deb, and thank you for all you do! 💙
A special thank you to AdventHealth, sponsor of the Volunteer of the Year award, and to the Highlands News-Sun for recognizing and celebrating the people who make our community a better place.

08/20/2026

🎶Program Spotlight: The “Prof” and Paul Gustat Music Fund 🎻
Every child deserves the opportunity to discover what they love and have the chance to pursue it.
Through the “Prof” and Paul Gustat Music Fund, the Champion for Children Foundation helps remove financial barriers that may prevent local children from participating in music education.

08/19/2026

🌻Thank you, Viv! 🌻
We had a very special visitor stop by the Foundation today! Viv painted this beautiful canvas and decided to auction it off on Facebook to raise money for Lindsey’s Wish. 🎨
We love seeing a young person use her talents and creativity to help other children in our community. What a beautiful example of a giving heart!💛
Thank you, Viv, for thinking of Lindsey’s Wish and for making a difference. 💛
A special thank you to Randall Rescreening LLC for purchasing Viv’s artwork and supporting her efforts to give back! 💛

08/17/2026

National Nonprofit Day is a reminder that none of us does this work alone. ❤️
Strong communities are built when people and organizations come together, share resources, support one another and stay focused on what matters most which is the people we serve.
We’re proud to share not only a sign, but a home and a commitment to our community with United Way of Central Florida.
Today we celebrate the nonprofits throughout Highlands County doing the work every day as well we the donors, volunteers, partners and neighbors who make that work possible.
Different missions. One community. A whole lot of heart. 💙

08/11/2026

🍎📚 Happy First Day of School, Highlands County!
Prayers for a wonderful school year filled with learning, growth, kindness, and success for all of our students, teachers, and school staff. ❤️
Here’s to a great year ahead! ✏️🎒

08/07/2026

We are excited to announce the 5 finalist for this years Champion for Children Award Gala. Congratulations to this years finalists:
⭐️Charlotte Bauder
⭐️Donna Howerton
⭐️Pat Landress
⭐️Joy Loomis
⭐️Susan Norris
We cannot wait to celebrate each of them at our 27th annual gala on September 24th.
A special thank you to the Highlands News Sun for sharing this news and to Katlyn with K Squared Photography for taking these beautiful headshots of each of the finalists.
Read the press release on the front page of today's paper.

As the nation reflects on 250 years of ordinary citizens making extraordinary contributions to their communities, the Champion for Children Foundation is preparing to honor five local individuals whose quiet

07/30/2026

Happy Birthday to Laketra Hills! 🎈
Thank you for being such a valued member of the Champion for Children Foundation Board. We appreciate your commitment to our mission and wish you a birthday filled with joy and a year full of great things ahead!

07/26/2026

This week, I had the privilege of attending the Krimes Against Kids Conference. While there were countless takeaways, one message stayed with me throughout the week: no one agency can do this work alone.
Protecting children and strengthening families requires all of us working together, sharing information, and trusting one another. Prevention and early intervention don't happen in silos. They happen when communities come together with a common purpose.
One of my favorite moments was realizing just how well Highlands County was represented. Seeing professionals from our Child Advocacy Center, Department of Children and Families, Heartland for Children, the Highlands County Sheriff's Office, the State Attorney's Office, mental health providers, and Champion for Children Foundation all learning together was a powerful reminder of what makes our community special.
I'm grateful to be part of a community that believes every child deserves a network of people working together on their behalf. That's how we make a lasting difference.

07/23/2026

Happy birthday to our wonderful board member, Beth Johnson.
Thank you for your dedication, heart, and commitment to the Foundation. We hope your day is filled with joy and celebration. Wishing you a fantastic year ahead! 💙