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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2007
Contact: Lonnie Parizek (850) 921-4494
Rep. Galvano Receives Award for Service to Children and Families
Tampa--Bradenton Representative Bill Galvano accepted an award for his work on behalf of Florida’s children and families during a luncheon ceremony in Tampa on Friday. Staff and participants of the Healthy Families Florida program thanked the representative for his strong leadership and unwavering commitment to the statewide child abuse prevention program.
"Representative Galvano is a true champion for Florida’s families. He understands the wisdom of investing in prevention and we genuinely appreciate his support of our efforts," said Carol McNally, Executive Director of Healthy Families Florida.
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Rep. Galvano Receives Award for Service to Children and Families |
"I came here today to thank Representative Galvano for supporting Healthy Families Florida. As an 18-year-old, 100 pound girl expecting a baby, I felt overwhelmed. I wasn’t sure where I would live or how I would finish school, and there was plenty I didn’t know about being a new mom and taking care of my baby. Leslie, my home visitor from Healthy Families Manatee, met with me every week and helped me plan how I could achieve the goals I have for myself and my daughter," said Mariena Lewis. "Leslie also recognized that my daughter had a speech delay and referred me to a speech therapist that could help. I don’t know what I would have done without this program."
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Rep. Galvano and Mariena Lewis with Her Daughter |
During the 2007 Legislative Session, Representative Galvano, Chairman of the House Healthy Families Committee, worked with Representatives Bean and Ausley and Senators Peadon, Rich and Saunders to find $2.2 million to expand the Healthy Families program into the 14 counties that had been without these services for high-risk children and their families. |
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