Kevin J. Roberts, Chief Executive Officer

Children's Services Foundation of Highlands County, Inc.

419 E. Center Ave.

Sebring, FL   33870

Mailing Address:  PO Box 7125, Sebring, FL  33872-0103

Phone No:  863-382-2905

Fax No.  863-382-2928

e-mail:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Early in the life of the Children's Services Council, its leaders realized that bureaucracy moves slowly.  There was clearly a need to respond quickly to crisis situations...and young people's problems reach crisis-level rapidly.

There was also a need to keep child-centered projects as non-political as possible.  Citizens in the private sector were often ready to step up with financial support, but they did not want to wait on a budget cycle or a public hearing or other wheels of public business to roll around.  The Council needed a way to speed up the acquisition of donations (cash or in-kind), account for them and then disburse them without being bogged down in "red tape".  The answer was incorporation of a 501-(c)3 Foundation that would manage gifts from private citizens and allow those gifts to be federal tax deductions for the donors.  Hence the Children's Services Foundation was established in 1994.

With this mechanism in place, the Council, the community and local government grew to embrace the concept of a "Public-Private Partnership" that could make good things happen fast.  Its first, and very successful, effort was construction of the Children's Advocacy Center.  The Foundation raised thousands of dollars from Highlands County citizens and businesses.  It sought donations of services, labor and materials.  The public literally "bought into" the project and the County Commission added some money from the Capital Improvement Fund and agreed to build the parking lot with county labor and equipment.  When the Center opened in 1998, it was completely paid for; it soon became fully accredited by the National Children's Alliance.

Since inception, the Foundation has underwritten many remarkable projects.  It continues to operate with faith in the "Public-Private Partnership," a way of combining public monies with private gifts.  The Foundation Board of Directors acknowledges and appreciates the generosity of the people in Highlands County.  The expect to continue making things happen to improve the lives of children and young people.

Our Board of Directors

Nancy Hensley, Chairman

Pat Leidel, Vice-Chairman

Kevin J. Roberts, Chief Executive Officer

Mercedes Carruthers

Mark Cox, C.P.A.

Doris Gentry

Jill Jernigan, R.N.

Joy Salinder

Nicholas Schommer, J.D.

Pete Zeegers

Andrew Hughes, Ex-Officio