This is the PAC that is spending money trying to get you to approve the Children's Trust Referendum on the ballot August 26th. Their mandate is due to expire, they want to be renewed: Thus the PAC.Some big donors: Lennar has given them $50,000 and Stuart Miller (Lennar CEO) has also given the Children's Trust Miami PAC $50,000. AT&T has given them $50,000 as well. David Lawrence also gave his baby a bundle. A host of good people have given to this PAC (Katy Sorenson, Donna Shalala, State Rep. Julio Robaina, Betsy Kaplan, Joe Natoli, Carlos Gimenez, etc.) to the tune of over a million dollars.
What I would like to know: Where were all these people and corporations (663 of them) when they cut the education budget? Why didn't they step in to help public schools with the bully pulpit? Why didn't they scream like hell? And, secondly, why should we foot the bill twice for education, these programs could be added to the Miami Dade education umbrella and they could get the money from the referendum. Why have two large staffs? I would rather money go directly to the school budget. This PAC, it irks me big-time, hell, they spent about $200,000 just on polling to find out how they can sell us on this. They even polled us to see what the ballot language should look like.
Since we have given The Children's Trust about $85,000,000 a year (2007-08 $99.3 million based on a 0.4223 mill property tax) I thought we should look at them a little closer.
Here is a link to The Children's Trust budget information (you can also hit on image on right for a brief summary from a 2007 audit) and following is the language that will be on the ballot (that we voters chose in two polls costing $25,000) and, finally, is the Staff list of the Children's Trust:
Shall The Children’s Trust, the independent special
district for children’s services, be renewed to fund
improvements to children’s health, development and
safety including:
• programs to reduce violence and keep children safe,
• after-school and summer programs,
• programs to improve the educational quality of
child care, and
• health care teams for public schools; and promote
parental and community responsibility for children;
and continue the annual ad valorem tax levy not to
exceed one-half (½) mill?
Staff by DepartmentADMINISTRATION
Staff Member Title Extension/Phone
Modesto E. Abety President / CEO 244
Susan Marian Senior Executive Assistant 325
Charles M. Auslander Chief Programs and Operations Officer 236
Lissette E. Martinez Executive Assistant 291
Muriel Jeanty Clerk of the Board 292
Yurena Driggs Receptionist 301
FINANCE & ACCOUNTING
Jolie Jerry Chief Financial Officer 322
Andrea Roberts Executive Assistant 315
Wendy Duncombe Controller 320
Maria Elena Cadavid Fiscal Analyst III 307
Alberoni Dorvilus Fiscal Analyst 309
Brenda L. Galarza Senior Accountant 330
Fred Torres Senior Accountant 316
Goran Omerhodzic Staff Accountant II 304
Jay Mayer Staff Accountant II 303
Kenneth Freimark Staff Accountant II 268
Perla Zepeda-Young Staff Accountant II 312
Chareka Hawes Staff Accountant 321
Kesha (Tarquisha) Davis Accounting Clerk II 311
Yoanka Cobas Accounting Clerk II 312
Juana Lartitegui Accounting Clerk 314
Mariela Carrodeguas Accounting Clerk 241
EARLY CHILDHOOD (0-5) AND MATERNAL HEALTH DEVELOPMENT
Bevone Ritchie Contract Administrator 318
Countess Chapman-Balogun Contract Manager 265
Hudelaine R. Deus Contract Manager 287
Kathleen Dexter Contract Manager 286
Sara Espinoza Contract Manager 266
Viviana Moncada Administrative Assistant II 267
HEALTHCONNECT
Dr. Andrew L. Brickman Executive Director, Health Programs 240
Shaleen Fagundo Senior Program Manager 239
Helen Matos-Alvarez Contract Manager II 308
Dannielle M. Hart Contract Manager 294
Juliette Fabien Contract Manager 293
Michele Jubilee Administrative Assistant II 290
SERVICE PARTNERSHIPS / RESOURCE NETWORKS / VIOLENCE PREVENTION
Donovan Lee-Sin Sr. Manager for Community & Neighborhood Services 231
Glory Coley Contract Administrator 319
John Ise Contract Manager 253
Lorraine Gary Contract Manager 246
Rachel Spector Contract Manager 248
Safiyé González Administrative Assistant II 295
OUT OF SCHOOL (OOS) 1
Ana D. Sanchez Contract Administrator 257
Armando H. Corbelle Contract Manager 254
Danny Roman-Gloro Contract Manager 247
Josefina Gallardo Contract Manager 259
Marisela De D'Windt Contract Manager 256
OUT OF SCHOOL (OOS) 2
Kathleen Gent Contract Administrator 245
Garnet Esters Contract Manager 310
Gilberto Gonzalez Contract Manager 255
Ive Vintimilla Contract Manager 260
Patricia Leal Contract Manager 306
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT / TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD / ADVOCACY
Samuel McKinnon Contract Administrator 262
Allen Sells Contract Manager 285
Aundray Adams Contract Manager 252
Rick Hernandez Contract Manager 310
Robert Feiler Contract Manager 264
Jenny Bode Administrative Assistant 242
QUALITY RATING IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM (QRIS) & QUALITY COUNTS
Dr. Jesse Leinfelder Administrator 238
Jessica Grinovero Program Assistant 289
CAPACITY BUILDING
Blanch (Theresa) Johnson Contract Manager 225
Cravel Holmes Contract Manager 263
Meredith Sofka Contract Manager 298
Sabine Edmond Program Assistant 268
TRAINING
Dr. Tisa McGhee Professional and Organizational Development Manager 233
Emilio de la Cruz Capacity Training Specialist 227
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Dr. Debra Davis Chief Information Officer 517
Erik Pinzon IS Manager 525
Yilin Xiao Systems Analyst / Computer Services Specialist 521
Pablo Delgado Systems Analyst 522
Alfonso Arias-Mendoza Database Administrator 526
Robert Bethke IT Documentation and Training Specialist 523
Darrin Buffkin Community Indicators & GIS Analyst 225
Margo Brownlee Administrative Assistant 519
PUBLIC POLICY & COMMUNICATIONS
Diana Ragbeer Director of Public Policy & Communications 511
Emily Cardenas Senior Communications Manager 516
Sandra Camacho Media Liaison 508
Persephone Gary Public Policy & Outreach Coordinator 515
Michael Malone Writer/Editor 510
Felix Becerra Web Content Manager 509
Ernie Lyman Administrative Assistant II 507
Laura Costanzo Executive Assistant / Public Policy 527
CONTRACT PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION
Deborah Robinson Sr. Program Services Manager
(TEAMS: Sanchez, Gent, McKinnon) 237
Loretta Duvall Sr. Program Services Manager
(TEAMS: Ritchie, Wimes, McGhee) 317
Ernesto Perez Contract Manager II 247
Joanna Revelo Contract Manager II 249
Lisete Yero Office Manager 288
RESEARCH & EVALUATION
Dr. K. Lori Hanson Director of Research and Evaluation 224
Dr. Lisa Pittman Sr. Research and Evaluation Analyst 317
Dalia Garcia Sr. Research and Evaluation Analyst 232
Stephanie Scott Resource Development Manager 506
Sharon DeJoy Research & Evaluation Manager 228
Sandra Alvear Research & Evaluation Analyst 241
Sandra Williams Research & Evaluation Analyst 228
Marden F. Muñoz Data Integrity Analyst 223
Johana Cure Research Assistant 226
Teresa Cobb Administrative Assistant I 288
HUMAN RESOURCES & LEGAL
Bob Bromberg HR Consultant - Fax: 305-358-9615 305-373-7700
Maria Arista-Volsky Assistant County Attorney 305-375-2209
BOARD CHAIR
David Lawrence Jr. The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation
3250 SW Third Avenue
Miami, FL 33129
24 comments:
I looked at the budget: Questions:
There is no breakdown on salries. How much is Mr Lawrence et.al. being compensated?
Why is this non-profit NOT listed on Guidestar so we can see this information?
The children's trust does not do programs? They Contract them out to the community based organizations? Is that correct? And their board members might be getting these contracts? Is this a non profit clearinghouse for other non profits around the county to get money? If so: Why do they need such a large staff? And, why not give directly to these other non-profits. Why do we need this middleman? I don't understand what they are doing exactly. I am very confused.
They should publish EVERY vote on conflict of interest, so we can see what is going on here with awarded to contracts to related entities to board members.
Besides looking top heavy in staff, why is a county attorney working with the Trust? Isn't this a conflict to have a county attorney on the staff list for the Trust. I won't vote for this money.
As I have said before, I don't consider education one of my issues. It doesn't do it for me...If I never wrote about it, it would make me happy.
However, I am so angry that the schools don't have enough money and teachers will not get their raises and Crew is used as a whipping boy---all the while the elite of our community are supporting this Trust when the schools are hurting so badly...it makes me crazy.
Don't people care about their kids and the kids in the community? Are they so selfish to reduce their taxes they don't even see they are short-changing the children? And why are these same people going to vote for more taxes for this program when they don't even want to fund the school system? People, you don't make sense.
Reader who asked about Guidestar...they indeed are not on that site as a non-profit. I tried to look at Sunbiz to see if they were a non-profit but Sunbiz is down for the weekend. So, I don't know, but I tend to think they are some sort of other entity.
From their Website:
They are an independent special district, a dedicated funding source for children entitled "The Children's Trust.
Thanks for the info...I figured out it wasn't a non profit...And in the comments section the person asked a question about Lawrence's compensation.
It is not a misconception to ask a question. Perhaps you should be giving people real information rather than printing pictures of people who support you. It would be much more helpful than having to dig it up all over the web.
They DID NOT provide summer programs this summer. Why is no one addressing this? I understand they had problems with Dade County schools and their lack of funding since they have to partner with them but NO ONE is admitting to this failure to provide summer activities this summer. This is a fundamental mission for CT. It should be discussed and alternative plans should be in place for the money that was earmarked for this service. Yet NO ONE will even admit the failure of this mission this summer.
OK, so they spend "less than 10% on administration". How much do they spend on staff and how much on direct program support? Every time we let ourselves be taxed for some worthwhile activity it gets twisted by politicos and special interests to do anything but what it is supposed to do. How do you say transportation tax and JMH tax?
Yes JMH is a mess and Souto and Rolle are on the board now.
Although I'm in favor of quality provision of services for our children, I feel strongly about centralized power. Although Mr. David Lawrence is to be praised for his hard work, his stronghold on both the children's trust and the early learning coalition is worrysome. One individual should not control so much. A quick review of the Trust board shows that too many board members have ties to agencies receiving Trust funding. Example: Natalia Seijas who works for the YMCA and others as well. People on the board are basically afraid to oppose Mr. Lawrence's proposals for fear of "funding" repercusions against their agencies.
If you have a question to ask, perhaps you should call the CEO at The Children's Trust and simply do so before throwing inuendo out on the Internet. The Children's Trust is a very transparent organization and the CEO, Modesto Abety, and Board Chair, David Lawrence, will meet with absolutely anybody. Why don't you call and set up an appointment? As for it's commitment to summer programs, of course The Children's Trust invested in summer camps this year. This one of its largest investments and it would never stop funding summer camps. Who ever accuses The Children's Trust of going back on this commitment is completely misinformed. For the cynics out there, this is one agency that is doing what it promises. I realize this is rare, but it's happening. We should celebrate it and go out to the polls and vote yes for its reauthorization.
I second anonymous in that the Trust is one if not the best steward of taxpayer's monies, HOWEVER, I feel that changes need to be made in order to allow the TruSt to grow and mature. As far as Rolle serving on the JMH board, God help us, can anybody say JESCA?
The best way to recommend changes at The Children's Trust is to come to one of the monthly board meetings and speak up. Growth and maturaty comes with age. There is always room for improvement.
Is anybody familiar with Daniel Ricker and The Watchdog Report? This is in his newsletter, published this evening:
"The Watchdog Report supports a yes vote for The Children’s Trust
The Watchdog Report rarely endorses or recommends how voters should vote unless the official, for example still running has been indicted or about to be. However, when it comes to The Children’s Trust. I recommend a yes vote for the entity has done what it promised the community when voters approved the creation of such a trust in 2002. The organization that has tens of thousands of children benefiting from all income spectrums has been free of scandal and has kept the administrative costs down while contracting out to providers that only have certain certifications for providing high quality educational, arts and other activities programs.
Back in 2003 when the trust was organizing itself and drafting the byelaws the Watchdog Report was the only press that consistently attended these meetings and I also watched the search committee select the executive director. The organization has always operated in a transparent way, and overall I have had no beef with the trust and still check in on a quarterly basis. The large and diverse board consists of a wide variety of citizens and elected leaders and they take their oversight duties very seriously and for that and the other achievements helping the children of our community. It is for these reasons the Watchdog Report supports the renewal of The Children’s Trust question that appears on the back of the paper ballot and a yes vote is warranted."
Dear Anonymous, you seem to understand the Trust back & forth, so perhaps you could help us understand it better. I visited their site and noticed that Mr. Lawrence chairs evey single committee? How come? I don't want you to think I have something against the man, but control freak comes to mind here...
Tiraduro, not sure what is on the Web site that leads you to believe he chairs every committee. He does not chair any committee, but the Executive Committee, which is his right as Board Chair. Each committee has it's own chair. UM Assistant Professor Dr. Judy Schaechter is the Health Committee Chair, for example. You may be interested to know that almost half of The Board rolls over between December-February because of term limits, including Mr. Lawrence. Who the next Board Chair will be is anyone's guess at this time. The departure of David Lawrence will be a great loss to The Children's Trust.
I am sorry but I personally met 3 people that had experienced the lack of summer programs in
Dade County this summer. One gentleman had to call 160 plus families to advise there would not be any summer programs for their children. These people where not lying. Why do you say they invested in summer programs? I am voting no because no one addresses this specific problem plus I don't see why they need public money. Let them fund raise.
Apparently Trust people have found this blog, in fear that we will upset the apple-cart.
Trust people: I want to know more than anything: Why does Rudy Crew support the Trust. Crew's reasoning could be the turning point for me. If we don't want to raise taxes to support schools, why are we taxing ourselves to keep school related activities in place? I see a former school board member is supporting the trust (Kaplan). What about the current school board?
Crew probably supports it because it's providing services to children. Most often to children in need. Services he can't provide because they can't even afford to pay for books.
I'm not on the Trust, or really work all that closely with anyone there, but I have tons of friends and family in the School system.
Without the Trust, we'd be in a heap of %#@^ because the State is slashing school funds in an attempt to privatize public shools. The "tax swap" craziness being the latest example.
It was just a couple years ago (right when the trust was forming) that there was a big "scandal" with the School Board closing the last of the school clinics for lack of funding. The Trust restored basic health services for our kids in public schools.
As far as the anon complaining about "no summer programs," there are way less now because of budget cuts to others that provide services, so all that seems to survive are the programs backed by the Children's Trust.
My kids don't benefit from most of the services funded through the Trust, but I know others that have. I hope the majority of people can see beyond selfish Miami tendencies and vote to keep the last safety net some of our kids have.
Come on guys stop sugar coating this whole things a sham just one more Miami Dade pinyata, for the hanger ons to get their grubby sticky hands on our tax dollars.
A- school board spends more that $19,000 per child per year its Budget has gone from 2.5 Billion in 01 t0 6.5 Billion yet number of students is on the decline.
B- I remember going to my local park in the summer (in the 1970s) and having lots to due and getting lunch (No Children's trust then)
C- County Budget has been ballooning too at a rtae that FAR exceeds inflation and population increases (no becoming decreases)
D-Selfish? I got taxes and fees coming out my arse so that some "connected" folks can feed at the trough at my expense by creating more make work jobs.with cushy salaries and nice tidy pensions (WHO YOU CALLING SELFISH FOOL?)
David Lawrence is probably posting all this feel good dribble. People are leaving Miami Dade and its not for a lack of government programs and make work jobs its do to runaway government spending (mucho corruption)and taxes and no REAL JOBS from private entities.
I removed this comment as it is showing up in google as the contents of my post and I figure they had to do something to it to make this happen --- because they know more about google than I do so I am reposting it...fuck I hate this:
Anonymous said...
Let’s begin by clearing up all the misconceptions on this blog. For starters, David Lawrence receives no salary and the entire Board of Directors (33 members) serves voluntarily. The Trust is not a 501C3 non-profit. It is a government agency, specifically a special taxing district created by the voters by a margin of 2 to 1 back in 2002. The sunset provision on that ballot requires it to go back to the voters for reauthorization this year. The staff is not large, compared to like agencies across the state. There are actually 7 others, categorized as Children’s Services Councils. Broward has one and so does Palm Beach. The Trust spends less than 10% of its annual budget on administration. The staff is necessary to carry out the extensive funding process it created to make sure only well qualified agencies receive tax payers dollars. Staff monitor all funded agencies, programmatically and fiscally. Very strict reporting procedures are also required of funded providers to insure that targeted results are reached. It is because of all these safeguards that The Trust is so well run. It is probably the best steward of tax payer’s dollars in Miami-Dade County. As for the suggestion that The Trust should fold into the school system, state statute prohibits a single penny from The Trust going to the public school system directly. The Trust was created to enhance services for children and families, not replace funding that other governments are responsible for. If we were to allow that to happen, The Trust would turn into a shell game like the Florida lottery. Put the blame squarely in the lap of Tallahassee for not funding our schools the way they should be. The Trust is the last safety net for children and families in this community -- funding summer and after school programs, health teams for students in public schools, sorely needed improvements to child care, violence-prevention programs, parenting classes, home visits by family coaches to first time mothers, adoption awareness initiatives, a 24-hour 211 helpline, and so much more. Most homeowners pay in the vicinity of $60 a year to The Trust. It’s the best value for your dollar you’ll ever see. The campaign to reauthorize The Trust is paid for entirely by private donations from caring people who believe in investing in the future of our children. For those of you who still doubt, take a look at the “frequently asked questions” section of The Trust Web site.
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