The Children's Movement of Florida Launches Statewide "Milk Parties" To Make Children a Greater Priority

Movement will leverage grassroots support to make young children the state's highest priority

MIAMI, Aug. 9, 2010 – Led by a 27-member committee of influential Floridians, The Children's Movement of Florida today announced a statewide, citizen-led, non-partisan series of "Milk Parties" on behalf of Florida's children.

The sweeping series of 15 “Milk Party” rallies will be conducted throughout Florida between Sept. 6 and Sept. 30.

The events will include appearances by movement leaders, children's advocates, entertainers and local celebrities and supporters. Refreshments will include milk and cookies. A bus called "The Children's Express" will carry the group on "The Children's Movement Road Tour" from city to city.

The objective: To educate political, business and civic leaders – and all parents in Florida – about the urgent need to improve the way we care for our children, making the well-being and education of our youngest and most vulnerable citizens Florida's highest priority.

Special concentration will be focused on early childhood, the years from birth through five years old, when science tells us that 90 percent of human brain development occurs.

"Through the sheer magnitude of these rallies and the thousands of supporters who attend them, we will show influential leaders in Tallahassee and everywhere else that we have the power to obtain for Florida's children the resources they require and deserve," said David Lawrence Jr., president and co-chair of The Children's Movement of Florida, founding chair of The Children's Trust of Miami-Dade County and retired publisher of The Miami Herald.

The need is clear: Florida regularly ranks in the bottom half of states in child health, largely due to the high rate of babies born underweight and children who die within their first year of life. Hundreds of thousands of children in Florida are not covered by health insurance. The state's prekindergarten program does not meet most national standards. And more.

"I am a frustrated Floridian," Lawrence said. "By almost every objective standard, Florida ranks poorly in measure after measure of how we invest in children.

"What we’re trying to do is make children – particularly infants and toddlers – a top priority in this state," he said. "This powerful, well-organized, well-funded movement is about the future of our community and our country."

To fund the initial phase of the movement, almost all of the million-dollar initial goal has been raised from foundations, individuals and businesses. No public funds are being used.

Lawrence and other leaders of The Children's Movement of Florida emphasized that the movement is not advocating higher or new statewide taxes. Rather, it will work in coming years to ensure that all of Florida's children receive a bigger piece of the budgeting pie.

"When it comes time to fight for the budget, children's issues are usually outgunned by lobbyists for various other interests," said Roberto Martinez, co-chair of The Children's Movement, a former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida and a member of Florida's State Board of Education. "Children's issues suffer because they don't have an advocate speaking for them as vigorously and consistently as they should."

The Children's Movement of Florida is supported by a broad coalition that includes hundreds of children's advocates and others. "When it comes to what’s best for Florida’s children, there should be no partisanship," Martinez said.

For information about the “Milk Party” rally scheduled for your coverage area, about the origins, objectives and leaders of The Children's Movement of Florida, and about the current state of Florida's children, please visit www.childrensmovementflorida.org

Media Contact:

Martin Merzer, Communications Director
martin.merzer@childrensmovementflorida.org
Cell: 954-465-1099 or
Alia Faraj-Johnson, 850-222-1996