The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation

Photo: Dr. Jane and Jerry Katcher

The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) operating foundation, came into being in early 1999, the idea and inspiration of Dr. Jane and Jerry Katcher of Miami. The foundation was formed to work toward an early childhood education and development initiative in Miami-Dade County, population 2.4 million, Florida's largest county (with more people than 16 states). The initiative aims toward "universal readiness" -- that is, making available and affordable high quality health, education and nurturing for all of this community's 160,000 children between birth and age 5. In doing so, the initiative works toward the social, physical, emotional and intellectual growth of all children so that they are ready and eager to be successful in the first grade and, indeed, in life.

The foundation's president is David Lawrence Jr., who retired after 35 years of daily newspapering to devote his efforts fulltime to "school readiness." He can be reached at 305-646-7229. The fax number is 305-646-7232. His e-mail address is dlawrence@childreadiness.org Downloadable version for printing PC User Instructions: Right click on each link and select 'save target as' MAC User Instructions: Hold down mouse button and select 'save target as' November 2000 - Miami-Dade County Parents Study by The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation (download file size: 260 KB)

David Lawrence Jr.

Speeches

12/2/2011
The text of a speech given by David Lawrence Jr., president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, on Dec. 2, 2011, before the annual gathering of the Florida School Boards Association and the Superintendents Association in Tampa.

8/2/2011
The text of a presentation by David Lawrence Jr., president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, on Aug. 2, 2011, on Florida's prekindergarten program for 4 year olds given before the state Board of Education in Tampa.

7/11/2011
The text of a speech given by David Lawrence Jr., president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, on July 11, 2011, at a CAYL Institute national conference in Orlando.

4/4/2011
The text of a speech given by David Lawrence Jr., president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, on April 4, 2011, to the annual Children's Week dinner in Tallahassee.

1/12/2010
The text of a speech given by David Lawrence Jr., president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, on Jan. 12, 2010 before a national child policy conference in Miami sponsored by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

10/24/2009
The text of a speech given by David Lawrence Jr., president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, on Oct. 24, 2009 before a statewide kindergarten conference in Orlando.

3/23/2009
The text of a speech given by David Lawrence Jr., president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, on March 23, 2009, to a W.K. Kellogg Foundation conference in Miami.

6/11/2008
The text of a speech given by David Lawrence Jr., president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, on June 11, 2008 before a conference on psychotropic medicines at Florida International University in Miami.

5/30/2008
The text of a speech given by David Lawrence Jr., president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, on May 30, 2008 before the CEO Summit for Business Leaders in King of Prussia, Pa.

2/1/2008
The text of a speech given by David Lawrence Jr., president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, on February 1, 2008 before a Miami-Dade Schools student services conference in Miami.

1/29/2008
The text of a speech given by David Lawrence Jr., president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, on Jan. 29, 2008, at a Miami launch of a community-wide investment in higher quality for child care centers and homes.

4/25/2007
The text of a speech given by David Lawrence Jr., president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, on April 25, 2007 before a University of Florida College of Education audience in Gainesville.

10/6/2006
The text of a speech given by David Lawrence Jr., president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, on Oct. 6, 2006 before the Children's Summit in Orlando, Fla.

9/15/2006
The text of a speech given by David Lawrence Jr., president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, on Sept. 15, 2006 before the Askew Institute at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

8/5/2006
The text of a speech given by David Lawrence Jr., president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, on Aug. 5, 2006. The occasion was the summer commencement ceremonies at Florida State University in Tallahassee.

10/14/2005
The text of a speech given by David Lawrence Jr., president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, on Oct. 14, 2005 in Orlando, Fla., before a statewide summit of business executives, hosted by Florida Tax Watch, on “voluntary universal prekindergarten” and quality.

6/14/2005
The text of a speech given by David Lawrence Jr., president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, on June 14, 2005 in Harrisburg, Pa., before the “Policy Workshop on Early Childhood Education: Universal Pre-K and Other Alternatives.”

2/23/2005
The text of a speech given by David Lawrence Jr., president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, on Feb. 23, 2005 before the Washington, D.C., conference on early literacy screening.

5/20/2004
The text of a speech given by David Lawrence Jr., president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, on May 20, 2004 before the Florida Department of Health county directors in Miami.

12/15/2003
The text of a speech given by David Lawrence Jr., president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, on Dec. 15, 2003 before the National Governors Association Forum on Quality Pre-School in Orlando.

5/23/2003
The text of a speech given by David Lawrence Jr., the president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, at the United Way Success By 6 in Charlotte on May 23, 2003.

5/14/2003
The text of a speech given by David Lawrence Jr., the president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, at the DCF Prevention Conference in Orlando on May 14, 2003.

1/24/2003
The text of a speech given by David Lawrence Jr., the president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, "Panama City Early Childhood Services Dinner" in Panama City on Jan. 24, 2003.

6/29/2002
The text of a speech given by David Lawrence Jr., the president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, "Family Child Care Home Association" in Clearwater Beach on Jun. 29, 2002.

2/4/2002
The text of a speech given by David Lawrence Jr., the president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, "Creating a Movement for Change in Early Childhood Education" for the Partnership Forum in Tampa on Feb. 4, 2002.

10/10/2001
The text of a speech given by David Lawrence Jr., the president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, to the Southern Regional Invitational Forum on Child Care in Atlanta on Oct. 10, 2001.

2/8/2001
The text of a speech given by David Lawrence Jr., the president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, at the annual convening of the Askew Institute at the University of Florida in Gainesville on Feb. 8, 2001

9/30/1999
The text of remarks by David Lawrence Jr., the president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation, to the 4,500 people attending the Mayor's Children's Summit on Sept. 30, 1999 in Miami Beach.

2/12/1998
The text of a speech given by David Lawrence Jr., then publisher of The Miami Herald, when he chaired the Readiness Committee of the Governor's Commission on Education. The speech was in Orlando on Feb. 12, 1998.

Dave Lawrence Bio|

Ana Sejeck Bio

Address:

The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation
3250 SW Third Ave.
Miami, Fla. 33129

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