Honoring local women whose accomplishments in careers and community service exemplify the values of Girl Scouts

Presented by

The 27 th Annual CelebrationInteractive Fundraising Event

Friday, June 4, 2021 • 11 a.m.

RALLYINGAROUND OURREMARKABLE.

We’re proud to supportthose who dream of

a brighter future.

NOURISHING COMMUNITIES

Women Who Make a Difference 2021 Honorees and Mentees

Juanita Miles HamiltonMentee: Kristen C., Girl Scout Senior

Fitz KoehlerMentee: Aniya A., Girl Scout Cadette

Maggie LabartaMentee: Delany R., Girl Scout Senior

Faye McKnightMentee: Sophia V., Girl Scout Senior

A special thank you to our 2021 event committee:

Kay Ayers, Chair • Janet Christie, Co-Chair

Florida Bridgewater-Alford • Barzella Papa • Carrie Parker-Warren Anne Scott • Ester Tibbs • Terry Van Nortwick

The 27th Annual Celebration

Gold Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor

Silver Sponsors

Dr. Pauline O. Lawrence • Mrs. C. Ann Scott

Mrs. Ann Marie Rogers

The Ayers Family

Ms. Beth Mills

Brian Kramer; State Attorney’s Office

Ms. Carrie Parker-Warren

Coldwell Banker / MM Parrish Realtors

Community Foundation of North Central Florida

Mrs. Dawn Burgess-Krop

Ms. Ester Tibbs

Fine, Farkash & Parlapiano PA

Florida Blue Farms, Inc.

Janet Christie

Linda G. Kallman

Maggie Labarta and Jon Cherry

McDonald’s of Gainesville

McKnight Insurance Agency

Merrill Lynch/Baker duBois Group

Oak Hammock at the University of Florida

Dr. Portia L. Taylor

Rotary Club of Gainesville

Mrs. Terry Van Nortwick

Virginia Maurer

UF Health Shands

Juliette Sponsors

A special thank you for in-kind event donations from

Silent Auction Donors

Bid on our silent auction items: bit.ly/wwmdbid

Adam’s Ribs

Art You Wear and Pixieglas

C. Ann Scott

Carrie Parker-Warren

Cultivate Jax

Dorn’s Liquor

Dr. Maggie Labarta

Elite Island Resorts

Formaggio’s

Girl Scouts of Gateway Council

Govind & Sons Fine Jewelry

Hawkstone Country Club

Ilene’s Gator Store

Jane Muir

Liz Jones

Malgorzata’s

Mark Bostick

Mary Anne Jacobs

Northwest Grille

Pure Barre Gainesville

Queen Nails

Sisset’s Home and Patio

Terry Van Nortwick

University of Florida

Uppercrust

Vicki Santello

Dr. Pauline O. Lawrencecongratulates

Gold Award Girl Scouts- and -

2021 Women Who Make a Difference Honorees

Together, your leadership forges a better, brighter future for girls across Gainesville.

Mrs. C. Ann Scott

Congratulations from Mrs. C. Ann Scott

to our2021 Women Who Make a Difference Honorees

Blazing the trail for tomorrow’s leaders!

Thank you to oursponsor

Helping bring the life-changing experiences of Girl Scouts to even more girls.

Juanita Miles Hamilton grew up in Marion County and the following values were instilled in her at

an early age to: “respect others and never think yourself as less than nor greater than anyone”,

“stay grounded and do unto to others as you would have them do unto to you” and to “always

stand up for the things that you believe in”. Those values were challenged in the year of 1965 at the

young age of fifteen, when she was selected or elected to be one of the first Blacks to integrate

North Marion High School in Sparr, Florida. To this day, she respects and continuously lives from

the lessons and guidance of her parents and family.

Juanita retired in 2000 from the City of Gainesville. During her tenure as a Supervisor, she

volunteered for eighteen years to obtain grant funding from the State of Florida Department of

Agriculture as Coordinator and Administrator of the Summer Nutrition Grant Program providing

daily lunches and snacks at 35 sites throughout the county for over 1,500 youth daily during the

summer months when school was not in session. Additionally, she went over and above the call

of duty writing annual grants, securing funding for the Staff and renovations to the Northeast

Community Center, presently named the Clarence R. Kelly Center, Woodlawn Park and Fred Cone

Park to serve underserved youth.

Shortly after retirement, Juanita began a new venture with the State of Florida designated Duval

Heights Front Porch Community, Inc., directing and promoting revitalization efforts to improve the

overall quality of life for the residents. She volunteers many hours of service to this community by

writing grants, seeking community partners and working with volunteers to implement programs

addressing issues.

In 2003, she was the recipient of an award from Governor Jeb Bush for the Housing Rehabilitation

Program in Duval Heights in partnership with the City of Gainesville. During that same year, Front

Porch was awarded $180,000 from the State of Florida Communities Trust Fund for the Duval

Stormwater Project to eliminate neighborhood drainage problems and to provide a place where

schools in the area can bring youth to participate in ecological and biological academic studies

and activities.

For several years, she served as the Area Chairperson of the Women’s Missionary Society of the

African Methodist Episcopal Church managing twenty one churches and implementing, executing

and promoting mission programs and projects. She was awarded the City of Gainesville Employee

Spotlight Award. She is also a member of The Visionaires, Inc., Alachua County Bethune-Cookman

University Alumni, Alachua County Black Caucus and has served on the following: Guardian Ad

Litem, City of Gainesville Enterprise Zone Development Board, SHIP Board, AHAC Committee,

Eastside Redevelopment Board, Community Development Block Grant Board, Duval Elementary

School Advisory Board, Horizon School Advisory Board, Caring and Sharing Learning Center, Focus

on Leadership Academy, Police Advisory Board, Charter Review Committee and as an Officer and

Member of Mt. Olive A.M.E. Church.

Juanita Miles HamiltonCommunity Advocate

Fitz Koehler, M.S.E.S.S. is one of the most prominent and compelling fitness experts and race announcers in America. As the voice of the Los Angeles Marathon, Philadelphia Marathon, Big Sur Marathon, DC Wonder Woman Run Series, and more, she brings big structure, energy, and joy to sport. She’s passionate about guiding others to live better and longer through her company, Fitzness International and Fitzness.com. She’s appeared on national media outlets and worked with corporations like Disney, Tropicana, Oakley, and Office Depot. Fitz has also inspired millions of kids to get active through her successful school running/walking program, The Morning Mile®. Her second book, My Noisy Cancer Comeback, was released in October 2020 and has been welcomed with fantastic sales and reviews. Fitz enjoys water sports, strength training, animals, hugs, sarcasm, and travel. Fitz lives in Gainesville with her husband and two kids.

Fitz KoehlerFitzness International and Fitzness.com

Dr. Maggie Labarta retired in December 2019 as President and Chief Executive Officer for Meridian Behavioral Healthcare after almost 20 years in that position. In her role as CEO, she oversaw the agency’s comprehensive mental health and substance use disorder treatment, primary care, vocational, and housing programs. The organization had a $50 million annual budget, employed 800 individuals, and provided services to about 23,000 individuals across 11 sites in north central Florida. Labarta’s professional experience spanned 40 years, 36 at Meridian, and included clinical work and administrative functions. She is a clinical psychologist with experience in child abuse and divorce, having served as a court appointed evaluator in these cases. She has provided clinical and management training as well as consulting on strategic planning to a number of organizations.

Labarta has been involved in numerous professional and community organizations. She has been involved in local efforts related to child abuse prevention and treatment, school-based behavioral health services, homelessness, and diverting those with a mental illness from the criminal justice system. She is currently Vice Chair of the Community Foundation of North Central Florida and the Children’s Trust of Alachua County. She chairs the board of New Horizons Properties, which provides affordable and supported housing to individuals with psychiatric disabilities. She remains a passionate advocate for those affected by mental illnesses and substance use disorders and the system of care that they depend on.

Since retiring, she founded Impact Non-profit Consulting helping non-profits in the areas of leadership, strategic planning, information and data analytics, and program design. She is an emerging artist, having taken up oil painting in the past year. And she is mom to an unruly and rambunctious adopted terrier. She is married to a fellow healthcare executive and is mom to a daughter (a former girl scout) who is a writer lving in Brooklyn and working for the Daily Beast.

Labarta was born in Havana, Cuba and arrived in the US as a six-year-old, non-English speaker when her family fled the Castro regime. She has since developed a love of languages and reading. Labarta went on to ontain a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Mathematics from Barry University and a Master’s and Ph.D. in Clinical and Community Psychology from the University of Maryland and completed an internship in Clinical and Health Psychology at the University of Florida and the VA Medical Center, as well as a residency at Meridian.

Dr. Maggie LabartaCommunity Advocate

Faye McKnight is a resident of Gainesville, Florida. She is the owner of McKnight Insurance Agency, Incorporated/Allstate Insurance in Lake City, Florida. Faye previously was in the banking industry for approximately twenty years. Starting with Florida National Bank, merger to First Union Bank, merger to Wachovia Bank.

Faye is a graduate of Bethune Cookman University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Faye also hold the following licenses: State of Florida Property and Casualty, Life Health and Variable Annuity and Series 6 Investments.

One of Faye’s goals and aspirations is to visit half of the countries throughout the world. While traveling, Faye would like to learn the language of various countries.

Faye is married to her wonderful husband, Ray for almost forty years. They have two daughters, one son in law, four grandchildren and another on the way.

Faye is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated- Mu Upsilon Omega Chapter, Board Member of The Twenty Pearls Foundation Incorporated, and The Gainesville (FL) Chapter of The Links. All are all service organizations which help fulfill Faye’s desire to help others.

One of the most important things in life is to help others enhance their life’s fullest potential. Always provide community service to assist others that are in need.

Faye is a huge sports fan and very seldom miss a Gator football or basketball home game. She once participated in the Gator halftime football game to present the check to the winner of the Allstate Insurance winner of the punt and kick competition.

Faye’s two daughters were in Girl Scouts of America, starting with Daises, Brownies and then onto Juniors. Faye served as ‘Cookie Mom’ for her oldest daughter Aurielle’s troop. She had so many cookies at home until she could not eat one for a year. We sold lots of cookies because while working at the bank, we set up tables every Friday in front of the bank.

Faye McKnightMcKnight Insurance Agency, Incorporated

Girl Scouts of Gateway Council

Board of Directors

Mary Anne Jacobs CEO

April Harrell-DevineChair

Christy Dickinson WaldenmaierChair Elect/Fund Development

Chair

Ann KingBoard Development Chair

Nicki HowardSecretary

Lauren ToddTreasurer

Abena Anyane-YeboahSusan Butler-Kennedy

Crystal CharlesLatasha Garrison

Karen HardingLisa Acheson LutherJeanna Mastrodicasa

Kelly Pourciau Willetta Richie

Tania Schmidt-AlpersEmily Anne Schmitt

Grace StatenSeth Waller

SUMMER CAMP 2020Girl Scouts of Gateway Council

gsgc

AdventureAdventureTOGETHER

GSGC SUMMER CAMP

2021girlscouts-gateway.org/SummerCamp

1989Ann Marie Rogers

1991Portia L. Taylor

1992Pauline O. Lawrence, Ph.D.Roberta Giudice-Teller, DPM

1993Audrey Schiebler*

1995Glenna BrashearLeveda BrownMary Ruth Elfe*Vivian FilerBeverly Hill*Martha Stark*

1996Paige AllisonMarion Gilliland*Pamela GreenElizabeth JonesNancy Spikes*Rosa Williams

1997Beverly BrowningMarie CalhounDeeJay HellrungBJ HodgeLynda KnightEster Tibbs

1998Kate BarnesElaine BesalskiEvelyn SappMelanie ShoreMary WiseCindy Wall

1999Becky BurleighPhyllis D. KoteyJudy SkinnerMarilyn TubbJustine VaughenKathi Warren

2001Ruth AlexanderMary HauschCarolyn KitchensPenny JonesPatricia Hilliard-NunnTerry Van Nortwick

2002Paige BeckJudy BolesJanet ChristieDoris EdwardsConchi OssaSusan Parrish

2003Joy BanksCynthia ChestnutRenae ClementsDee Dee SmithGwen LoveBetsy Styron

2005Kathy Caldwell*Pegeen HanrahanSally WilliamsVam York

2006Mary HughesHarriet Ludwig*Carolyn PeckNancy Perry

2007Margaret BoonstraKaren Cole-SmithPolly French Doughty*Beth MillsCynthia Mingo

2008Kay AyersLaKay BanksIvy M. BellJean ChalmersLinda McGurn

2009Victoria Condor-WilliamsSadie DarnellVerna Jackson-JohnsonPeg NattressEllen Shapiro

2010Sharon ConnellCarrie LeeCarrie Parker-WarrenDeloris E. RentzCarole Zegel

Past Honorees

2011Eleanor BlairLeslie D. BramAnn McGuire Grooms, M.D.Nona C. JonesOra L. White

2012Barbara EmmerChris MachenSusannah PeddieC. Ann Scott

2013Jennifer CostelloSusan CrowleyDebby KnopfSusan SpainAngela Terrell

2014Dawn Burgess-KropPhoebe Cade MilesRose FaglerJackie ParisJeanne Singer

2015Jane AdamsKaren Harris, MDBrittany LeeShaney LivingstonJane Muir

2016Florida Bridgewater-AlfordEvelyn FoxxNancy Hardt, MDLori Emmer McGriffSheila Spence

2017S. Yvette CarterRev. Marie HerringCandice King, MBA, MAERoslyn LevyJeanna MastriodicasaJulie Samples, MSN, ARNPIlene Silverman

2018Laura K. Guyer, PhD, Med, RDNJacalyn LevineRev. Dr. Geraldine McClellanVicki SantelloDr. Ann WeberRhonda Wilson

2019Kim A. BartonVirginia G. MaurerBarzella PapaKathie SouthwickPauline O. Lawrence, Ph.D., Lifetime Achievement Award

Past Honorees

*Deceased

2020Venisha White BuchanonMargaret CauthonMary ChanceJean KinerNancy P. Mendenhall, MD

Girl Scouts of Gateway Councilin Gainesville

Girl Scouts prepares girls for a lifetime of leadership, success, and adventure in a safe, no-limits place designed for and by girls. Gateway Council provides an inclusive environment where girls can grow and share new experiences, develop core values

and contribute to society.

Girl Scouts of Gateway Council, Inc. • girlscouts-gateway.org • (877) 764-5237

Gaining courage, confidence and character through educational

events, outdoor experiences and community service.

612Girl Scouts in the

Gainesville area.

GIRL MEMBERSHIP

Making a large impact in the lives of girls and their communities.

358Adult members in

the Gainesville area.

VOLUNTEER

Inspiring girls to love nature and seek adventure.

Giving girls the know-how to expand their horizons and invent the future.

Camp KateriLocated in Hawthorne, with 550

acres for archery, canoeing, sailing,

kayaking and hiking.

OUTDOORS

Programming

30In-person events and programs

exclusively for girls in Gainesville.

500Girls in low-income areas who’s

entire Girl Scout experience is funded

by donors like you.