Since 1946, the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County has grown from funding three agencies to investing more than $128 million annually in programs that serve over 83,000 children and families.
The organization, the nation’s first of its kind, celebrated eight decades of prioritizing children at its sold-out 80th Anniversary KidsFirst Awards Luncheon. Approximately 600 community leaders, elected officials and supporters attended the milestone event, held Friday at The Coliseum.
The banquet not only offered a retrospective of the countywide organization dedicated to uplifting children, but it also provided an opportunity to honor community stakeholders who execute its mission. Karen Boggess, interim CEO of the Juvenile Welfare Board (JWB), emphasized that its legacy was built on the premise that early intervention yields compounding socioeconomic benefits.
“We’re celebrating today, not just our 80 years of putting kids first, but all of the people who are providing direct, frontline service,” Boggess said. “What we see and hear from families is that they feel supported and that they’re receiving services that they so need.”
Voters and the Florida Legislature uniquely established JWB as a special taxing district in 1946. The organization now funds 51 organizations and 98 programs.
Boggess noted that JWB supports early childhood development, school readiness, student success, physical, mental and social well-being, family stability and stronger communities. “We are investing in kids as early as possible so that we have the best outcomes,” she said.
“If you don’t invest in kids early and often, you’re going to pay much more later on,” Boggess added. “That is the whole premise of JWB – to really invest in our children as early as possible to help them reach their full potential into adulthood and then carry that on.”
The pinnacle of Friday’s ceremony was the presentation of the Dillinger-McCabe “Putting Children First” Leadership Award. Keli Mondello, co-founder of LiFT, a Clearwater school serving neurodiverse children and adults, took home the honor.
For the past three decades, Mondello has worked with state lawmakers to boost early literacy rates and close achievement gaps. She also served as a Guardian ad Litem for abused and neglected children.
The award honors the legacies of the late Bernie McCabe, former Pinellas-Pasco state attorney, and Bob Dillinger, former Pinellas-Pasco public defender. Each served on JWB’s board of directors for 20 years and championed the needs of local children and families.
McCabe’s widow, Denise, credited Mondello’s “remarkable vision and fierce devotion to children, especially neurodivergent children and those who learn differently,” in a statement.
Dillenger’s widow, Kay, noted that reviewing nominations for the award was “among the very last things Bob did,” despite his weakened state. She said her husband was inspired by Mondello’s vision and her “unwavering commitment to ensuring all children thrive.”
Mondello explained that her advocacy began as a personal struggle to secure appropriate educational resources for her autistic daughter. Her localized efforts eventually expanded into state-level policy work.
“I have always tried to do what’s right for children, and to be seen among all these nominees, to be recognized by JWB, has completely filled my heart and is the pinnacle of my professional life,” Mondello said. “I couldn’t be more honored, more humbled, than what occurred today.”
JWB also posthumously presented the Dillinger-McCabe Leadership Award to former state Sen. Jack Latvala, who died in July. He championed legislation that mandated the inclusion of the state attorney and public defender on the organization’s governing board.
That move strengthened JWB’s collaborative power. His son, County Commissioner Chris Latvala, accepted the award on his father’s behalf.
Friday’s luncheon also highlighted the daily impact of direct-service professionals through the 2026 KidsFirst Cooperman-Bogue Award. Four recipients were awarded $1,000 each for their community contributions:
- Gena Calish: An in-home specialist who works directly with families to strengthen parenting skills, support healthy child development and help prevent abuse and neglect.
- Melissa Mapes: A VPK teacher who has spent 29 years at Gingerbread Preschool creating a classroom where children feel safe, valued and supported.
- Christine Powell: A foster grandparent with Seniors in Service of Tampa Bay who helps kindergarteners at Maximo Elementary School improve literacy skills and develop a passion for learning.
- Deputy Anthony Borbino: A member of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Community Policing Unit who builds trust in the High Point area and connects families with resources and support.
The announcement notes that two “promising teens,” Tataiana Mansfield and Savannah Starcher, also received monetary awards through the H. Browning Spence Education Scholarship. As the agency enters its ninth decade, Boggess said an 80-year-old commitment continues to shape the region’s trajectory.
“As we celebrate this milestone, we celebrate the people who turn that commitment into action every day,” she said. “Their work reminds us that when we put children first, we strengthen families, build stronger communities and create opportunities that can change lives for generations.”
