FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Marcia Hope Goodwin 407-246-3107

MAYOR DYER APPOINTS LISA EARLY TO HEAD
THE CITY’S OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND EDUCATION

(view photos)

ORLANDO, FL (October 29, 2003) – Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer today announced the appointment of Lisa Early as director of the City’s new Office of Children and Education.

Early will take a leave of absence from her position as director of The Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families to open up the new office. She will move to City Hall on November 17.

“I have made children and education a priority for my administration and I can think of no one more qualified than Lisa to spearhead this effort,” said Mayor Dyer.

Early has been the director of the Howard Phillips Center since 1994 and has been with the organization since 1992. She oversees a $12 million organization that serves more than 11,000 children and family members annually and deals with such issues as child abuse and neglect, adolescent healthcare and early childhood development. Early recently led a study on how to reduce the growing number of child-abuse reports in Orange County, urging Orlando’s multiple agencies responsible for providing care to poor families and children to work together.

Dyer’s goal is to make Orlando the top livable city for families and children. He created the Office of Children and Education when he reorganized city government during the summer. The office is expected to focus on child-advocacy issues such as the Mayor's pre-kindergarten initiative, which has raised private money and won federal grants to establish at least eight new classes this year.

Orlando Regional Healthcare, which operates Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women and The Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families, is also deeply committed to the well being of Orlando’s children and to the continued quality and excellence of services at The Howard Phillips Center.

During Early’s leave of absence, Carmel Munroe will serve as acting director of The Howard Phillips Center. Munroe has been with the Center since 1995.

# # #