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.