Phoebe Carpenter was a visionary and, most of all, a lifelong child advocate. Our founder and past president of Community Coordinated Care for Children passed away on May 1. She was 89.
For decades, she fought to bring needed Children’s Services to Central Florida. As a result, families in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties are able to access affordable quality child care.
4C, founded in 1969, earned a state and then national reputation thanks to Carpenter’s initiatives. In 20 years, the Agency grew from a budget of $78,000 a year to $18 million.
With the help of United Way and Orange County Government, 4C was responsible for bringing subsidized child care (now know as School Readiness or SR) to Central Florida. Carpenter also recognized the need for other programs to help improve the lives children and families, specifically:
- Employer-sponsored child care (now known as the State’s Child Care Executive Partnership Program).
- Children’s screening and health services (now required as part of School Readiness legislation).
- Professional development of the child care industry as a whole.
Carpenter was successful in bringing the federal Head Start program to Osceola County in 1988, and 4C was named the Head Start grantee in Seminole County in 1993.
The Orlando Women’s Executive Council named Carpenter their Woman of the Year, she received the Florida’s Finest award from Gov. Lawton Chiles, and was honored by the Florida House of Representatives. She served on community and civic boards, including the University of Central Florida Foundation board.
Phoebe Carpenter built a great and enduring legacy of providing high-quality services that improve the healthy development and school success of young children, as well as promoting family self-sufficiency.
To make a donation to 4C in honor of Phoebe Carpenter, click here
If you prefer to donate by check, mail to:
Phoebe Carpenter Donation
Attn: Pat Frank
3500 W. Colonial Drive
Orlando, FL 32808
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A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free 1-800-HELP-FLA or online, click here. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state.” registration number: CH2000