Annemarie Valdez: 2022 Children’s Funding ChampionAnnemarie Valdez has been a champion for children and youth for more than two decades. Her experience includes leading a statewide infant mortality prevention organization in Illinois; serving as CEO of Child’s Hope, a Michigan nonprofit committed to preventing child abuse and neglect; and heading Detroit’s Youth Development Commission. Since 2015, Valdez has led First Steps Kent, a nonprofit organization that administers Kent County, MI’s, Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage, which provides dedicated funding for a wide range of early childhood programs in the county. As the president and CEO of First Steps Kent, Valdez oversaw a campaign to establish a voter-approved children’s fund that raises more than $5 million annually for programs that improve the health, school readiness, and well-being of children under age five in Kent County. In 2022, the Grand Rapids Business Journal recognized her as one of the top 200 most powerful business leaders in West Michigan.For these reasons and more, we are thrilled to name Valdez our 2022 Children’s Funding Champion.Filed under:Infants and Toddlers, Early Childhood, Advocates/Intermediaries, Funders, Policymakers/Agency Leaders, Video, Voter-Approved Children’s FundsFiled under:Infants and Toddlers, Early Childhood, Advocates/Intermediaries, Funders, Policymakers/Agency Leaders, Video, Voter-Approved Children’s FundsMore Resources Video Public Financing in Times of Uncertainty Presenters share strategies for confronting challenges kids' programs and services face during these unstable political times. Publication Travis County Votes “Yes” for Affordable Child Care Advocates in Travis County, TX, won a ballot measure in 2024 that will provide more than $75 million annually to fund services for infants, toddlers, children, and youth. Updates and Events News March 20, 2025 Multiple State Legislatures Introduce Bills to Provide Sustained Funding for Kids News January 29, 2025 State Tax Cuts Threaten Public Funding Just When Child and Youth Programs Are Most Needed Insights December 11, 2024 Reflecting on a Year of Accomplishments for Children and Youth—and Preparing for a New Political Climate Close Share it! Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Click to copy URL Link Copied!
Video Public Financing in Times of Uncertainty Presenters share strategies for confronting challenges kids' programs and services face during these unstable political times.
Publication Travis County Votes “Yes” for Affordable Child Care Advocates in Travis County, TX, won a ballot measure in 2024 that will provide more than $75 million annually to fund services for infants, toddlers, children, and youth.
News March 20, 2025 Multiple State Legislatures Introduce Bills to Provide Sustained Funding for Kids
News January 29, 2025 State Tax Cuts Threaten Public Funding Just When Child and Youth Programs Are Most Needed
Insights December 11, 2024 Reflecting on a Year of Accomplishments for Children and Youth—and Preparing for a New Political Climate