Highlights from the 2026 Annual Meeting
What a morning to remember! On June 24th, our Healthy Start family gathered at Ruth Eckerd Hall’s Margarete Heye Great Room for our 2026 Annual Meeting and Breakfast, and from the moment the doors opened, the room was full of warmth, laughter, and a whole lot of heart.
We kicked off with registration, networking, and breakfast as guests settled in and reconnected with familiar faces and new ones. The energy in the room was easy and celebratory, the kind that builds when a community gathers around something it truly believes in.
Then came a moment that stopped us all in our tracks. Sharai took the stage for our Family Spotlight and shared something deeply personal: that after her son was born, she found herself in the depths of postpartum depression, unable to see a way forward. Through Healthy Start’s Parents as Teachers Plus (PAT+) program and wraparound support, she found her footing and, in her own words, the Coalition helped save her life so she could be there for her little boy. She didn’t have to share any of that. She chose to, because she said it was the least she could do. And her little guy? He had every heart in that room. By the time Sharai finished speaking, not a single person needed reminding of why this work matters.
From there, our keynote speaker LaVonna Roth of Ignite Your S.H.I.N.E. Leadership took the stage and added even more heart to an already heartfelt morning. LaVonna’s message centered on leading with your truest self: the story you tell yourself, and whether it’s one that holds you back or propels you forward. S.H.I.N.E. stands for Self, Heart, Inspire, Navigate, and Exceptional, and LaVonna brought every letter to life with an energy and radiance that was impossible not to feel. She was quick to say this wasn’t about toxic positivity. It was about clarity, confidence, and showing up as who you actually are. She was, simply put, phenomenal.
We were also proud to present our 2026 Healthy Start Hero Award to Mike Nelson. Mike has served as a Board member for nearly a decade, quietly and consistently showing up for this organization in ways that have strengthened us from the inside out. He has contributed to our technology infrastructure, served on our Fund Development Committee, and organized a Back to Preschool Drive for the families we serve. When his name was called, he was genuinely caught off guard. You could see it on his face: the surprise of being truly seen. He didn’t do any of it for recognition. But this year, we were proud to give it. It has been our honor to work alongside him, and this recognition was long overdue.
We also celebrated outgoing Board Chair Shari Crowe, whose leadership has been as irreverent and funny as it has been steady and deeply committed. She has been an extraordinary champion for this Coalition, and we are so grateful for every bit of it.
On the business side, Coalition Members voted to approve our Fiscal Year 26-27 Fund Allocation Plan and elected incoming members to our Board of Directors, ensuring the work of this organization continues to move forward with purpose and clarity.
To our generous sponsors: your investment in this mission is what makes it all possible. Because of your support, we are able to reach new and expectant families across Pinellas County with the services they need to thrive.
If you are a business or community partner interested in supporting our mission, we would love to connect. Reach out to Julia Sharp at or 727-507-6330 ext. 227 to learn more about partnership opportunities.
If you left that morning with a full heart, you were not alone. Here’s to another year of giving every baby in Pinellas County a healthy start.
