Letter from Our President

Many years ago, one of my employees asked for advice regarding a child she was advocating for. As we talked, I learned that she was a Guardian ad Litem (GAL), serving children in foster care. Her passion for the role left a lasting impression on me. When I retired, I decided to learn more about the program and ultimately became a Guardian ad Litem myself.

Over the past eight years and through numerous cases, I have discovered that being a GAL is both a rewarding and humbling experience. You share in the joys and the challenges that children in foster care face, while serving as a consistent, positive presence in their lives during times of uncertainty and change.

I believe deeply in the mission of supporting children who have been abused, abandoned, or neglected and who, through no fault of their own, have been separated from everything familiar to them. I also believe that each of us has a responsibility to share our time, talents, and resources with those who need them most. Serving as a Guardian ad Litem and now as Chair of the Children’s Guardian Fund Board allows me to put those beliefs into action.

Across DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties, approximately 700 children have been removed from their homes and placed in foster care. The Children’s Guardian Fund exists to bring a sense of normalcy back into their lives during what is often a frightening and traumatic time—and, whenever possible, to provide opportunities that help them thrive.

Sometimes that means providing a crib when a relative steps forward to care for an abandoned newborn. It may mean tutoring for a child struggling to catch up academically, cleats and a uniform so a young athlete can participate in sports, or a week at summer camp that allows a child to simply be a child while giving a caregiver a much-needed respite. These seemingly small investments can make an extraordinary difference in a child’s life.

Before joining the Children’s Guardian Fund Board, I spent 37 years in the aerospace and defense industry, retiring from Lockheed Martin as Director of Business Operations. Throughout my career, I led organizations responsible for a broad range of financial and business operations functions. However, my commitment to service began long before my professional career. While earning my Accounting degree from Hampton University, I worked with youth in the Hampton, Virginia area, and I have remained involved with young people and nonprofit organizations ever since. Today, in addition to serving as Board Chair of the Children’s Guardian Fund, I am also the president of a 60-unit condominium association in Bradenton.

The Children’s Guardian Fund is fortunate to have a dedicated staff, an engaged Board of Directors, committed community partners, and a remarkable network of child advocates. Most importantly, we are supported by generous donors who share our belief that every child deserves stability, opportunity, and hope. Their support makes it possible for us to provide meaningful assistance to children in foster care when they need it most.

It is an honor to serve as Chair of this organization, and I take that responsibility seriously. Together, we can continue to make a lasting difference in the lives of vulnerable children throughout our community. I hope you will join me in supporting this important mission—for the sake of these children and their future.

Andre Sampson
Children’s Guardian Fund Board President