Held on the fourth Thursday of September every year,
the Judge Clifton M. Kelly Champion for Children Awards Gala
elevates our community's outstanding child advocates to celebrity status.

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The 25th Annual Awards Gala September 26, 2024

Nominate an incredible child advocate for the Awards Gala! Nominations due by June 3, 2024.

Selection of the “Champion for Children” begins with nominations submitted by the general public throughout all Highlands County. Every year, since 2000, the Champion for Children Foundation has issued a call seeking nominations of those who are incredibly impacting the next generation. All nominees will be notified and are reviewed by a Screening Committee.

View Nomination cover letter

The Nomination deadline for the 26th Annual Judge Clifton M. Kelly Champion for Children Awards Gala is June 6th, 2025.

Submit Online Nomination

2024 Champion for Children Awards Gala Finalists

Judge Clifton M. Kelly

Certain individuals cast a shadow larger than the shadows of average people. The Honorable Judge Clifton M. Kelly was one of those individuals. During his many years of service in the judicial system and later, as a tireless volunteer in projects for the public good, Judge Kelly crystallized the concepts that must prevail if a community is to become a safe, healthy, and productive place in which all children grow up to become contributing members of society. He understood that it is not enough simply to dream of a positive climate for inspiring the young. Adult citizens must act and cause others to act to “train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

In addition to serving 25 years as head of the Tenth District Circuit Court, Judge Kelly designed a crime prevention curriculum and textbooks still being used to teach children that crime produces consequences and that bad decisions…at any age…may prevent an offender from ever achieving his or her dreams.

But the Judge’s work was not limited to legal matters. He saw the need to create a caring community environment in which the well-being of children and families is fostered through strong human services agencies. He served on several boards, including a college, a public hospital, and a charitable trust. Whether in a meeting of a PTA, a Children’s Services Task Force, a truancy study group, a presidential search committee or serving as a mediator in a school expulsion hearing, Judge Kelly was consistent in expressing his core values: integrity, obedience, respect and personal responsibility.

Through many avenues he paved the way for countless other citizens to follow his lead. Although he passed away in 2005, his influence remains clearly evident in the work of the Champion for Children Foundation, and the Children’s Services Council. The annual Champion for Children Awards program identifies outstanding persons who agree with the Judge that investing in children and in youth is well worth the effort involved.

Previous Gala Photo Galleries

25th Annual Awards Gala, 2024 photo gallery link

24th Annual Awards Gala, 2023 photo gallery link

23rd Annual Awards Gala, 2022 photo gallery link

22nd Annual Awards Gala, 2021 photo gallery link

21st Annual Awards Gala, 2020 photo gallery link

20th Annual Awards Gala, 2019 photo gallery link

19th Annual Awards Gala, 2018 photo gallery link

18th Annual Awards Gala, 2017 photo gallery link

17th Annual Awards Gala, 2016 photo gallery link

Thank you to Caroline Maxcy Photography for capturing the Gala in photos,
and Coffee House Media for highlighting the evening in video.

Nomination Criteria

Resides in Highlands County
Demonstrates a deep, caring desire to help children
Has taken action to address a problem facing children and youth
Has provided at least five years of service directly affecting the well-being of children

The Special Selection Committee reviews the records of each Finalist and applies additional criteria. By definition, the Champion for Children is an individual who:

addresses a broad problem affecting a large number of children or youth,
demonstrates a long-term commitment to finding solutions to the problem, primarily at the local level,
gives personal volunteer service over and above the expectations of his/her career or profession, and
promotes continuation of his/her advocacy or service by enlisting others to join in solving the problem, thus producing ‘a ripple effect’ that enhances the well being of children and the community.