David Lawrence Jr

David Lawrence, Jr., is the former publisher of The Miami Herald. Lawrence, a longtime resident of South Florida has an extensive background in civic and social engagement. In addition to his position on the Everglades Foundation board, he currently serves as president of The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation and “University Scholar for Early Childhood Development and Readiness,” at the University of Florida. Gov. Charlie Crist named him to the Children’s Cabinet in 2007. In 2002, he led the campaign for The Children’s Trust, a dedicated source of early intervention care funding for children in Miami-Dade County. Lawrence is also a board member of the Foundation for Child Development in New York and the Executive Advisory Board for the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. In addition, he is a board member and former chair of the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade and Monroe. He and his wife Roberta, a master’s graduate in social work from Barry University in Miami, live in Coral Gables and have three daughters, two sons and four grandchildren. His many honors include: “Humanitarian of the Year,” from both the American Red Cross and the Beacon Council “Family of the Year,” from Family Counseling Services, “Father of the Year,” by the South Florida Father’s Day Council and the Lawton and Rhea Chiles Advocacy Award.