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The Children’s Trust Achieves 12th Consecutive Year of Excellence in Financial Reporting

01/14/2025

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The Children’s Trust Achieves 12th Consecutive Year of Excellence in Financial Reporting

MIAMI, FL., January 14, 2024 – The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade is proud to announce that it has earned the prestigious Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for the 12th consecutive year. This honor underscores the organization’s unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility in managing public funds for the benefit of children and families in Miami-Dade County.

In addition to this achievement, William Kirtland, Chief Financial Officer of The Children’s was named as a 2025 South Florida Business Journal CFO Awards honoree, further solidifying his role as a leader in financial management. The CFO Awards celebrate outstanding financial executives across the region, and Kirtland’s recognition reflects his dedication to safeguarding public resources and ensuring their optimal use to support impactful community programs.

“Congratulations to The Children’s Trust's Finance and Accounting Department! With the guidance and support of the Board of Finance and Operations Committee, we earned the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association. This prestigious award is the highest recognition in financial reporting and governmental accounting. Receiving it for the twelfth consecutive year further demonstrates The Trust’s commitment to transparency and accountability.” said James R. Haj, President and CEO of The Children’s Trust.

The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting was awarded to The Children’s Trust for its comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023. GFOA specifically commended the organization’s transparency in communicating its financial activities, reinforcing The Trust’s standing as a leader in public-sector financial management.

“This award reflects the collective effort of The Trust team, our board, and the finance & operations committee whose expertise and commitment to financial excellence ensure that The Children’s Trust remains a responsible and effective resource for families across Miami-Dade,” said Kirtland. “Few places invest as much in children and families as Miami-Dade County does while keeping operational costs remarkably low, ensuring that every possible dollar goes directly to the community. This is possible through innovative practices and efficient systems that allow us to remain lean without compromising quality.”

In 2023, The Children’s Trust allocated over $200 million in funding for local programs that provide essential services, including high-quality child care, after-school programs, health initiatives, family support services, and more. The Trust’s funding model, which allocates resources through a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process, ensures that these funds support the community's most effective and impactful programs.

A few of The Trust’s initiatives include:

  • Youth Development: The Children's Trust is the largest funder of after-school programs and summer camps, which offer children opportunities to strengthen life skills, learn about nutrition, engage in sports and healthy activities, make friends, and discover and cultivate new interests.
  • Innovation Fund: A new initiative that encourages creative problem-solving and funds innovative approaches to addressing the challenges faced by children and families in Miami-Dade.
  • Parent Support Programs: Through initiatives like The Children’s Trust Parent Club, the organization offers resources to help parents and caregivers navigate the complexities of raising resilient and happy children.
  • Books for Free: A partnership with Miami Dade College that provides free books to children, encouraging early literacy and reading development. The program supports Miami-Dade's efforts to ensure that all children are proficient readers by the third grade—a key indicator of long-term success.
  • Early Childhood Education Funding: The Trust invests approximately $50 million annually in early child care programs via its Thrive by 5 program, which includes child care scholarships and support to high-quality centers and educators that lay a strong educational foundation for young children.

“We are very proud of the strides we’ve made and our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement,” said Haj. “Thanks to our rigorous oversight and the expertise of our financial team, we are setting a high standard for excellence in managing public funds.”

For more information about The Children’s Trust and its programs, please visit www.TheChildrensTrust.org.

Media Contact:
Natalia Zea
Chief Public Policy & Community Engagement Officer, The Children’s Trust
Phone: 786.598.2208
Email: natalia@thechildrenstrust.org