The Northwest Florida Health Network along with the Jack Brewer Foundation held a National Child Protection Faith Summit Thursday and Florida gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds was featured prominently.
The event was held at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. and drew lawmakers, clergy, policy experts and other advocacy organizations from across the country. It focused on protecting vulnerable children while advocating strengthening families with faith-based solutions as child welfare is strained in the U.S.
“America’s children are under attack spiritually, culturally, and physically, and we cannot continue outsourcing the responsibility of protecting them,” said Jack Brewer, former NFL star and founder of the nonprofit foundation in his name which is faith based.
“Faith communities must once again become the front lines of foster care, adoption, mentorship, and child protection. The Church has always been called to care for the orphan, defend the vulnerable, and strengthen the family, and now is the time for bold action.”
Brewer’s organization has raised an estimated $70 million in support of medical aid and additional help for more than 35 centers for orphans.
Many of those attending the event offered prayers for the Naples Republican Donalds in his race to be the GOP nominee for governor in the Aug. 18 Primary Election.
Donalds said the event was humbling and added child protection needs to be expanded in Florida.
“There is no greater measure of a nation than how it treats its children — especially the vulnerable, the forgotten, the abused, the trafficked, and the abandoned,” Donalds said in a post on his LinkedIn social media account.
“The heart of this summit is about restoring power and agency to the faith leaders, mentors, and foster families who are bravely stepping up to say, ‘These children are our responsibility,’” Donalds said.
Donalds is facing competition in the GOP primary from Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, financier James Fishback and former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner.
Democrats who’ve declared for the Gubernatorial race include former U.S. Rep. David Jolly and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demmings.
State Sen. Jason Pizzo has announced as no-party-affiliation candidate for governor.
