Orlando awards ceremony October 7 will also honor youth advocate Katie Matthews and nonprofit Smile Forward
ORLANDO, Fla. — State Representative Dr. Anna V. Eskamani (D-Orlando) has been named the Outstanding Legislative Champion for Children by Florida’s Children First, the statewide organization dedicated to advancing the legal rights and well-being of Florida’s children. Eskamani will accept the award at the Orlando 2026 Advocates for Children Awards on Wednesday, October 7, at Aloft Downtown Orlando.
“This recognition belongs to the advocates who made the work possible,” said Rep. Eskamani. “The foster youth who testified in front of committees and show up to Tallahassee every session, demanding better. The caseworkers, parents, and organizers who deliver the best care every day. My job is to act upon what they share with me; the passion they bring to their work is the passion I bring to my advocacy, and I’m grateful to Florida’s Children First for the decades they’ve spent making sure children’s rights are treated as a priority in this state, not an afterthought.”
Eskamani has represented House District 42 since 2018, where her record includes passing drowning prevention legislation, securing a diaper tax exemption, increasing arts funding, and extensive constituent casework on behalf of families in Central Florida. She serves as Ranking Member of both the Ways & Means Committee and the State Affairs Committee.
Two additional honorees will be recognized at the ceremony: Katie Matthews, named Outstanding Youth Advocate, and Smile Forward, named Outstanding Nonprofit Champion for Children. The evening will be hosted by Shannon Butler, reporter for WFTV 9.
The Orlando 2026 Advocates for Children Awards will take place Wednesday, October 7, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Aloft Downtown Orlando. The event is presented by Florida’s Children First in partnership with Florida Youth SHINE. Registration is open at FloridasChildrenFirst.org, learn more here.
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About Florida’s Children First: Florida’s Children First is a statewide nonprofit organization fighting for the rights of Florida’s children, with a focus on youth in and aging out of the foster care system. Florida Youth SHINE is its youth-led advocacy arm.