Lynn Layton
Executive Director
Monique Burr Foundation for Children Inc.
Mission
The Monique Burr Foundation for Children Inc. is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to give hope in the lives of children by providing child abuse prevention education for students, parents, caregivers and school personnel.
Serving Jacksonville
Ed Burr, a longtime Jacksonville business executive, started the Monique Burr Foundation for Children Inc. in 1997 to honor his deceased wife, Monique Burr. Monique was a strong advocate for children with a special focus on the prevention of child abuse. The foundation began as a way to continue her mission and honor her legacy. The organization is based in Jacksonville with a history of serving counties in Northeast Florida and the Tampa region.
Those served
We currently offer our child abuse prevention education programs in Duval, Clay, Pasco and Hillsborough counties. We hope to be in every Florida elementary school by 2015.
Biggest challenge
Message: Our foundation is here to serve all elementary students to help keep them safe and free from any form of child abuse. Unfortunately, many people believe that our mission does not affect them if their child has not been abused. Statistics show that one out of every four girls and one out of every six boys has been abused before they reach the age of 18. Most people don’t talk about it, but I imagine that we all know someone who has been impacted by child abuse.
Resources: There is a constant need to ask for help with services that are needed every day to maximize the opportunities available that allow the foundation to successfully complete the work necessary to serve our students, their parents and caregivers, and our school personnel. We are always looking for ways to partner with other organizations, with similar missions, to ensure that we are leveraging resources.
Fundraising: I can’t imagine a nonprofit in this economy that doesn’t see this one as a challenge. Our donors are faithful and truly appreciated as they continue to support our cause as we grow.
Biggest satisfaction
Satisfaction in my position comes in many forms and begins each day with the personal gratification that I can serve children in need. I get to do this with people I truly care about with a purpose that I know makes a difference in the lives of those we serve. We are on track this year to serve more than 100,000 elementary students and countless parents and caregivers, and school personnel. Our volunteers help us with every event to make the work a little lighter and a lot more fun. We are supported by a leadership team in our board of directors providing guidance along the way. The foundation is small with a total staff of three in Jacksonville and Tampa and we are on target to accomplish great things. Overall, we are well blessed.
Hometown
Lakeland, Ga.
First experience with community service
I am from a very small town and we were always helping each other in whatever capacity was needed. However I guess my first memory of community service was helping to organize gifts and Christmas carols for the seniors in our local nursing home.
Your job before the Monique Burr Foundation
Consulting in the financial services industry, Layton Consulting Inc., and before that, vice president at First Union.
Upcoming events
Dec. 7: Jinglebells ProAm Golf Tournament, The Golf Club at South Hampton, St. Augustine. Tournament starts at 10 a.m. and a cocktail reception and awards ceremony is at 3:30 p.m.
Contact information
www.moniqueburrfoundation.org
[email protected]
642-0210
7807 Baymeadows Road E., Suite 205
Jacksonville, FL 32256