Who We Are

As president of the Lawton Chiles Foundation since its inception more than eight years ago, Lawton “Bud” Chiles has been an advocate for children throughout the state of Florida. Through the Whole Child program, supported and significantly funded by the foundation, Bud has been actively involved in promoting Whole Child’s method of a six dimensional approach to child development -- now adopted in nine Florida counties. The Whole Child approach emphasizes early childhood intervention and targets six specific areas that lend themselves to Florida’s children reaching their full potential.

Prior to his advocacy on behalf of Florida’s children, Mr. Chiles had global responsibility for the international charity HOPE Worldwide, establishing and overseeing best practice programs on the continent of Africa, the Caribbean and in the United States. Chiles was also co-owner of Chiles Communications, an innovative public affairs company, serving as the firm's chief strategist and senior counselor on issues management and crisis communication.

Chiles received a B.S. Degree from Stanford University. He has received the prestigious National Community Health Award from Johnson & Johnson, the National Growing Health Children Award from Proctor and Gamble, and the National Health Watch Award for Outstanding Contribution to Public Health. His affiliations have included chairman of the Florida Environmental Coalition; vice chairman of the Florida Chamber of Commerce; commissioner on The Future of the South Commission; the Board of Directors of the Center for Florida Fiscal and Tax Reform; the University of Florida College of Law Board of Trustees; and the Board of Trustees for the Florida House, Washington, DC.

Contact Bud at Bud@WorstToFirst.org.