Children First

Janna Kim • Norma Cohen • Barbara Wall-Magee

At Children First, volunteers are the heart of the agency’s mission of strengthening children and families. Janna Kim, Barbara Wall-Magee, and Norma Cohen are shining examples of how individual commitment to service can make a lasting impact on the community.

Janna Kim’s journey to volunteering with Children First began with the desire to spend more quality time with her daughters. “We volunteer on our own and through the National Charity League (NCL), which is a mother-daughter philanthropy organization that partners with Children First,” she shares. “My girls have been helping since they were in elementary school.”

Janna and her husband, Josh, have helped support events like Flip Flops & Fashion, Rockin’ Lobster, and the Fairytale Ball. Her two teenagers, Anna and Allie, have been involved in several donation drives, and supported the agency’s phone tree after Hurricane Ian. Most recently, they have worked with NCL and Pine View School, gathering much-needed supplies for Children First families. “I think it’s essential to instill the importance of giving back from a young age and get the whole family involved,” she says. “It’s our way of life. You just do it.”

She and her husband, who have been married for 20 years, both grew up in families that faced challenges. Their parents, who both immigrated from South Korea, worked long hours and had limited resources. This shared background has made Janna’s commitment to giving back even more meaningful. She and her daughters prefer to work behind the scenes, alongside other moms and daughters. “Recently, we cleaned the outside toys and cleaned and organized the classrooms. The little tasks you don’t see are important jobs too.”

Barbara Wall-Magee, another dedicated volunteer, relocated to Sarasota in 2015. A proud member of the Junior League for over 40 years, she had been actively searching for volunteer opportunities when she discovered Children First. “The Junior League of Sarasota had a trolley tour for their new transfer members to help familiarize us with several local projects. Our first stop was Children First, which was founded by the League in 1961. After seeing it, I knew that’s where I wanted to spend my time.”

Since 2017, Barbara has given her time to Children First in various roles. “I’ve supported the Volunteer Coordinator in an administrative capacity and spent several years supporting the Families First Institute, a program which provides guidance and education for the parents,” she explains. Additionally, she has volunteered in the philanthropy office and the classroom. “What I love about it is the caring environment they have created for the children, their families, and the staff.” 

For Barbara, the impact of volunteering extends beyond the children. “The classroom volunteers get as much out of that environment as the kids do. They take away the feeling that they’ve made a difference.” 

Children First also holds a special place in Norma Cohen’s heart. “It is one of the most important and wonderful organizations,” she says with passionate sincerity. “All children need nurturing, especially those who do not have the same privileges through no fault of their own.”

Norma and her husband, Al, have decided to leave a substantial financial legacy to Children First, ensuring its mission can continue for generations to come. She hopes that every child has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of the challenges their families may face. ​​For Norma, offering financial support is a way to contribute to something she believes in wholeheartedly—creating a brighter future for Sarasota by investing in its youngest and most vulnerable residents. As she emphasizes, “Our children are our future.”

Text by Kaileia Suvannamaccha | Photo by Nancy Guth

1723 N. Orange Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34234
(941) 953-3877
volunteer@childrenfirst.net
childrenfirst.net