Tallahassee Entrepreneur Rick Kearney Boosts Florida Competes Campaign With $100K
Florida’s effort to create statewide anti-discrimination protections based mostly on sexual orientation and gender identity obtained a considerable boost.
On Thursday, Tallahassee tech entrepreneur and philanthropist Rick Kearney gave $one hundred,000 to Florida Competes, the coalition of businesses working to pass the Florida Aggressive Workforce Act.
earney’s check is the largest single donation to Florida Competes so far.
The bipartisan Workforce Act is once again within the Florida Legislature, filed earlier this month within the House (HB 623) by Democrat Ben Diamond of St. Petersburg and Rene Plasencia, a Titusville Republican. Lake Worth Democrat Jeff Clemens filed the Senate model (SB 666).
Each bills search to add sexual orientation and gender identification to the Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992, which bars such discrimination based on race, coloration, faith, sex national origin, age, handicap, pregnancy or marital status. Supporters of the Workforce Act say it would make the state more aggressive both nationally and globally by attracting the best workers by statewide anti-discrimination protections.
Kearney, who serves as chairman and CEO of the Tallahassee-based mostly Mainline Data Programs, stated in a press release the donation represents a "longstanding commitment to LGBT equality" and is an funding in improving Florida’s fame as a spot of equality and inclusion.
"I’m proud to stand with Florida’s enterprise leaders to advocate for equality for all," he stated, "by adding these overdue protections to Florida’s civil rights statute."
In thanking Kearney, Florida Competes representative Christina Johnson stated the group appreciates anybody who "embrace corporate policies of inclusion and respect for all people."
Kearney is a longtime supporter of group financial improvement and is a chair of ITFlorida, a nonprofit established to advertise expertise all through the Sunshine State. Kearny has received several awards, together with tallahassee entrepreneur Distinguished Leader of the Year and Jim Moran Enterprises 2000 Entrepreneur of the Year, in addition to the inaugural Ethics in Enterprise award from the Tallahassee Rotary Club. He has also been named Entrepreneur of the Decade by the Jim Moran Institute; and Philanthropist of the Year by the Northwest Florida Chapter of the Affiliation of Fundraising Professionals.
Previously referred to as the Florida Businesses for a Competitive Workforce coalition, Florida Competes consists of more than 450 small and dozens large companies all through Florida, in addition to Fortune 500 Companies reminiscent of AT&T, CSX, Darden Eating places, Marriott, NextEra Energy, Office Depot, Raymond James, Tech Data, Walt Disney World Resort and Wells Fargo.
On Thursday, Tallahassee tech entrepreneur and philanthropist Rick Kearney gave $one hundred,000 to Florida Competes, the coalition of businesses working to pass the Florida Aggressive Workforce Act.
earney’s check is the largest single donation to Florida Competes so far.
The bipartisan Workforce Act is once again within the Florida Legislature, filed earlier this month within the House (HB 623) by Democrat Ben Diamond of St. Petersburg and Rene Plasencia, a Titusville Republican. Lake Worth Democrat Jeff Clemens filed the Senate model (SB 666).
Each bills search to add sexual orientation and gender identification to the Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992, which bars such discrimination based on race, coloration, faith, sex national origin, age, handicap, pregnancy or marital status. Supporters of the Workforce Act say it would make the state more aggressive both nationally and globally by attracting the best workers by statewide anti-discrimination protections.
Kearney, who serves as chairman and CEO of the Tallahassee-based mostly Mainline Data Programs, stated in a press release the donation represents a "longstanding commitment to LGBT equality" and is an funding in improving Florida’s fame as a spot of equality and inclusion.
"I’m proud to stand with Florida’s enterprise leaders to advocate for equality for all," he stated, "by adding these overdue protections to Florida’s civil rights statute."
In thanking Kearney, Florida Competes representative Christina Johnson stated the group appreciates anybody who "embrace corporate policies of inclusion and respect for all people."
Kearney is a longtime supporter of group financial improvement and is a chair of ITFlorida, a nonprofit established to advertise expertise all through the Sunshine State. Kearny has received several awards, together with tallahassee entrepreneur Distinguished Leader of the Year and Jim Moran Enterprises 2000 Entrepreneur of the Year, in addition to the inaugural Ethics in Enterprise award from the Tallahassee Rotary Club. He has also been named Entrepreneur of the Decade by the Jim Moran Institute; and Philanthropist of the Year by the Northwest Florida Chapter of the Affiliation of Fundraising Professionals.
Previously referred to as the Florida Businesses for a Competitive Workforce coalition, Florida Competes consists of more than 450 small and dozens large companies all through Florida, in addition to Fortune 500 Companies reminiscent of AT&T, CSX, Darden Eating places, Marriott, NextEra Energy, Office Depot, Raymond James, Tech Data, Walt Disney World Resort and Wells Fargo.