Nan appears to be a candidate that needs to business with Crist, at least so long as he is in office. That's not to say that she may not appreciate that quip ...
privately.Fwiw, she appears to be someone who goes to bat for those who cannot go to bat for themselves. Foci seem to be children's heath, seniors, and other social justice issues.
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ABOUT Nan RichNan Rich was re-elected to the Florida State Senate in November 2006. She served in the Florida State House of Representatives from 2000-2004. Senator Nan Rich has established a reputation for being one of the most passionate and dedicated members of the Florida Legislature. She is widely recognized as one of Florida's leading champions of children's and social justice issues.
Senator Rich currently serves on numerous committees including Health and Human Services Appropriations, Vice Chair; Environmental Preservation and Conservation, Vice Chair; Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; Ethics and Elections; Regulated Industries; Rules; and the Legislative Budget Commission.
Prior to her election, she served as the National President of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) for the 1996-1999 triennium – the first Floridian elected to that office in the organization's 115 year history. She has extensive experience in advocacy and community service, and has worked to improve the lives of women, children and families in her community, the U.S. and Israel. In 1999, President Bill Clinton appointed Ms. Rich to serve as a Board Member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.
Senator Rich's community experience includes years of advocacy and activism on behalf of women and children. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of KIDS in Distress, the Children's Services Board of Broward County, and the American Jewish Congress, Southeast Region. Her past community involvement includes:
- Chair, Broward County School Readiness Coalition
- Chair, Health and Human Services Board of Broward County
- Founding President, Board of Trustees of the Home Instruction Program for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY-USA)
- Chair, Florida State HIPPY Advisory Committee
- Board of Directors, NCJW Research Institute for Innovation in Education at the Hebrew University in Israel
- Founder, Guardian Ad Litem Program of Dade County
- Founder and past President, CHARLEE (residential homes for abused and neglected children)
- Founder and past President, Resourcemobile (a project that trains family child care providers.)
Prior to her election to the Florida House, she also served as a Vice Chair of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the national planning and coordinating body for the organized Jewish community in the area of public affairs. She is past Chairwoman of the Government Affairs Committee of the Florida Association of Jewish Federations and served on the Executive Committee of the Jewish Federation of Broward County.
Senator Rich is the recipient of numerous awards including:
- Children's Forum, 2008 Legislative Leadership Award
- Aging and Disability Resource Center, 2008 Legislator of the Year
- Children's Trust of Miami-Dade, 2007 Public Policy Excellence Award
- March of Dimes, 2007 Woman of Distinction Award
- Family Law Section of the Florida Bar, 2007 Legislator of the Year
- Florida Children's Services Councils, 2007 Legislative Award
- American Diabetes Association, 2007 Valor Award
- Broward Healthy Start, 2007 Advocacy Award
- Florida Council on Aging, 2007 Legislative Advocate of the Year
- Broward Children's Center, 2007 Child Advocate Award
- Florida Children's First, 2006 Legislative Child Advocate of the Year
- Planned Parenthood, 2005 Exceptional Women Award
- Broward Sheriff's Office, 2005 Champion for Children Award
- Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, 2005 Outstanding Legislator
- United Way of Miami-Dade, 2005 Public Service Leadership Award
- 2005 Jessie Trice Heroes Award, the Health Choice Network
- Weizmann Institute of Science "Woman of Vision"
In 2003, Ms. Rich was inducted into the Broward County Women's Hall of Fame and the Miami Beach High School Hall of Fame. She also received the 2003-2004 Humane Legislator Award from the Humane Society of the United States. In 2002 she was the recipient of the first Broward County Legal Aid "For the Public Good" Award. In addition, she has been honored by the National Conference for Community and Justice (Broward/South Palm Beach Region) with the Silver Medallion Award for advancing the cause of social justice and promoting understanding and respect among all.
As a long-time resident of Florida, Nan was educated at the University of Florida. She is married to David. They have four children and three grandchildren.
