ECCAC announces 2024 board of directors: Renee Pellegrino is new President

At a recent board meeting, the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC) officially announced their 2023/2024 line-up of board members and officers, as well as naming their Executive Committee.

Renee Pellegrino is their new President; Khaliqa Wheatley, Vice President; and Alan Wood, Treasurer. Other members are immediate past President, Janet Parker, along with Audie Rowell, Blake Morar, Candance Vlahos, Cindy Cole, Dr. Dennis Lichorwic, Heather Parrish, Michael Thompson, Neslihan Suhi-Moore, Shannon Amos, Shan Eubanks, Stephanie Brannon, Tammy Pierce, Tom Saffel, Tracy McLean, and Velia Lala.

Julie Porterfield, ECCAC CEO said, “We so appreciate our 2023/2024 officers and board members. Renee Pellegrino will be an outstanding and dedicated board President. I have every confidence that under her leadership, along with our board members, we will have another successful year which translates to being able to help the children in need of our services.”

Renee Pellegrino further added, “It is our mission to build a better, healthier future by ending child abuse, one child at a time. Our board members will all work diligently to help achieve this.”

ECCAC provides services in a child-friendly environment to help identify, treat, and support children in abusive situations, as well as helping to prevent child abuse through education and prevention programs. With the Julie Sacco Porterfield Family Center in Okaloosa County and the Pierce Family Center in Walton County, they house representatives from the Florida Department of Children and Families, Child Protection Team, State Attorney’s Office, local law enforcement, licensed mental health counselors, and ECCAC’s staff and volunteers. In ECCAC’s 24-year history, over 15,000 children have received more than 170,000 services at no cost.