Lorry Herdeen

As we anticipate the possibilities and joys the New Year will bring, we also have changes to announce for Florence Fuller Child Development Centers (FFCDC). After 37 years and thousands of children, we are saying goodbye to Executive Director, Lorraine (Lorry) Herdeen. While Lorry will leave FFCDC, her time will not be spent idle. Traveling, painting, enjoying her children and grandchildren, and child care center consulting will fill her days.

"Miss Lorry" joined FFCDC as a preschool teacher in 1976 after relocating from Oakdale, NY. At that time, the original center in east Boca Raton was less than five years old with the west center only a dream for the future. Lorry's tenure at FFCDC has taken her from teacher to being named education coordinator in 1978. In 1987 she became the assistant director with eventual promotion to Executive Director in 1988. 

L - R: Benefactor and founder Florence Fuller and Lorry

Lorry has seen many changes in Florence Fuller. In 1971, a single building on land donated by the city of Boca Raton opened with 22 preschool children. Four years later, infants were accepted into the program followed by a program for two and three year old children. The last programs added were afterschool and summer camps for children ages 5 - 12 years.

Benefactor and founder Fran Cohen, former FFCDC receptionist Ethel Nolish and Lorry

With her final day as  December 21, 2012, Lorry would like people to remember this about Florence Fuller, "In Yosemite, there are trees 300 feet tall but their root system is only eight feet wide. However, they don't fall over because the roots are entwined. That is the legacy of how the centers operate - we all hold each other up to create something really wonderful. "

 Thank you Lorry for your big heart that has done so much for the little ones! 

1976 - The east center kitchen is expanded to serve more meals to the growing enrollment. 

L - R: Katie Goddard & Lorry

1982 - Dr. Samuel Fleegler preschool building opens to serve additional 60 children and includes a children's library.

1986 - Dorothy Fleeger annex opens for school age children opens.

1986 - Palm Beach County deeds land to Florence Fuller center to build a child care center in west Boca Raton.

L - R: Lorry & former staff member Roberta Grabeil

1988 -The Albert Kraftsow nursery is dedicated at the west campus and serves up to 30 infants.

1991 - David Stone Foundation gives money to build a preschool west campus to serve 242 preschoolers.

1992 - The east center is the first subsidized child care center in Palm Beach county to receive National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation.   

Technology is introduced to FFCDC

1993 - FFCDC receives first Head Start funds.

1993 - The Sol and Frances Cohen annex and administration building is added to the west center.

1995 - West center receives NAEYC accreditation

1995 - Jim and Jan Moran chair a committee to completely renovate the east center classrooms.

1996 - Lorry Herdeen receives national recognition from the child care information exchange magazine as being one of the exceptional center directors in the country.

Hillary Clinton visits FFCDC

1996 - First Lady Hilary Clinton visits the Florence Fuller east center and praises staff for the successful work done with the children. 

1997 - Executive Director, Lorry Herdeen, along with (then) State Senator Ron Klein, facilitates the passing of legislation penalizing drug dealing around child care centers with the same severity as public schools.

L - R: Lorry, Past Presidents - Al Travasos, Tom Ehrbar, Janelle Sloan

2002  - The Florence Fuller Foundation is formed to ensure long term financial health for the centers.                                                   

2003 - The Roy Cohen administrative building is dedicated 

2004 - The Harold and MaryAnn Perper Mildly Ill Center opens at the east campus - a first on- site clinic setting in the State of Florida.

L -R:  Lorry & Helen Babione

2007- West center receives Early Head Start funding for 22 children.  

2007 - Joseph Sorinto Trust provided the centers with 75 new computers.

2008 - Junior League renovates the East Center teacher's lounge. 

L - R: Lorry receives Bank of America $200,000 Neighborhood Builders Grant

2008 - FFCDC is recipient of Bank of America $200,000 Neighborhood Builders Grant 

2009 - Junior League renovates the Albert Kraftsow nursery at the west center.

2010 - Junior League renovates the East Center school age multi-purpose room.

2011 - Florence Fuller celebrates 40 years of providing high quality child care to 30,000 + children of Palm Beach County.

L - R: Jarden Consumer Solutions Day with Carol Woods, Lorry  and Rocki Rockingham

2011 - Harold and MaryAnn Perper generously donate 1 million dollars to start construction on a west center multi-purpose building.

2012 - FFCDC celebrates 40 years of providing services  for local, underserved children.  

2012 - Lorry Herdeen retires after 37 years.  

Dear Friends,

It has been an exciting and fulfilling 37 years. I can honestly add that it has never been boring, each day bringing unique and different challenges.    

Consistent through the years has been a dedicated and loyal staff that is second to none, a caring and energetic board of directors, and donors, who throughout the years have become our forever friends. Without this wonderful combination we could not have grown to become the quality child care center that we are- supported and respected by the community. 

As I look back upon the years, it is with a grateful heart to all those dedicated people who had the foresight to see a great need in the community and fill that need with quality care for the neediest of families. Without our founder, Dorothy Fleegler and benefactors Florence Fuller and Frances Cohen, our mission would have only been a wish. We started with 21 children 41 years ago and now serve over 600 children in two centers. We estimate we have served over 15,000 children who have gone on to be the successful, good citizens they were meant to be.

As I look to the future, I will truly miss the staff, board members and parents but most of all, the children. They have sustained me through the rough spots over the years.   The sound of their laughter on the playground every day has been music to my ears.

Goodbyes are always sad, but I can truly say that I feel good leaving, knowing that the centers are in excellent and capable hands to continue to carry on our wonderful mission!!

God Bless you all for your continued dedication to our children!!

Fondly,

Lorry Herdeen

Executive Director