Former State Senator Victor Crist will honor Dottie Berger MacKinnon as the recipient of the 2010 Florida Senate “Spirit of Service” Award on Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at 5:00 pm in the Lafayette Room at Mise en Place, 442 West Kennedy Blvd, Suite 110.

The Florida Senate “Spirit of Service” Award recognizes Floridians who demonstrate exemplary service to their communities.  Former Senate President Ken Pruitt designed the Senate Medallion Award of Excellence, the first of its kind, to recognize Florida’s “unsung Heroes” – those who, through their acts of service, preserve America’s long standing tradition and commitment to volunteerism and making Florida a better place.

Dottie Berger MacKinnon’s dedication to our communities’ foster children and families began almost three decades ago.   She has tirelessly advocated for a better quality of life, equal opportunities for success, and the simple provision of love and safety for abused, abandoned and neglected children.

Dottie is one of the founders of Joshua House and she has passionately supported the children served there since 1992.  From 1994-1998 she expanded her service to the community as a Hillsborough County Commissioner, District 4. In 2003, she co-founded and chaired the Friends of Joshua House Foundation to provide continued support to Joshua House, a program of the Children’s Home Society of Florida.  In 2005, Dottie inspired, co-founded and then chaired Kids Charity of Tampa Bay, serving all foster children throughout the Tampa Bay area.  From 2005-2009, she worked tirelessly to develop, create and co-found A Kid’s Place, a residential care facility for foster siblings.  She has never once stepped from the challenge to make a difference, whether it affects thousands of children or one child at a time.