For Immediate Release
September 30, 2025
Contact: Ryan Duffy
(863) 902-2159
Davie, FL – Take Stock in Children (TSIC), Florida’s leading nonprofit dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty through education and mentorship, today announced that Bethany Lacey has been appointed Chief Executive Officer. Lacey succeeds CEO Jillian Hasner, who served as Take Stock’s CEO for the last decade of its thirty-year history.
“Bethany embodies the vision, compassion, and energy that will ensure Take Stock in Children’s success into the future,” said Fontaine LeMaistre, Chairman of the Take Stock in Children Board of Directors. “Her decades of dedication to Florida’s children and families, paired with her proven ability to inspire communities and strengthen organizations, make her uniquely suited to lead Take Stock as we expand our reach and deepen our impact.”
“Bethany is a proven leader whose passion for serving children and families aligns perfectly with our mission,” said John Locke, President of Take Stock in Children. “I look forward to working alongside her as we expand opportunities for Florida’s students and build on the incredible foundation laid by Jillian. Together, we will ensure that every student in our program has the tools, mentorship, and support to achieve their dreams.”
A native of Tallahassee, Florida, Lacey brings more than 20 years of nonprofit leadership and child advocacy experience to her new role. She holds degrees in Counseling from the Baptist College of Florida and in Counseling and Psychology from Troy University, and she is a certified Child Protection Professional through the Florida Certification Board.
Lacey began her career in child welfare as a dependency case manager in Central Florida before joining Boys Town, where she served for nearly two decades in roles across all three Florida locations. In 2021, she was named Executive Director of Boys Town South Florida, where she oversaw fundraising, community relations, board management, licensing, marketing, project management, and quality assurance—all while keeping children and families at the heart of her mission for service.
Beyond her executive leadership, Lacey is passionate about developing future leaders. She serves as an adjunct instructor at Palm Beach Atlantic University, is a graduate of Leadership Palm Beach County (Class of 2023) and Florida State University’s Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship, and volunteers as a Guardian Ad Litem in the 15th Dependency Circuit.
A lifelong Floridian who has lived in the Panhandle, Central, and South Florida, Lacey is deeply invested in the success of children statewide. She resides in Palm Beach County with her husband and their two young children, while also celebrating two adult children who have already left the nest.
About Take Stock in Children
Since 1995, Take Stock in Children, a Florida 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, has helped to break the cycle of poverty for over 45,000 of Florida’s low-income, at-risk youth by providing scholarships, mentors, and hope. Consistently achieving high school graduation rates that exceed the state average, Take Stock in Children is Florida’s flagship and most successful mentoring and scholarship program. To donate, volunteer, or learn about Take Stock in Children, please visit samn69.sg-host.com.