First Things First Welcomes New Executive Director

PHOENIX – (February 22, 2010) First Things First is pleased to welcome Rhian Evans Allvin as its new Executive Director, overseeing statewide efforts to enhance and expand services for children in the critical early years.

 Evans Allvin replaces J. Elliott Hibbs, who retired February 12.

 First Things First was created in 2006, when Arizona voters – through the Proposition 203 ballot initiative – decided to set aside 80 cents from each pack of cigarettes sold in order to fund the expansion of education and health programs for children from birth through age five. In its first two years, First Things First established 31 regional partnership councils, appointed more than 300 local volunteers to serve on those councils, established distribution and accountability mechanisms for its funds, and allocated more than $286 million for services to children in their communities.

 Evans Allvin brings a wealth of experience in early childhood to First Things First, having served in leadership positions with Children’s Action Alliance, the Arizona Community Foundation and Libraries for the Future. She has extensive experience as a public policy consultant and advocate, most recently as a partner in the Brecon Group.

 Evans Allvin was part of the team that wrote the citizen’s ballot initiative that created First Things First and served for more than two years on the statewide Board.

 “We are very excited to have Ms. Evans Allvin lead First Things First through the next critical stage in its development,” said First Things First Board Chair Steven W. Lynn. “As economic pressures shrink the resources available to families, it is more important than ever that we engage local communities and stakeholders in a collective effort to better the lives of young children.”  

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