Leadership Team

Desmond Taylor has been an advocate for the children in Florida for more than 20 years. Mr. Taylor is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and also the Florida Coalition for Children, Florida's child welfare advocacy association. Mr. Taylor also serves as a board member for the YMCA at Avalon Park location. Mr. Taylor is a graduate of the University of Western Oregon with a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and he has completed his master's degree in Business Management from Argosy University.
Mr. Taylor continues to help Friends of Children and Families, Inc. provide the best care for the children of Central Florida by developing new programs such as mentoring and in-home counseling. Mr. Taylor is presently a member of the Community Based Care of Central Florida provider board which he is a active member. Recently, Mr. Taylor was appointed to the Orange County Government Neighborhood Grant Advisory Board, and he has also received his Board Member certification from Rollins College. Mr. Taylor has completed Leadership Seminole and is a proud member of Class 23.

Donna Berry is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who has worked at Friends of Children and Families since 2009. Ms. Berry has a Master of Education/Specialist Education degree in Family Counseling from the University of Florida and is a Certified Trainer with Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), in addition to being a Nationally Certified Counselor. Ms. Berry has experience working with children, teens, adults, and families in a variety of community settings.

Emily holds a Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration with a Major in General Business from the University of Florida.  She is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SHRM-SCP).  Prior to joining Friends of Children and Families in 2013, Emily spent 8 years as an Administrator of a Montessori School(K-6).