TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – On Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis are set to host the 2024 “Florida Heroes’ Reception.”
The event will honor “exemplary Floridians from across the state,” including several figures from the Central Florida region.
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In a release, state officials said the reception ceremony will take place at the Florida Governor’s Mansion in Tallahassee, kicking off at 5 p.m.
The release shows that the following people are scheduled to be honored during the event:
LT. BENJAMIN WOOTSON II
Last year, a Seminole County deputy crashed his patrol car into an overpass bridge, causing his car to catch fire.
Wootson — an Orlando firefighter who was off duty at the time — saw the crash and rescued the deputy while notifying first responders about the incident.
The deputy ultimately survived, and Wootson was later honored by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds for his heroic exploit.
He also received several awards for his actions, and Attorney General Ashley Moody even presented him with the “Back the Blue” award to honor his service.
ADRIENNE BUNN
Bunn is a Marion County-based athlete who won first place last year in her division of the IRONMAN World Championship in Hawaii.
The annual competition involves many different triathlons around the world, and Bunn made history as the youngest person with autism to complete the race.
She also competed in the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games, where she came in first during the unified spring triathlon and third during the 1,000-meter open water swimming.
In addition, Bunn was chosen as the Special Olympics Female Athlete of the Year by the Big 12 Conference just last year.
ZULY BOVBJERG
Bovbjerg is a mother of three children and a staffing specialist at Timber Creek High School in Orlando.
State officials said she spoke out after her 14-year-old daughter was assigned to read the book “Shut Up” by Marilyn Reynolds, which “explicitly depicts graphic imagery.”
The book’s synopsis reads as follows:
When seventeen-year-old Mario discovers Aunt Carmen’s new boyfriend is molesting Eddie, he knows he has to take action. He’s got to protect Eddie! The story of two brothers and their fight to survive.
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According to state officials, the teacher had been using the book for eight years, but with pressure from Bovbjerg, school administrators eventually made the teacher remove the book from her curriculum.
TJ MCCOY, JR.
McCoy founded the Master Care Givers nonprofit, which aims to help those with special needs to “find the athlete in them.”
After graduating from the University of Florida — where he also played football and volunteered for special-needs groups — in 2019, McCoy started the organization to help many of these special-needs adults and children.
Through Master Care Givers, McCoy seeks to provide these people with recreational programs like open gym sessions and adaptive sports classes.
WYNNE MCFARLIN
McFarlin is the Special Olympics Florida triathlon program competition director, and she is considered “the driving force” behind the program’s start back in 2017.
She has helped athletes receive the necessary training opportunities to compete in races throughout the Central Florida region.
In addition, she has worked to develop similar programs in other areas of the state and find community partners to help build the organization even further.
CRYSTAL HORROCKS and KATHLEEN
During a day at the pool, Crystal Horrocks’ daughter — Kathleen — told Horrocks that another swimmer was struggling to swim and hadn’t come up for air.
As a result, Horrocks dove into the water, rescuing a 33-year-old man from the bottom of the pool. Thanks to their combined efforts, the man survived.
CHRISTINA MARTIN and CHRIS MARTIN
Co-founders Christina and Chris Martin created the Gunner Martin Foundation after their 2-year-old son, Gunner Martin, drowned in a backyard pool.
Since his tragic passing, the couple has pursued education for families to prevent similar deaths in the future, as well as swimming safety laws, including some that passed this year.
Chris Martin used to be an NFL star player with the New England Patriots, though he has since become a firefighter in Seminole County to teach others how to avoid this kind of tragedy.
Their foundation partners with other agencies in Seminole County to provide door alarms, education on water safety and funding for swim lessons for children from families in need.
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