Public Information Office
210 S. McDonald St. Suite 636
McKinney, TX  75069

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Leigh Hornsby, Public Information Officer
972-548-4772
lhornsby@co.collin.tx.us

April 19, 2005

Collin County Commissioner Phyllis Cole named Advocate of the Year by CCAEYC

(McKinney, TX) – Collin County Commissioner Phyllis Cole, Precinct 1, was named “Advocate of the Year” by the Collin County Association for the Education of Young Children (CCAEYC) earlier this month during a “Week of the Young Child” celebration.

“Commissioner Cole was given this award for her outstanding accomplishments,” says Karen Cooper Marks, event chairperson. “Her accomplishments include the addition of two attorneys and two investigators at the Collin County Advocacy Center, helping coordinate a care van program for free immunizations, helping establish a dental program in Plano for children and senior citizens and adding a WIC office in Frisco. For these and other accomplishments, Commissioner Cole was honored by the community for which she serves.”

The mission of CCAEYC is to serve and act on behalf of the needs, rights and well being of all young children, with the primary focus on the provision of educational and developmental services and resources. It is an all volunteer affiliate of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), along with hundreds of local organizations around the country. Founded in 1926, NAEYC now has more than 100,000 members.

Cole has served on the Collin County Commissioner’s Court since 1991. She was appointed to fill an unexpired term and has since been re-elected four times. As a member of the court, she serves as the vice-chairman of the Health Care Foundation and of the Housing Finance Corporation. She grew up in Monroe, Louisiana, attended Louisiana State University and moved to Plano in 1976. She has two grown children and one granddaughter.

###