Americans for the Arts, in partnership with the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), presented the 2014 State Legislatures Arts Leadership Award to Florida Senator Don Gaetz (1st District) at NCSL Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C. on December 12, 2014.

Sen. Gaetz has been a passionate advocate for the arts and culture industry in Florida. As senate president, Sen. Gaetz made it possible for the state of Florida to appropriate $43.2 million to fully fund over 420 qualified programmatic and cultural facilities grants recommended by Florida's state arts agency. This figure restores cuts over the past 5 years taking funding from $10 million to $43 - an increase of 283%.

This restored investment makes it possible for this industry to preserve and create jobs, impact tourism, leverage millions in matching dollars, diversify and build the economy, generate revenues back to local and state government treasuries, attract and retain key businesses, improve student achievement and graduation rates, create greater access to cultural programs, and enrich the lives of both residents of and visitors to Florida. Sen. Gaetz remarked, “America alone among nations proclaims ‘the pursuit of happiness’ in the title deeds of our freedom. That makes public support of the arts as American as a Fourth of July concert in the park.”

Sen. Gaetz was first elected to the Florida Senate in 2006, and served as senate president during the 2013 and 2014 legislative sessions. Before joining the senate, he was the co-founder and vice chairman of VITAS Healthcare Corporation and president and chairman of Caregivers, Inc.