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Bartow Foster Mom Honored As Florida 'Point Of Light'

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By BILLY TOWNSEND | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 29, 2007

BARTOW - Eleanor Hall keeps a busy house and has for many years.

Counting foster children, adopted children and grandchildren, on any given afternoon, she can have 15 or more youngsters under the roof of her home in the Gordonville area. Not all of them live there, but most have at one time or another.

Eleanor Hall

Today, a few of those children and some state dignitaries took a moment to thank Hall for 20 years as a foster parent.

Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp and Bob Butterworth, secretary of the state's Department of Children & Families, were on hand to name Hall an official "Point of Light."

Hall has fostered more than 150 children and adopted eight. And she did all this as a single mother. Why? "It's just children," said the 56-year-old. "That's always been my thing."

Hall said she decided to become a foster parent in 1987 after working in a day care center. She adopted her first children in 1991.

The Point of Light award is given weekly to a Florida resident or organization for exemplary public service.

Reporter Billy Townsend can be reached at (863) 284-1409 or wtownsend@tampatrib.com.

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