First Lady Jeanette Herbert is awarded 2020 Utah Mother of Achievement from the American Mothers Inc. Utah Association presentation by Cecelia Benson
2020 Utah Mother of Achievement
Jeanette Herbert, First Lady of Utah, was recognized for her support of mothers, children and families through her initiative Uplift Families!
The mission of Uplift Families is “to strengthen families by connecting parents with programs, resources and information – both from Uplift Families and partner organizations – that help parents acquire the skills necessary to raise loving, responsible children.
Vision: To promote happiness, prosperity and societal stability through strong families and meaningful parent-child relationships. We believe that strong parent-child relationships are the key to providing children with tools and encouragement to make healthy and safe choices in their lives, keeping them free from drugs, alcohol, violence, crime and pornography.
The American Mothers Inc Utah Association appreciates the great work she has done to promote healthy families.
Biography
Governor and Mrs. Herbert with Cecelia Benson
Jeanette Herbert was born in Preston, Idaho, and moved with her family as a young child to Springville, Utah. The First Lady graduated from Springville High and while attending college, met her husband of 50 years, Gary Herbert.
After the two married, they settled in Orem, Utah. After 13 years of marriage and while raising their six children, Mrs. Herbert opened a commercial child care and preschool, the Kids Connection, which she ran for 23 years. For 13 years, she also operated K.C. Kids’ Club, an hourly drop-in center.
In addition to her family and business responsibilities, the First Lady has always been an active member of her community. She served on the Provo-Orem Chamber of Commerce, where she was the chairperson of the Partners in Education committee. She was also vice-chairperson of the Utah County Bicentennial Committee and served as a board member of the Utah Private Child Care Association.
In 2003 Mrs. Herbert was named Businesswoman of the Year by the Provo-Orem Chamber of Commerce. In 2009 she received the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce “Woman Making a Difference” Award. She was a recipient of a Utah Women’s Leadership award at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival Utah Women’s Leadership Celebration. In 2016, as Utah’s First Lady, Mrs. Herbert was a distinguished honoree at Utah Valley University’s Women’s Walk Gala. In 2017, she received the Sandy City Titan Award. In 2018, the first lady was a recipient of the Utah National Guard Bronze Minuteman Award and the Federation of United Mexicans in Utah’s Tonáhuac Award.
Mrs. Herbert accepts the 2020 Utah Mother of Achievement award.
Mrs. Herbert currently serves on the Governor’s Mansion Foundation Board, Governor’s Artist Series Board and is also involved with the Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free Foundation. In addition, she serves as Honorary Chair of the Child Care Committee at the Utah Refugee Center.
The First Lady’s initiative is called Uplift Families. The goal of this initiative is to promote good parenting skills, strengthen families, and offer resources to parents throughout the state.
The Herberts are the proud parents of six children (three sons and three daughters) and the very proud grandparents of 17 grandchildren.
Mrs. Herbert enjoys sewing and decorating. She also loves to golf. Her favorite activity, however, is spending time with her children and grandchildren, all of whom live in Utah County.
