particularly since the state allowed them to act as foster parents. The ruling cleared the way for Martin Gill, 47, and his male partner to adopt two brothers, ages 4 and 8. They had been foster parents to the children since December 2004. Philanthropy Shack has served as vice chair of the Council on Foundations and chair of its management committee, on the Board of the Community Foundations for Youth and the Board of Funders Concerned about AIDS. She is a member of the Bertelsmann Foundations' Transatlantic Community Foundation Network and was chair of the Communications Network. She was a founder and former chair of the Florida Philanthropic Network and founder-chair of the Alliance for Human Services. The Miami Foundation Shack became president of the Dade Community Foundation, now known as The Miami Foundation, in 1985. During her tenure, she spearheaded a campaign to encourage philanthropy and charitable giving by developing a permanent endowment to meet Greater Miami's emerging charitable needs. Spurred by her leadership, the foundation diversified its board of trustees, its staff and its grantmaking focus. Shack led the charge to focus all grantmaking against the issue of cultural alienation and the need to help people successfully cross ethnic barriers. Empowerment and seed funding for emerging groups, based in the diverse multicultural communities of Miami-Dade, were the hallmarks of the grantmaking program under her leadership. On January 27, 2009, Shack announced that she would step down from her post as president by the end of the year. The Miami Foundation has established the Ruth and Richard Shack Society. In addition, each year The Miami Foundation and Leave a Legacy present the Ruth Shack Leadership Award to one of Miami's most promising young leaders. Personal life In 1953, Shack married Richard Shack (1926 - 2012). They have three daughters, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Awards Shack is the recipient of the Governor's Award for the Arts; American Institute of Architects Community Service Award; Presidential Award from the Cultural Executives Council; Tropical Audubon's Conservation Award; Society of the Arts, Florida South Chapter; Miami Beach Taxpayer's Association, Public Enlightenment; and Dade County's Outstanding Citizens Award. References http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-gay-adopt4-2008dec04,0,642864.story https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081125/ap_on_re_us/gay_adoptions Steve Rothaus, "Gay Rights Debate Rages on 30 Years After Miami Dade Challenge", Miami Herald, June 9, 2007 http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/story/879885.html External links Official website 1931 births Living people Women in Florida politics County commissioners in Florida People from Brooklyn Barry University alumni University of