National Family Week

• Advocated for policy that enhances the lives of children and families
• Presented a family-strengthening initiative
• Lent support to legislation to improve the lives of vulnerable children and families
• Held a public discussion on issues that strengthen vulnerable families
• Headed an organization that has accomplished the above.

Past National Family Week Advocacy Award Recipients

Angela Leonard, Roanoke, VA
Angela is the mother of an autistic child who identified the need for more services and advocacy to support families of autistic children.  Ms. Leonard founded the Blue Ridge Autism Center, which has grown from serving two to 67 children during the past six years.  The Blue Ridge Autism Center is dedicated to providing families and individuals with autism with a quality education, meaningful communication, resources, and life skills necessary to succeed. (Presented by Family Service of Roanoke Valley)

Bea Lurie, executive director, Girls Inc. of Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN
Bea recently led Girls Inc. to participate in the national She Votes program, which educates girls about becoming politicians themselves and about taking part in the electoral process. Through that program, 100 local girls registered to cast their first votes in the 2008 presidential election. Bea is strong, smart, and bold and an inspiration to girls and women in our community. (Presented by Partnership for Families, Children and Adults)

Corrine Paxton, Roanoke, VA
Having worked in the field as a foster care supervisor, Ms. Paxton knows of the significant need for quality foster care parents. She serves as a role model for foster care and as such has elevated the importance of foster parenting as a vitally important way to meet the needs of particularly vulnerable children. She is currently the foster mom for two children, the adoptive mom for three teenage boys, and has applied to adopt three biological siblings. (Presented by Family Service of Roanoke Valley)

DeeJay Hellrung, Gainesville, FL
As public affairs chair for the Florida Chapter of the March of Dimes and for the Southern Region of the National March of Dimes Foundation, DeeJay Hellrung worked tirelessly to advocate for public policy and legislative action, in both Florida and the U.S., to benefit mothers and babies. She was instrumental in the establishment and expansion of Florida’s Newborn Screening program, led the southern region drive for passage of the “Preemie Act” in Congress.(Presented by Partnership for Strong Families)   

State Representative Hannah Pingree, Maine
As House Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, Rep. Pingree was a staunch supporter of quality mental health and family support programs. Rep. Pingree’s more recent work in House leadership has again shown her to be a consistent advocate and a key supporter of families.  While the state budget has required many painful decisions, Rep. Pingree’s common-sense approach and compassion have shielded many family programs from even deeper cuts.  Her ability to see through the complexity of the state budget and identify how people will really be affected by legislative decisions has been, and will continue to be extremely valuable in the future. (Presented by Community Counseling Center, Portland, ME)

Father Henry Mancuso, Lake Charles, LA
Father Henry Mancuso is the pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, and secretary for the Ministry of Pastoral Services for the Diocese of Lake Charles. Serving an inner city African American church in which half of the parishioners live in poverty, Father Henry is not only a pastor, but also serves as a community activist and advocate for those who have no voice, speaking out and taking action on their behalf at the local, state, and national levels.(Presented by Family & Youth)

GEAR Parent Network- Gaining Empowerment Allows Results, Ellsworth, ME
The GEAR Parent Network is being recognized for their efforts to empower parents of children with special needs to build on their families strengths and to advocate for their family's needs. GEAR bridges gaps by continually seeking ways to collaborate and bring families in communities together to raise awareness about needed support and advocacy. (Presented by KidsPeace New England)

Gene Balloun, Johnson County, KS
Gene has been an active advocate for children for over two decades. Gene is an attorney with Shook Hardy & Bacon and is the vice president of the Kansas Foster and Adoptive Children organization.(Presented by TLC for Children and Families, Inc.)

George Timberlake, chief judge, Second Judicial Circuit (retired) River Forest, IL
Judge Timberlake has exceeded all expectations of a family court judge by organizing community leadership Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County, and the 2^nd Judicial Circuit to create and maintain prevention programs and services for youth in risky situations, and alternatives to detention. Of special note is Judge Timberlake’s leadership to create the Southern Thirty Adolescent Center in Mt. Vernon to provide a safe and healthy alternative to detention for youth. Judge Timberlake’s advocacy has brought statewide policy improvements, including the creation of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, and Redeploy Illinois, an innovative state program to encourage counties to create programs to provide services to youth in their home county and reduce the frequency of incarceration. (Presented by Lutheran Child and Family Services)

Gregory Jr. and Tamika Robinson, Milwaukee, WI
Gregory Jr. is a field supervisor at LaCasa De Esperanza Inc. His aspiration and dream is to teach young men carpentry and life skills began in 2007, as “Rising Sons” and soon to be incorporated. Tamika has been administrator for her family-owned business “All God’s Kids Child Care & Learning Center," for the past eight years. (Presented by Word of Hope Ministries, Inc.)

Hilde Kellogg, Coeur d'Alene, ID
(Presented by Children's Village)

The Hon. Jane P. Maroney, Wilmington, DE
(Presented by Children & Families First)

Jay Bloom, Portland, OR

Mr. Bloom is the former CEO of Morrison Child and Family Services. He promoted the concept of "Vital Aging" in Multnomah County.  Mr. Bloom has harnessed the interest and commitment of county government and key community leaders to develop new ways to engage the talents of older people in meaningful and important paid and volunteer roles so that the community can benefit from experience and expertise, while supporting the concept of community engagement throughout the life span. (Presented by Metropolitan Family Service) 

John Dickerson, Indianapolis, IN
(Presented by Family Service of Central Indiana, Inc.)

Lisa Naito, Portland, OR
Commissioner Lisa Naito currently advocates for children and has served as Multnomah County’s representative to the Children’s Investment Fund’s allocation committee. In addition, she served on NACo’s Early Childhood Development Task Force and led the effort to overhaul the children’s mental health system as chair of the Child and Family System of Care Workgroup. Commissioner Naito spearheaded a group that developed the Early Childhood Framework, a plan for services focused on the years from prenatal until kindergarten.  In addition, Commissioner Naito was part of the process in Multnomah County to revamp the homeless youth system to create a continuum of care. (Presented by Portland Impact, Inc.)

Maria Rojo de Steffey, Portland, OR
Maria was elected as Multnomah County Commissioner and then re-elected to office and began her four-year term in January 2005. Maria advocates for social service programs that benefit thousands of Multnomah County residents in the areas of health and welfare, emergency housing, poverty related programs, teen pregnancy, senior citizens, early childhood, school-based services as well as services to domestic violence survivors and services for families.  (Presented by Portland Impact, Inc, OR.)

May Wallace, Portland, OR

May embodies the word “advocate” from her early work as a minister to her current passion for helping fellow seniors in her community.  Her enthusiasm, advocacy, and support are appreciated by all those she touches. (Presented by Volunteers of America Oregon.)

Michael Corrigan, Jacksonville, FL
Michael has a long history of commitment to public work and community service.  His volunteer efforts include leadership positions with organizations such as Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Riverside Avondale Preservation and Rotary Club of West Jacksonville. Michael is the chairman of the 1000 in 1000 Steering Committee as well as the 1000 in 1000 Working Committee.  He works as liaison between the two committees.  Michael is an advocate for the less fortunate with a vision of making sure that every resident of Jacksonville has a fair chance at a secure future and the equal opportunity to get there. (Presented by Family Foundations)

The Hon. Ralph M. Ramirez, Waukesha, WI
The Honorable Ralph M. Ramirez is Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge. (Presented by La Casa de Esperanza, Inc.)

 Rebecca Pryor, Indianapolis, IN
(Presented by Family Service of Central Indiana, Inc.)

Sheila Klinker, Indiana State Representative, Lafayette, IN
Sheila began her professional career as an elementary schoolteacher in the Lafayette School Corporation and has served as a State Representative since 1982.  A member of the numerous community organizations, Sheila has received many awards and recognitions for her legislative and civic efforts—particularly on behalf of children and families, as well as individuals who are mentally ill or developmentally challenged—and for her successful work in promoting job growth and economic development in Indiana. (Presented by Family Service, Inc.)

Travis Burrell, High Point, NC
Travis was a former foster child and founder of I Am Now, Inc., providing transitional housing while equipping the individuals with support services and life skills training geared towards self-sufficiency. He opened Crossroads home in High Point for youth transitioning from foster care to independent living in hopes of preventing them from becoming homeless. Travis also serves on the High Point Children’s Cabinet and is actively involved in other community boards and committees to advocate for children and families. (Presented by Family Service of the Piedmont, Inc.)

Vaneta Becker, Evansville, IN
Vaneta is being honored for her role in the local government of Evansville.  (Presented by Lampion Center)

William R. Southrey, Atlantic City, NJ
William began his career at the Atlantic City Rescue Mission as a volunteer and accepted a paid position with the Mission in 1981.  William worked his way through the mission over the last 25+ years, holding the positions of director of Operations, chaplain, director of Transient Ministries, and vice president of Community and Government Relations. (Present by Atlantic City Rescue Mission)