Press Releases
CINCINNATI NON-PROFIT PROKIDS RECOGNIZES LOCAL VOLUNTEERS FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS
CINCINNATI, OH, May 30, 2007--At a recognition dinner held at 20th Century Theater on May 22, 2007 and attended by 150 people, ProKids honored local volunteers that have made significant contributions to the organization through their dedication to improving the lives of children within the child protection system. Awards included the Step Up for Children Awards, the Darlene Kamine Advocate of the Year Award, and the Leslie R. Jaffe Volunteer of the Year Award.
Winners of the Step Up for Children Awards included: Ed Beckman, Louis Bourgeois, and Chuck Strubbe (Video Crew Awards), Dr. Ann Saluke (ProKids Building Blocks Advisor Award), Kate Merilees (Young Child Institute Award), Shirley Ashby, Gail Bowler, Jean Gould, Glenna Miller, Patti Minibiole, Peg Niehaus, and Celina Woods (Stand by Me Awards).
The Darlene Kamine Advocate of the Year Award was presented to Sue Hughes of Anderson Township. Sue has been a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for ProKids since 2003 and has provided advocacy for 21 children suffering from abuse and neglect.
The Leslie R. Jaffe Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Sandi Cook of Blue Ash. Sandi has been a CASA for ProKids since 2005, serving on 3 cases and advocating on behalf of 5 children. In addition to her work as a CASA and as a financial donor to ProKids, Sandi has volunteered over 800 hours of her time to ProKids as a volunteer for the organization.
For 25 years, ProKids has been speaking up for a group of children few people know much about: children who have been abused or neglected so severely they have been removed from their families and placed in the child protection system. These children typically live in temporary foster homes. ProKids CASA volunteers establish a relationship with the child, investigate their living situation and challenge the system to provide for child’s best interests. Most important, CASAs work to help find a safe, permanent and nurturing home for every child. For more information about helping Cincinnati’s abused and neglected children, please call
281-2000 or visit www.prokids.org.