The annual Service to Children Awards were held on Tuesday, May 8 at the Courtyard Marriott in downtown Grand Rapids. Many gathered to celebrate the wonderful recipients and all the work they have done in our community to help children and families thrive.
At the awards, an announcement was made for a new award category. This category is going to be selected by… you! We’re tapping members of the community to find out which type of award we should be giving. Nominate a category here, and come back to vote on the categories in June.
Thank you to Grand Rapids Public Schools interim superintendent Teresa Weatherall Neal for serving as our emcee, and to the North American Choral Company for their fantastic performance!
For a list of past Service to Children Awards recipients, click here.
Norman Ginebaugh Volunteer at Kids’ Food Basket, St. John’s Home, United Church Outreach, North End Community Ministries and numerous other organizations Booker T. Washington Volunteer Award Norm Ginebaugh began volunteering full time after his retirement in 1991. Currently, he volunteers between 180-200 hours a month to help the most food-insecure members of our community. Twenty two organizations have received assistance from Norm over the past 20 years.
Dr. Nkechy Ezeh Tenured Associate Professor of Education at Aquinas College, Facilitator and Education consultant at W.K. Kellogg Foundation Christine Nelson Professional Award Dr. Ezeh was the passion behind the Early Learning Neighborhood Collaborative, promoting accessible, affordable early child development programs in the poorest neighborhoods.
Strong Beginnings Community Group Professional Award Strong Beginnings provides outreach, education and mental health counseling for 500 families per year. They are made of a collaborative of 30 community organizations focused on the health care and health education for African American mothers and their babies.
The late Jackie Klinesteker Principal Investigator at Network 180 Lifetime Child Advocate Award Jackie Klinesteker was instrumental in the development and implementation of a coordinated system of care to meet the needs of children and families in the community through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
24th Annual Service to Children Awards
