Meet the 2013 Leadership Honorees
These awards recognize leaders who have had a significant impact in improving outcomes for children and families and building Communities of Hope across America.
Select the photo below to read more about the year’s honorees.
Sleep Country USA and Sleep Train
For over 20 years, Sleep Country USA and Sleep Train have helped children and youth in foster care. Through its Foster Kids programs, drives to collect clothing, coats and shoes, school supplies, and toys have directly impacted the wellbeing of foster children. Donations raised through its websites and philanthropic annual events including Pajama Bowl and the Charity Golf Classic have benefited more than 40 organizations that serve children and families in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California. Robust communications campaigns, including advertisements, public relations, and easily accessible data about foster children and the foster care system on its websites raise awareness of the need to support these children and their families.
Open Society Foundations
Open Society Foundations has raised public awareness of issues facing children and youth in foster care. Open Society Foundations’ work has moved politicians to take action – such as passage of the 2008 Fostering Connections Act, which gives children more rights to stay in their same school and provides services and medical care to foster youth beyond the age of 18. Open Society Foundations has also made grants to build a facility for homeless foster youth in the Baltimore, Maryland, area, and to the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, which has a long history of supporting youth in foster care.
The Duke Endowment
The Duke Endowment has a long history of improving safety and the well-being of children and families. Duke Endowment programs such as Family Finding improve permanency and well-being outcomes for youth by connecting them to extended family. Another program, the Child-Centered Recruitment program, empowers hard-to-place youth and siblings in their own adoption process and has shown promising results to improve permanency. The Duke Endowment has made a robust effort to expand the use of the most efficient programs that work to strengthen families and keep children safely in their homes, thereby preventing the need for out-of-home foster care.
