Each year, Connecticut Voices for Children recognizes state residents for their public leadership and effective advocacy on behalf of the state's children, youth and families at our Annual “First for Kids Awards” ceremony.
2009 First for Kids Honorees
Program Guide 
- Congressional Leadership Award: Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro
- Legislative Leadership Award: Representative Chris Donovan
- CT Voices for Children Founders’ Award: Nancy Meyer-Lustman
- Transformational Policy Leadership Award: New England Alliance for Children’s Health,
- Media Award: WNPR’s “Where We Live”
2008 First for Kids Honorees
Program Guide
- State Policy Leader Award: Attorney General Richard Blumenthal
- Legislative Leadership Award: Jonathan Harris
- Transformational Philanthropy Award: Connecticut Health Foundation
- Community Leadership Award: Center for Youth Leadership
- Priscilla Canny Research Award: Walter S. Gilliam, Ph.D.
- CT Voices for Children Founders’ Award: Shelley Geballe
2006 First for Kids Honorees
Program Guide
- Transformational Policy Leadership Award: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
- Community Advocacy Award: Sherbie Worthen
- Scholar Advocate Award: John L. Pottenger, Jr.
- Connecticut Voices for Children Founders’ Award: Ellen Scalettar
2005 First For Kids Honorees
Program Guide 
(3.3 MB)
- Introduction - Martha Carlson (CT Voices Board Chair) & Shelley Geballe
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- Senate President Pro Tempore Donald E. Williams, Jr., Legislative Leadership Award, presented by Ellen Scalettar
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- Melville Charitable Trust, Transformational Philanthropy Award, presented by Shelley Geballe
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- Michele Jacklin, Media Award, presented by Martha Carlson
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- Dr. Janice Gruendel, Connecticut Voices for Children Founders’ Award, presented by Shelley Geballe & Priscilla Canny
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- Dr. Roslyn Meyer, Albert J. Solnit Leadership Award, presented by Shelley Geballe
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2004 First For Kids Honorees
- Program Guide (1.3 MB)
- Video of the event:
- Part 1. Recipients: U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd, State Rep. Toni Walker, George Coleman, Graustein Memorial Fund
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- Part 2 -Recipients: Jane & Courtney Bourns, Judith Solomon
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Albert J. Solnit Award
U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd
Legislative Leadership Award
State Representative Toni Walker
Public Service Award
George Coleman, Associate Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Education
Transformational Philanthropy Award
William Casper Graustein Memorial Fund
Citizen Advocacy Award
Courtney and Jane Bourns
Connecticut Voices For Children Founders' Award
Judith Solomon, Senior Policy Fellow, CT Voices for Children
2002 First For Kids Honorees
Albert J. Solnit Leadership Award
Representative Christel Truglia
Lifetime Achievement Award: Professor
Edward Zigler, Yale University
Statewide Child Advocacy Award
Jeanne Milstein and the Office of the Child Advocate
Media Award
Ann Nyberg, Channel 8 News Anchor
Citizen Advocacy Award
Harry Orlick
Community Advocacy Award
Dr. Eric Cooper, President, National Urban Alliance for Effective Education
Youth Mentor Award
Alan MacKenzie, Director, Our Piece of the Pie
2001 First For Kids Honorees
Albert J. Solnit Leadership Award
Senator Kevin B. Sullivan
Media Award
The Hartford Courant's: Dave Altimari, Dwight Blint, Susan Campbell, Beth Hamilton, Andrew Julien, Kathy Megan, Daryl Perch, Colin Poitras, and Eric Weiss
Citizen Advocacy Award
Sheila Amdur
Community Advocacy Awards
Reverend Bonita Grubbs and Marilyn Ondrasik
Youth Mentor Awards
Michael Duggan, Will MacAdams, and Richard Sugarman
2000 First For Kids Honorees
Policy Leadership Award
Lt. Governor M. Jodi Rell
Albert J. Solnit Leadership Award
Senator Toni Harp
Community Advocacy Award
Fernando Betancourt
Citizen Advocacy Awards
Eva Bunnell and Norma Schatz
Vision To Action Awards
Paula Armbruster, Anne Calabresi, Henry Fernandez, III, Matthew Klein, Roslyn Meyer, and Jerome Meyer,
Founders of LEAP-Leadership, Education, and Athletics in Partnership, Inc.
CT Voices Founders' Award
Priscilla "Penny" Canny
1999 First For Kids Honorees
A Special Tribute To
Albert J. Solnit, MD
Albert J. Solnit Leadership Award
Representative John Thompson
Volunteerism Award
Barbara Colley and Rev. Gary Smith, Camp Totokett
Citizen Advocacy Award
Marva and Willie Jones, Grandparents
Media Award
Stephen Winters, Connecticut Post
A First for Kids Awards program was not held in 2003.
