First for Kids Awards

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.

2005 First For Kids Honorees

[1] Program Guide (3.3 MB)

• Introduction - Martha Carlson (CT Voices Board Chair) & Shelley Geballe
         [2] DSL/Cable or [3] Dial-up (Windows Media)
  
• Senate President Pro Tempore Donald E. Williams, Jr., Legislative Leadership Award, presented by Ellen Scalettar
         [4] DSL/Cable or [5] Dial-up (Windows Media)
  
• Melville Charitable Trust, Transformational Philanthropy Award, presented by Shelley Geballe
         [6] DSL/Cable or [7] Dial-up (Windows Media)
  
• Michele Jacklin, Media Award, presented by Martha Carlson
         [8] DSL/Cable or [9] Dial-up (Windows Media)
  
• Dr. Janice Gruendel, Connecticut Voices for Children Founders’ Award, presented by Shelley Geballe & Priscilla Canny
         [10] DSL/Cable or [11] Dial-up (Windows Media)
  
• Dr. Roslyn Meyer, Albert J. Solnit Leadership Award, presented by Shelley Geballe
         [12] DSL/Cable or [13] Dial-up (Windows Media)

2004 First For Kids Honorees

• [14] 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
    [15] DSL/Cable or [16] Dial-up (Windows Media)
  • Part 2 -Recipients: Jane & Courtney Bourns, Judith Solomon
     [17] DSL/Cable or [18] Dial-up (Windows Media)
    

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

• [19] Program Guide  (453K)

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

• [20] Program Guide    (4.8 MB)

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

• [21] Program Guide    (198K)

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.