Youth Leadership Award
For: Leaders whose work reflects the importance of cultural understanding and education in improving peoples’ lives.
By: Academy for Educational Development.
Winners include: Judy Estrada, a University of Denver student and peer educator at Mi Casa Resource Center for Women, for her work with Hispanic youth to reduce teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV, and to increase college enrollment and retention.
Contact: (202) 884-8000, http://www.aed.org.
Virginia McKnight Binger Awards in Human Service
For: “Unsung heroes, who go out of their way to help others without expecting anything in return.” Winners, all of whom are from Minnesota, receive $7,500 each.
By: The McKnight Foundation.
Winners include: Susan Baxter, a volunteer at Camp Heartland, a camp for HIV/AIDS-infected children; Kristine Reiter, director of a reading and sports-intensive after-school program at two St. Paul housing projects; V.J. Smith, founder of MAD DADS, a street outreach group for troubled youth in Minneapolis; and Sang Vu, founder of Asian-Pacific Professionals Society of Minnesota, a mentoring group for young aspiring professionals.
Contact: (612) 333-4220, http://www.mcknight.org.
Achievement Against the Odds Awards
For: Recognizing “seven partnerships of ‘pharaohs’ – individuals with resources – and ‘Josephs’ – effective faith-based and community organizations – that exemplify the triumph of the human spirit.”
By: National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise.
Winners include: Michael Joyce, president of the Foundation for Community and Faith-Centered Enterprises of Greater Milwaukee; Barry Meguiar, CEO of Meguiar’s Inc. and founder of the Teen Challenge substance abuse ministry in California; John and Susan Sykes, donors to the Corporation to Develop the Communities of Tampa; and George Kettle, who purchased a Washington, D.C., row house for the Mother Dear’s Community Center.
Contact: (202) 518-6500, http://www.ncne.com.
Honorary American FFA Degree Award
For: Outstanding contributions to Agricultural Education.
By: Future Farmers of America.
Winner: Barb Lee, director of the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety in Marshfield, Wis.
Contact: (317) 802-6060, http://www.ffa.org.
Coming Up Taller Award
For: Outstanding cultural work with at-risk youth. Ten groups receive $10,000 each.
By: President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities.
Winners Include: Educational Video Center in New York City for a youth documentary workshop; the Inner City Arts After School program in Los Angeles; the James E. Biggs Early Education Center in Covington, Ky.; and the Tohono O’odham Community Action group for their arts and cultural preservation initiative on the tribe’s land outside of Tuscon, Ariz.
Contact: (202) 682-5409, http://www.cominguptaller.org.
