Program Spotlight
The Children’s Trust Salutes the Champions – in Haiti and at HomePublished Monday, November 22, 2010
At least for an afternoon, Haiti – reduced to rubble in the earthquake disaster nearly a year ago – was pieced together again in a spectacular celebration of the country’s art, courage, character and cuisine.
With Haiti as the 2010 theme, The Children’s Trust Champions for Children Awards Ceremony, held in Jungle Island’s Treetop Ballroom, again served to honor a stellar group of individuals and organizations who have given so much for so long to benefit the children and families in our community.
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2010 Champions (left to right): Daryl Miller, Dr. Lori Hanson, Jean Caceres-Gónzalez, Sister Lucia Ceccotti,
Ruth Wiesen, Shellie Solomon, Sen. Rudy Garcia and Dr. Lynn Katz.
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Sister Lucia Ceccotti and Jean Caceres González were both honored with the 2010 David Lawrence Jr. Champion for Children Award for their “lifetime of achievement and dedication to children.” Ceccotti, who came to Miami from Italy as a young nun, founded and maintained the Marian Center School and Services to support children and adults with a range of special needs. At 90 – and 47 years later – Sister Ceccotti remains active as the school’s executive director. Caceres Gónzalez followed her dream to open a school for abused and neglected children some 20 years ago and founded His House, a residential safe haven for abused children. The agency, which added an international component in 2008 to help Haitian refugees, has loved thousands of children to a new start in life.
As part of the ceremony, Excellence Awards were presented to: the Thomas Armour Youth Ballet for Youth Programming for School and Life Success; Sen. Rudy Garcia for Public Policy; Children of Inmates Service Partnership for Health, Family or Community Services; Daryl Miller, Direct Service for Children and Families; and the UM Linda Ray Intervention Center Project “Hand N’Hand” for School Readiness Programming. Dr. Lori Hanson was honored as The Children’s Trust “Employee of the Year.”
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Haitian artist John Charles' event poster depicted a brighter
future for Haiti and its children.
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With the ballroom arrayed in a sea of green, teal and orange and with a backdrop of featured artist John Charles’ heart-lifting depiction of Haitian children at play, Empress Addi took the stage and opened the celebration with a selection of Haitian music. “Today is not about sadness, but instead about making conscious to the world that Haiti is still suffering,” Addi told the crowd of more than 800 who filled the ballroom.
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Haitian musicians Romel and Victoria Joseph.
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Children’s Trust Board member Josee Gregoire introduced violinists Romel and Victoria Joseph. Romel, who is blind, lost his pregnant wife and music school in the earthquake devastation. The musician himself was pinned under the rubble for 18 hours and kept his hope alive by reciting concertos of music. He and his daughter played a tribute to the redemptive power of music. Romel, a Juilliard graduate, is rebuilding his New Victorian School in Haiti and hopes to begin teaching there again soon.
“This time, Romel Joseph’s performing arts school is being designed to be bigger and grander than ever as proof that it takes more than fires and earthquakes to destroy the eternal power of music or the spirit of this driven individual,” Gregoire said.
Other entertainment included a Haitian folkloric dance performed by students from North Miami Middle School and a moving, energetic piece danced by Thomas Armous Youth Ballet students enrolled at the New World School of the Arts. The lunch menu was inspired by the Haitian restaurant Tap Tap.
Sen. Rudy Garcia was recognized for his 26 years of service in the Florida Legislature and his record of support for children and families.
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North Miami Middle School dancers perform a Haitian
folkloric dance.
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“It’s really a tribute to culminate a career to be in a room of people who get it, who really care,” said Garcia, who lamented the “bickering of politics” that blocks so much needed legislation that could benefit children and families.
Board Chair Maria Alonso, President and CEO Modesto A. Abety and Founding Chair David Lawrence Jr. took turns presenting awards to winners.
“I know all of you will leave here for the weekend feeling reenergized by all the amazing people and organizations we’ve honored and by their inspirational stories,” Abety said.
Nydia Luego and Alex Hueso attended their first Champions event. Both are employees of Parent to Parent of Miami, which provides services for children with special needs and was one of the many organizations that attended the luncheon ceremony as a group.
“I got to see why we work so hard – there are so many worthwhile champions in the community,” said Luego, a receptionist.
Alex Hueso, education support specialist and a mother of a child with special needs, said hearing the stories of the champions inspired her to want to advance some of her own ideas.
“There are several projects and programs that I’ve been toying with. I got to see here today that these ideas can really become a reality – I’m ready to move them forward,” Hueso said.
To support Romel Joseph’s New Victorian School, visit: http://www.thenewvictorianschool.org/
Written by Michael R. Malone |
