Champions for Children Benefit Luncheon
The Champions for Children Recognition Luncheon is a fundraiser for 4Cs, with proceeds benefiting thousands of low-income families in Sonoma County in need of quality child care and preschool programs. Quality early education is not only important to the development of the children we serve, but also allows parents and caretakers to continue to work or attain vocational education. With child care subsidies, families are able to get back on their feet and save towards a future life and home in Sonoma County.
The purpose of Champions for Children is to celebrate and recognize the award recipients, who tell their stories through a video presentation. Champions are selected from public nominations by an independent Selection Committee, made up of local business and community leaders.
The Champions for Children award recipients will express the values and principles of the 5 protective factors for families: Parental Resilience, Positive Social Connections, Concrete Support in Times of Need, Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development, and Social and Emotional Competence of Children.
Our hope is that attendees will leave the Champions for Children Recognition luncheon feeling inspired to act on the mission of 4Cs: to provide access to quality child care and early education in Sonoma County through advocacy, direct service, and empowerment.
This year’s categories are:
• Inspired Start- 0-5 Early Care and Education
Increasing success through quality early care and education for children 0-5.
• Inspiring Education-K-12 Education
Developing educated children from Kindergarten through High School.
• Strong Families-Public Service / Agency / Individuals
Engaging the whole family to support children.
• Healthy Communities-Health, Medical, and Wellness
Impacting the health, nutrition, and wellness of children and their families.
• Safe Surroundings-Business / Foundation
Providing investments and contributions to the children of our community.
• Positive Social Connections-Peer Leadership / Young Professional
Engaging peers in a positive way and leading by example. Nominees must be under 35.
Nominations close September 20, 2023
Champions for Children Nomination Form
Tell us why the individual, school, agency, program, elected official, public employee or service group you nominate deserves to be honored. Be sure to include any news articles, personal stories or additional contacts to support your nomination. Award selections are based on the materials you submit, so please include as much detailed information as possible.
Date
November 3, 2023
11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Location
3330 Yulupa Ave
Santa Rosa, CA 95405
Celebrate all of our Past Champions
2011
Mary Jill Hachmyer – 0-5 Early Care & Education
Lisa DeCarbo – K-12 Education
Pedro Toledo – Health & Medical
Mike Hauser Algebra Academy: A Program of the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce – Business
Ana Lopez – Youth Leadership Arts Council of Sonoma County – Creative Arts
Vesta Copestakes – Media
Carol Simmons – Public Service
Vince Harper – School-age Programs
Active 20-30 Club of Santa Rosa #50 – Service Groups
2012
Olga King – 0-5 Early Care & Education
Barbara Fisher – K-12 Education
ArtQuest – Creative Arts
Jennie Tasheff – Health & Medical
Gioia Hershey – Business
Matthew Hall – Media Greg Begin – Public Service
Deb Holmes – School-age Programs
Gricelda Corre – Youth Leadership
Active 20-30 Club of the Redwood Empire #1029 – Service Groups
2013
Joel Gordon – 0-5 Early Care & Education
Carol Waxman – K-12 Education
Evelyn Cheatham – Business
Tom Gaffey-Creative Arts
Carol Caldwell-Weart-Health & Medical
David Cox-Media Bob Florez-Public Service
Collette Michaud-School-age Programs
Maria Lopez-Youth Leadership Junior League of Napa-Sonoma-Service Groups
2014
Michele Rogers- 0-5 Early Care & Education
Fred Vedder- K-12 Education
Transcendence Theatre Company- Creative Arts
Meredith Kieschnick- Health & Medical
Bob Reynolds- Business
Mary Ann Fitzmaurice-Public Service
Kari Poulsen-School-age Programs
Ian Rich – Peer Leadership
Sonoma Wine Country Weekend-Innovation
Mary Ann Waterhouse- Honorable Mention
2015
Lisa DeCarbo- 0-5 Early Care & Education
Bob Florez- K-12 Education
Fred Vedder- Public Service
Dr. Heather Anderson- Health & Medical
Keysight Technologies- Business
Fatima Aguilar- Peer Leadership
Mentor Me- School-age Programs
The Imaginists- Creative Arts
2016
Lia Thompson-Clark – 0-5 Early Care & Education
Nancy Ricciardi – K-12 Education
Cheryl Parkinson – Public Service
Ramona Faith – Health/Medical
Lisa Wittke-Schaffner – Business/Foundation
Itzel Martinez – Peer Leadership
Glen Weaver – Community Engagement
2017
Julie MacDonald – 0-5 Early Care & Education
LeeAnne Lichnovsky – K-12 Education
Chops Teen Club – Public Service
Viveka Rydell-Anderson – Health/Medical
Crozat Family Foundation – Business/Foundation
Allyson Ahlstron – Peer Leadership
Heather Irwin – Sonoma Strong
2018
Nancy Alcott – 0-5 Early Care and Education
Letitia Hanke – K-12 Education
Grace Harris – Public Service
St. Joseph Health – Health/Medical
Kate Jonasse – Business Foundation
Wayne Ingraham – Peer Leadership
Debra Sanders – Sonoma Strong
2019
Pat Boblitt – Inspired Start
Mariana Garcia Martinez – Inspiring Education
Ariel Kelley – Strong Families
Dr. Deirdre Bernard – Healthy Communities
Don Mills – Safe Surroundings
Clint St. Martin – Positive Social Connections
2021
Kathy Kelley – Inspired Start – 0 to 5 Early Care and Education
Larkin O’Leary – Inspiring Education – K through 12 Education
Yensi Jacobo- Strong Families – Public Service/Agency/Individuals
Dr. Brian Prystowsky – Healthy Communities: Health, Medical, and Wellness
Susy Marrón – Safe Surroundings- Business/Foundation
Mary Schirle – Positive Social Connections- Peer Leadership/Young Professional
Stephen Jackson – Lifetime Impact Award
2022
Jynx Lopez – Inspired Start – 0 to 5 Early Care and Education
Maria Orozco – K through 12 Education
Amanda Kitchens – Strong Families – Public Service/Agency/Individuals
Urmila Shende – Healthy Communities – Health, Medical, and Wellness
Jesus Guzman – Safe Surroundings – Business/Foundation
Jennifer Ingels – Positive Social Connections – Peer Leadership/Young Professional
About Us
4Cs provides access to quality child care and early education in Sonoma County through advocacy, direct service and empowerment.
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