Hannah Neil 
World of Children Awards

By Sarah Grondin
Columbus Wired - Central Ohio's Premier Online Magazine
For more articles about the event, please click here

Dr. Sharadkumar Dicksheet, Brooklyn resident and four-time Nobel Peace Prize Nominee received the $100,000 Kellogg's Hannah Neil World of Children Award on Friday, December 7, 2001 during a ceremony held Friday night at the Aladdin Shriner’s Complex near Easton Towne Center before an estimated audience of 1,300 people. 

Three-time heavyweight boxing champion and Award Honorary Chair Muhammad Ali and Kellogg’s Chairman and CEO Carlos Gutierrez presented the international child advocate Award, following the World of Children ceremony. 
photo by Dave Weissman, Columbus Wired

The ceremony, which included dinner and entertainment, highlighted each of the honorees and their accomplishments in the arena of child advocacy. It was emceed for the third year in a row by CNN news anchor Leon Harris.

Emcee Leon Harris with the 
World of Children Choir.
photo by Dave Weissman, Columbus Wired

Musical entertainment was provided by the World of Children Choir, an ensemble of 300 local children from the Hannah Neil Center and many of Columbus’ elementary schools. They were accompanied with performances by children from the Columbus Dance Theatre. Indian hoop dancer world champion Jasmine Pickner gave an astoundingly unique performance, holding her audience captive while she spun and developed intricate shapes out of plain hoops to the beat of drums. 

Dr. Dicksheet's (left) reaction as the 
winner was announced.  
photo by Dave Weissman, Columbus Wired

Violinist Annabel Vardja of Estonia played a stirring melody, and the Ohio Contemporary Chinese School dancers put on a colorful show of Chinese culture.

A duet by vocalists Schuyler Johnson, 12, of WC Handy Community School and Jenna Handler, 14, of Dublin Scioto concluded the ceremony with beautiful harmony and an important message to listen to the children. 

Schuyler Johnson (left) and Jenna Handler.
photo by Dave Weissman, Columbus Wired

Offering a face of hope and strength, Muhammed Ali helped to present the award to Dr. Dicksheet at the end of the ceremony. When asked about the importance of becoming a champion for children, Ali, whose major focus is geared to serving the needs of children in developing nations, said; “To be able to give away richness is mandatory if you wish to posses them. This is the only way you will be truly rich.” 

Dr. Dicksheet has operated with relentless dedication since 1968, providing free corrective surgery to 57,000 of the poorest children in India.

Despite the challenges of having survived a partially paralyzing accident, terminal cancer of the larynx and two severe heart attacks, Dr. Dicksheet still boards a plane every fall to fulfill the mission he began back then: The India Project - Plastic Surgery Camp. 

Dicksheet said he will put the $100,000 into his India Project trust fund to provide medical drugs, equipment and supplies which will enable him to repair the faces of more children. There is no administrative overhead for the program, so every penny can be spent helping needy children. All of the physicians involved with the Plastic Surgery Camp, including Dicksheet, donate their time and pay their own travel and lodging expenses for the trip. 

Columbus Wired was also proud to be a part of the Awards as a Contributing Sponsor.