COLUMBUS, Ohio (Sept. 30, 2003) — World of Children, an
international children’s advocacy group, has named eight global
finalists for the 2003 World of Children Awards, the only international
Awards recognizing children’s advocates. The Awards comprise the
Kellogg’s Child Development Award, the Cardinal Health Children’s Care
Award and the Founder’s Award.
The Kellogg’s Child Development Award, a $100,000 award sponsored
by the Kellogg Corporate Citizenship Fund, the founding sponsor and
charitable arm of Kellogg Company, recognizes those who have made
extraordinary contributions to children by significantly improving their
opportunities to learn and grow. The finalists are:
Fani Lerner
Parana, Brazil
During her terms as the Secretary for Children Affairs in Curitiba and
Parana Brazil, Fani Lerner created 16 programs to assist millions of
needy children and adolescents. Her programs provided vocational
training, shelter, housing education and food for low-income, street,
orphaned abandoned and disabled children. She also developed PROVOPAR,
volunteers work program that served as a model throughout Brazil.
Claudia Gonzales Moreno
Murillo, Bolivia
Claudia
Gonzales Moreno began Alalay, a home for the street children of Bolivia,
when she was only 19. Each year through Alalay, nearly 12,000 children
work to overcome a history of violence and abuse. They receive education
and job training, and learn how to become contributing members of
society. Soon, Gonzales will travel to Brazil to serve 3 million
children living in Rio de Janeiro.
Jetsun Pema
Himachal Pradesh, India
Jetsun Pema has dedicated the last 40 years to the exiled children of
Tibet. As president of the Tibetan Children’s Villages, she has grown
the program from a bungalow housing 51 ill and malnourished children to
a widely acclaimed social services organization alleviating poverty,
providing shelter, improving living conditions and imparting educational
opportunities to nearly 21,000 Tibetan refugee children in need.
The Cardinal Health Children’s Care Award, a prestigious
$100,000 award sponsored by the Cardinal Health Foundation, the
charitable arm of leading health care products and services
provider, Cardinal Health, recognizes an individual who has made a
significant lifetime contribution to the health and well-being of
children. The finalists are:
Dr. Martin
Eichelberger
Washington, D.C., USA
To help prevent childhood injuries, founded the National SAFE KIDS
Campaign in 1988 and SAFE KIDS Worldwide in 2002. Through massive
education campaigns, policy efforts and funding, the organizations have
brought life-saving safety messages and community interventions to
hundreds of millions of children in 16 countries.
Dr.
Elizabeth Jones
California, USA
For 27 years, Dr. Elizabeth Jones has traveled to Tijuana, Mexico,
bringing the message of good nutrition and wellness to children, parents
and healthcare professionals. In addition, she co-founder the Hospital
Infantil de las Californias, the first full-service pediatric hospital
of the San Diego/Tijuana region, which is open to all children
regardless of their ability to pay. More than 17 million children have
benefited from her work.
Mehendra G. Mehta
Mumbai, India
Mehendra Mehta learned at a young age the values of helping the “poorest
of the poor.” He has raised money to help more than 20 million children
in India and throughout the world. His numerous educational, medical and
developmental intitiatives include the Food for Education and Saving
Program where street and slum children are fed everyday in return for
regularly attending schools.
The
Founder’s Award, a $15,000 scholarship, recognizes a young person
under age 21, who is making extraordinary contributions to other
children. The finalists are:
Ryan
Hreljac
Ontario, Canada
When he was just six-years-old, Ryan Hreljac learned about the poor
sanitation conditions prevalent in remote areas of Africa. He decided to
help alleviate the problem by building a well. After earning money
through different chores and fundraising, Ryan built his first well near
a primary school in Uganda. Today, over 70 wells have been constructed
through the Ryan’s Well Foundation. Over 100,000 people in seven African
countries have benefited from Ryan’s efforts.
Dayro Javier Reyes Acosta
Santander, Colombia
Dayro Javier Reyes Acosta turned down the opportunity to study law in
order to help the poorest of the poor. Currently, he is in charge of the
Asociacion Santandereana Pro Niños Retardados Mentales, an organization
devoted to increasing health care services and education opportunities
for Colombia’s mentally handicapped children and their families. Dayro’s
work has improved the quality of life for over 4,000 children.
The finalists were selected from
hundreds of global applicants. The World of Children’s International
Advisory Council, headed by Muhammad Ali, boxing legend and United
Nation’s Ambassador of Peace, chose the finalists. The 2003 Awards
will be presented to three finalists during a ceremony and celebration
on November 20 in Columbus, Ohio, home of the World of Children
Awards.
“The World of Children Awards are the equivalent of being nominated
for a Nobel Prize. They are the most respected awards for people who
have devoted their lives to helping children,” said David W. Lippy,
president, World of Children, Inc. “We are privileged to shine a light
throughout the world on their work.”
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About World of Children
World of Children, Inc. (www.WorldofChildren.org) is a for-impact
organization whose mission is to honor, illuminate and inspire action
on behalf of children by raising global awareness of the plight of
children and by recognizing and bringing together individuals who have
had a profound positive effect on the well-being of children. Since
1998, the World of Children Awards program has recognized 37 honorees
from 18 countries, awarding more than $800,000 that has been
reinvested in helping children. Annual awards include a $15,000
Founder’s Award, which honors youth serving other youth, and two
lifetime achievement awards: the $100,000 Kellogg’s Child Development
Award and the $100,000 Cardinal Health Children’s Care Award.
About Kellogg's Corporate Citizenship Fund (KCCF)
KCCF is the charitable arm of Kellogg Company, and the founding
sponsor of the World of Children Awards. With projected annual sales
of about $8 billion, Kellogg Company (www.kelloggs.com) is the world's
leading producer of cereal and a leading producer of convenience
foods. Brands include Kellogg's, Keebler, Pop-Tarts, Eggo, Cheez-It,
Nutri-Grain, Rice Krispies, Murray, Austin Morningstar Farms, Famous
Amos, Carr's Plantation, Ready Crust and Kashi.
About the Cardinal Health Foundation
Supported by the global resources of Cardinal Health (www.cardinal.com),
including more than 50,000 employees around the world, the Cardinal
Health Foundation is the focal point of the company’s community
relations efforts. The Foundation’s mission is to support employees’
charitable interests and to advance and fund programs that improve
access to and delivery of quality health care services in communities
where Cardinal Health operates. With annual revenues of more than $51
billion and operations in 22 countries across five continents,
Cardinal Health is the leading provider of products and services
supporting the health care industry.
For more information contact:
Marty Hatfield
Fahlgren Mortine Public Relations
E-mail: marty.hatfield@fahlgren.com
Phone: (614) 888-1391
David W. Lippy
President, World of Children
E-mail: dlippy@WorldofChildren.org
Phone: (614) 939-1533
