First for Kids Awards
Connecticut Voices for Children recognizes state residents for their public leadership and effective advocacy on behalf of the state's children, youth and families at our “First for Kids Awards” ceremony.
2012 First for Kids Honorees
- Senator Martin Looney
- Merva Jackson (posthumously) and African Caribbean American Parents of Children with Disabilities (AFCAMP)
- Peter Arakas
- Barbara Edinberg
- Connecticut Mirror
Thank you to our sponsors for their support of this event.
Advanced Benefit Strategies
Chestnut Fine Foods & Confections
HUB International
Janis L. Neri, CPA/PFS
North Plains Computer Repair
START Bank
Suburban Stationers
Target
TM Byxbee Company, P.C.
Whittlesey & Hadley, P.C.
2011 First for Kids Honorees
- State Senator Beth Bye: Legislative Leadership Award
- Abby Anderson: Statewide Child Advocacy Award
- Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative: Transformational Philanthropy Award
- Sixto Cancel: Youth Leadership Award
2009 First for Kids Honorees
- Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro: Congressional Leadership Award
- Representative Chris Donovan: Legislative Leadership Award
- Nancy Meyer-Lustman: Connecticut Voices for Children Founders’ Award
- New England Alliance for Children’s Health: Transformational Policy Leadership Award
- WNPR’s “Where We Live”: Media Award
2008 First for Kids Honorees
- Attorney General Richard Blumenthal: State Policy Leader Award
- Jonathan Harris: Legislative Leadership Award
- Connecticut Health Foundation: Transformational Philanthropy Award
- Center for Youth Leadership: Community Leadership Award
- Walter S. Gilliam, Ph.D.: Priscilla Canny Research Award
- Shelley Geballe: Connecticut Voices for Children Founders’ Award
2006 First for Kids Honorees
- Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: Transformational Policy Leadership Award
- Sherbie Worthen: Community Advocacy Award
- John L. Pottenger, Jr.: Scholar Advocate Award
- Ellen Scalettar: Connecticut Voices for Children Founders’ Award
2005 First For Kids Honorees
- Senate President Pro Tempore Donald E. Williams, Jr.: Legislative Leadership Award
- Melville Charitable Trust: Transformational Philanthropy Award
- Michele Jacklin: Media Award
- Dr. Janice Gruendel: Connecticut Voices for Children Founders’ Award
- Dr. Roslyn Meyer: Albert J. Solnit Leadership Award
2004 First For Kids Honorees
- U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd: Albert J. Solnit Award
- State Representative Toni Walker: Legislative Leadership Award
- George Coleman, Associate Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Education: Public Service Award
- William Casper Graustein Memorial Fund: Transformational Philanthropy Award
- Courtney and Jane Bourns: Citizen Advocacy Award
- Judith Solomon, Senior Policy Fellow, Connecticut Voices for Children: Connecticut Voices For Children Founders' Award
2002 First For Kids Honorees
- Representative Christel Truglia: Albert J. Solnit Leadership Award
- Professor: Edward Zigler, Yale University: Lifetime Achievement Award
- Jeanne Milstein and the Office of the Child Advocate: Statewide Child Advocacy Award
- Ann Nyberg, Channel 8 News Anchor: Media Award
- Harry Orlick: Citizen Advocacy Award
- Dr. Eric Cooper, President, National Urban Alliance for Effective Education: Community Advocacy Award
- Alan MacKenzie, Director, Our Piece of the Pie: Youth Mentor Award
2001 First For Kids Honorees
- Senator Kevin B. Sullivan: Albert J. Solnit Leadership Award
- The Hartford Courant's Dave Altimari, Dwight Blint, Susan Campbell, Beth Hamilton, Andrew Julien, Kathy Megan, Daryl Perch, Colin Poitras, and Eric Weiss: Media Award
- Sheila Amdur: Citizen Advocacy Award
- Reverend Bonita Grubbs and Marilyn Ondrasik: Community Advocacy Awards
- Michael Duggan, Will MacAdams, and Richard Sugarman: Youth Mentor Awards
2000 First For Kids Honorees
- Lt. Governor M. Jodi Rell: Policy Leadership Award
- Senator Toni Harp: Albert J. Solnit Leadership Award
- Fernando Betancourt: Community Advocacy Award
- Eva Bunnell and Norma Schatz: Citizen Advocacy Awards
- Paula Armbruster, Anne Calabresi, Henry Fernandez, III, Matthew Klein, Roslyn Meyer, and Jerome Meyer, Founders of LEAP-Leadership, Education, and Athletics in Partnership, Inc.: Vision To Action Awards
- Priscilla "Penny" Canny: Connecticut Voices Founders' Award
1999 First For Kids Honorees
- A Special Tribute To Albert J. Solnit, MD
- Representative John Thompson: Albert J. Solnit Leadership Award
- Barbara Colley and Rev. Gary Smith, Camp Totokett: Volunteerism Award
- Marva and Willie Jones, Grandparents: Citizen Advocacy Award
- Stephen Winters, Connecticut Post: Media Award
A First for Kids Awards program was not held in 2003 or 2010.
