2009 National Program Award Winners

National Program Award Winners were recognized at the 2009 Conference in 3 areas of focus: Education, Leadership, and Action. There were three winners for each category.

LEADERSHIP

FIRST PLACE - West Virginia

Through West Virginia FCE’s Leadership/Mentoring Project, 19 youth had the opportunity to be a leader in a significant community event. The event brought recognition to NAFCE as a strong and effective educational organization. The children heard a presentation by Professor Media and received from Professor Media 2 each of NAFCE’s FCE Friends Storybooks for a total of 178 given out. Thanks to NAFCE’s FCL Mentoring Magic lesson, WVFCE is recognized as a key organization for the improvement of society in our area.

SECOND PLACE-Arizona

By setting goals and objectives, and putting the program to work, ten FCE members worked 654 volunteer hours to make the program a success. We didn’t reach our goals in numbers, but we made a huge impact in Arizona by reaching 545 preschool to 12th grade children and training 29 teachers. FCE members spent $1,295.00 for implementation of CHARACTER COUNTS!, Head Start programs, videos for schools, and materials for participants in workshops. Grant funds were received and monies were raised to help offset the costs. Arizona FCE gained new members, more visibility and much enthusiasm for continuing this project.

THIRD PLACE-Hawaii

In a rural community, Hilo FCE Council wanted to promote candidates networking with each other to encourage communication and collaboration that is essential to a small community. FCE’s forum strove to create an environment that provided candidates the same opportunities whether they were brand new or the incumbent. All FCE clubs worked closely together to put their leadership skills into action to organize, promote and conduct the event. The event provided a valuable opportunity for community leaders to learn about FCE as we learned about the candidates. The event was well received.

EDUCATION

FIRST PLACE-West Virginia

Ovarian Cancer, the disease that whispers, is now talking louder in Pleasants County and to area doctors. These women learned that listening to what their body is saying and “Asking” about ovarian cancer symptoms and risks can save their life! Through a $2,500 grant from Reaching Out… Raising Ovarian Cancer Awareness, West Virginia FCE spread the word that ovarian cancer symptoms can be recognized before they reach stage 3 or 4.

Through their efforts doctors in Pleasants and Wood counties know they need to talk to their patients about the risk factors and symptoms of ovarian cancer before they happen.

SECOND PLACE-Maryland

Maryland Association for Family and Community Education is very proud that we have been able to energize our 200+ members to make their homes greener, to drive more carefully, to recycle, and to encourage friends and family members to do the same. If the more than 200 citizens we have already reached and others we plan to reach continue to do their part, just imagine the positive impact this will have on our homes, communities and the global environment.

THIRD PLACE-Missouri

Twenty FCE members have been given the opportunity to become involved in a project that will impact generations. Leadership skills enabled Missouri FCE members to train 176 FCE members to continue the educational lessons to promote recycling.

The Recycling Committee’s efforts have encouraged the MAFCE to continue the involvement in furthering the educational benefits of recycling for the citizens of Missouri. Accessible locations for drop-off of recyclable materials have been provided, educational materials have been distributed, a Recycling Week was declared, an ad was developed for the local educational channel, and an educational DVD was developed to assist presenters in school.

ACTION

FIRST PLACE-West Virginia

West Virginia FCE wrote and received a $20,000 grant from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation. This action allowed 74 women aged 40-49 to qualify for free screening mammograms. The free clinics that were sponsored gave 252 free pap and pelvic exams and clinical breast exams. 1228 women were touched face to face by this program. The message of “Early Detection is the Best Protection” is now known in rural Appalachian Counties of West Virginia.

SECOND Place-Kansas

Our 1874 members are excited about helping students become more aware of the Pillars of Character. There were 155 members who took this contest to schools and found that the teachers and students were extremely interested and supportive of this program. Students are excited about learning and being respectful to other members of the class. Through the essays children to care about how they treat their classmates and how they want to be treated in return.

We feel this is a worthwhile project and will continue with this program and contest next year with a new pillar of character.

THIRD PLACE-Tennessee

FCE is striving to maintain momentum for this statewide children’s literacy program. FCE clubs are sponsors and partners with the Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation. McNairy County FCE clubs raised $12,845 for the McNairy County’s Imagination Library. McNairy County FCE used the Hearth Fire series #40 “Books the Other Channel” at Even Start, Pre K, Head Start and McNairy County Family Resource Center for parents to become better informed as to the justifications and implications of parents involvement in reading to their children.