The Weller Health Education Center has selected the winners for its sixth annual Outstanding Friend to Kids Awards ceremony. The prestigious awards are given to individuals and organizations that have gone above and beyond in the community to make a significant and positive impact on the health and well-being of children in the greater Lehigh Valley and beyond.
Melissa Lee, CEO and President of the Weller Health Education Center commented, “Never before did our selection committee receive such an overwhelming response of applications for these awards.”
This year’s honorees and winners are:
Karen E. Senft, MD., a Developmental Pediatrician at Good Shepherd, is the recipient of the Outstanding Children’s Advocate Award, and also serves on the consulting staff of Lehigh Valley Hospital and at St. Luke’s Hospital. Karen speaks publicly on behalf of many local organizations and continually exceeds the needs of the children and families with whom she works.
Beth DeLay, Physical Education Supervisor of the Pocono Mountain School District is the recipient of the Outstanding Health Educator Award. She is nominated by the Weller Health Education Center’s educators for her commitment to and leadership in preventive health education.
The Miracle League of the Lehigh Valley is the recipient of the Outstanding Community Organization Award. Founded in 2006, The Miracle League of the Lehigh Valley, located in North Whitehall Township, designed a baseball field to accommodate children with special needs.
Zachary Kraus of Schnecksville, PA is the recipient of the Outstanding Young Achiever Award and was nominated by the Dream Come True organization. This fourteen-year -old was diagnosed with leukemia in 2000 and began an aggressive treatment regiment to combat the cancer. Following his own hospital experience he went door- to- door and raised money to purchase play station video game machines for other children undergoing such intensive hospital stays. Despite relapsing and suffering from new illnesses, Zachary still manages to think of others first.
Event Details
The 6th Outstanding Friend to Kids Award’s Ceremony and Breakfast will be held on Friday, October 10th at 8:00 a.m. at the Best Western Conference Center on Routes 22 and 512 in Bethlehem, PA. New this year is a Chinese Auction with over $5,000 worth of merchandise. The Chinese Auction will feature a vacation at a Delaware beach house for one week, gift certificates to dine out at area restaurants, a signed, a Martin Guitar, jewelry, art collectibles and sporting memorabilia. Auction tickets are priced at one for $10, 2 for $20, and 3 for $25. Also available are 10 tickets for $50 or 20 tickets for $100.
Wendy Davis, co-anchor of WFMZ-TV 69, will act as the mistress of ceremonies for the morning’s presentations.
Individual event tickets cost $50.00.
Major sponsors include:
• Marlene and Beall Fowler as the Premier Sponsor
• Just Born as the Kids Health Advocate Sponsor
• The Morning Call and The Express-Times as the Outstanding Friend to Kids Sponsor
• Crayola, KNBT, Div. of National Penn Bank and Warren Hospital as the Friends to Healthy Kids Sponsors
• WFMZ-TV 69 as the main media sponsor
For more information on sponsorships, program book advertising or auction tickets, please contact Susan J. Kern in Weller’s Development office at 610-258-8500, ext. 18 or email her at skern@wellercenter.org.
All proceeds for this event support the Weller Health Education Center’s 28 preventive school health programs presented to children in grades preK-12th in schools throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.