October 6, 2006

Outstanding Friend to Kids HONORED AT WELLER CENTER'S FOURTH ANNUAL AWARDS BREAKFAST

On October 6, the Weller Health Education Center held its fourth annual Outstanding Friend to Kids award ceremony. Four awards were presented to individuals or organizations that have made a significant impact on the children in the greater Lehigh Valley. Over 320 community and corporate leaders were in attendance.

A.J. the Robot, the Weller Center's well-known motorized "health educator," presented a special award to the center's outgoing board president, John Hayes.

This year's honorees were the Weinstein Family, PBS Channel 39, Marlene "Linny" Fowler and Mary Ellen Griffin.

The Weinstein Family (Harris, Debora, David, Mary Beth) received the award for Community Service--Individual for their founding of the Northeastern PA chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Harris and Debora lost their son Brett to cystic fibrosis. Since founding the chapter in 1985, the Weinstein Family has donated time, talent and treasure to every need of the organization. They have helped to raise millions of dollars for the foundation which funds ongoing research to improve the length and quality of life for victims of cystic fibrosis and to find a cure for this disease that affects children.

PBS Channel 39 received the award for Community Service--Organization because for over 35 years, children's education has been at the heart of WLVT's activities. Best known has been the high quality programming for preschool children that airs for nine hours each day. Since its inception, the station has provided six hours of instructional programming daily for K-12 classrooms and in 2001, the Digital Learning Center began providing 24-hour-a-day educational programming. The station is planning the premiere of Welcome to the USA, a series to teach English to Spanish-speaking residents and help them acclimate to the region.

For her lifetime commitment to kids and her unparalleled philanthropic work with children's organizations, Marlene "Linny" Fowler was awarded the Outstanding Friend to Kids Philanthropy award. Linny has aided and enriched the lives of countless children and will have a profound impact on the Valley for many generations to come. Since 1967, Linny has supported numerous organizations in our region that benefit low-income, at-risk children. Her name has been synonymous with giving, service and advocacy for children throughout our region.

Mary Ellen Griffin received the Child Advocate award. As founder and director of The Caring Place in Allentown, Mary Ellen has dedicated her life to helping inner city children attain their maximum potential. With very limited resources, The Caring Place has become a haven for children up to age 18 that provides a safe after school environment where kids get academic help, healthcare and mentoring. Since it was founded in 1996, thousands of kids have benefited from programs and services provided at The Caring Place.

The 2006 Outstanding Friend to Kids Awards took place on Friday, October 6^th from 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn & Conference Center in Fogelsville. The Outstanding Friend to Kids award program was presented by Fowler-Pena Creations, sponsored in part by Air Products and Chemicals, the Holiday Inn & Conference Center of Fogelsville, Lehigh Valley Hospital & Health Network, Sodexho (through their partnership with Lafayette College), The Express-Times and the Morning Call. The award sponsor was Binney & Smith. All proceeds from the event will benefit the development and delivery of the Weller Center's preventative health education programs and services.