EveryChild Selects Champions for Every Child Award Recipients

Moline, Illinois—EveryChild, the nonprofit formerly known as the Child Abuse Council, is proud to announce this year’s recipients of the Champions for Every Child Award. This year, two awards will be given – one to an individual and one to organization to celebrate the community leaders who dedicate their time and talents to ensuring a safe, healthy childhood for all.

“We received a lot of wonderful, deserving nominations from the community. Our hope is to shine a light on the people and organizations who work every day to help future generations thrive,” said Mark Mathews, EveryChild’s Executive Director. “Childhood well-being is a community issue, and it’s our honor to lift up the positive work being done to support area youth with the Champions for Every Child recognition.”

After careful consideration of many qualified and deserving nominees who represent the mission, vision, and values of EveryChild, the selection panel selected the following community members as this year’s recipients of the Champions for Every Child Awards:

Community Business or Organization: Rock Island County Guardian ad Litem

The Guardian ad Litem serves children that have been removed from their home, due to abuse or neglect, and advocates for the best interest of all of the children they represent in the juvenile justice system. The Guardian ad Litem helps foster families and children better understand their rights and feel comfortable within the court system because she knows that we cannot do better unless we know better. The current Rock Island County Guardian ad Litem is Karri Belvel.

Individual: Dianna Saelens, Regional Council Manager – Birth to 5 Region 28

Over the course of her career, Dianna has worked in many areas of early childhood education to help educate and inspire not only the children in her classrooms, but the parents and staff she works with. Dianna’s focus is always on building community to ensure children have what they need to succeed not only in preschool, but in the years beyond.

Recipients of this year’s Champions for Every Child recognition will be honored at the organization’s Celebrate Every Child gala on Thursday, April 27, at the Quad Cities Waterfront Convention Center in Bettendorf.

EveryChild Selects Champions for Every Child Award Recipients

Sean Leary

Sean Leary is an author, director, artist, musician, producer and entrepreneur who has been writing professionally since debuting at age 11 in the pages of the Comics Buyers Guide. An honors graduate of the University of Southern California masters program, he has written over 50 books including the best-sellers The Arimathean, Every Number is Lucky to Someone and We Are All Characters.

See More Articles From Sean Leary

EveryChild, the nonprofit formerly known as the Child Abuse Council, is proud to announce this year’s recipients of the Champions for Every Child Award. This year, three awards will be given—one to an individual, one to a business or organization, and one to a young adult 18 or under to celebrate the community leaders who dedicate their time and talents to ensuring a safe, healthy childhood for all.

Recipients of this year’s Champions for Every Child recognition will be honored at the organization’s Celebrate Every Child gala on Thursday, April 28, at the Quad Cities Waterfront Convention Center in Bettendorf.

“We received a lot of wonderful, deserving nominations from the community,” said Mark Mathews, EveryChild’s executive director. “Our hope is to shine a light on the people and organizations who work every day to help future generations thrive. Childhood well-being is a community issue, and it’s our honor to lift up the positive work being done to support area youth with the Champions for Every Child recognition.”

After careful consideration of many qualified and inspiring nominees who represent the mission, vision, and values of EveryChild, the selection panel—made up of two staff members, two board members, and two previous award winners—chose the following community members to receive this year’s Champions for Every Child Awards:

Community Business or Organization: Forbidden Dragons Motorcycle Club

Through their fundraising and education efforts, the Forbidden Dragons Motorcycle Club demonstrates what it means to work as a community to protect kids. The club’s annual and ongoing efforts to raise money and awareness for local child abuse prevention efforts goes a long way toward creating healthy, safe childhoods for all children.

Individual: Ann Schwickerath, Director of Project Renewal

Ann Schwickerath personifies the idea that it takes a community to raise a child. Through her personal and professional efforts as the leader of Project Renewal in Davenport, Ann has created a space where children and their families feel safe and supported.

Young Adult: Corynn Holmes

Corynn is a wonderful example of student leadership. The president of Moline High School’s Minority Leaders of Tomorrow, she leads with grace and confidence, and her efforts to lift up others and bring awareness to community issues will help not only current students but also future students for generations to come. She confidently stands up for what she believes in and is an excellent role model, always willing to help fellow students and community members.

Tickets for the Celebrate Every Child Gala are still available. To purchase your ticket, please visit www.foreverychild.org/gala or call EveryChild at 309-736-7170.