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April 11th - Petoskey Michigan We can't wait to share a great day of learning with you! |
CAPE Conference 2025 Grant support details provided here:
Petoskey Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation $5,000.00 Support for this conference made possible through the Fund for the Community = $1,355 Ted and Brenda Frey Donor Advised Fund = $250 Fresh Baby Building Healthy Communities Fund = $1,000 Schulze-Stern Fund for Young People = $2,395
Charlevoix County Community Foundation $5000.00 This grant was made possible by the Boyne Mountain Fund for Youth, the Cliff and Beth Bye Fund for Youth, the Jack Laucher Fund for Youth, the Bob and Gay Pung Fund for Youth, the Towsley Fund for Youth, and the Tunison-Garlock Fund for Youth.
St. John's Episcopal Church of Harbor Springs $2500.00
Great Start Collaborative and Family Coalition of Charlevoix, Emmet and Northern Antrim $1500.00
We are grateful to these community partners for supporting this opportunity to enhance the lives of children and families in our region!
NOMINATE an individual or group for Recognition of CHAMPION FOR CHILDREN 2025!
Download Fillable Form, return via email.
2024 Honoree list:
Champion for Children Honorable Mention~ (not pictured) Trish Hartwick,
"Ms. Hartwick has been an unwavering supporter of the Home Sweet Home Campaign for years! She uses her talents to help find families the right home for them, and then donates a portion of her sales to help us do the community work to help foster homes where children are able to thrive in happy, healthy and safe environments. She does this quietly-likely unknown to those around her. She does this not for recognition, but purely to help children and families in our region"
Champion for Children Honorable Mention~ Erin Zucker
"I am honored to nominate Erin Zucker, from Boyne City Public Schools, for the prestigious CAPE Award, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the students, families, and community of Boyne City. Erin’s dedication to nurturing young talent through her love of the Arts is exemplary!
Erin's tireless yearly efforts include: putting on five Christmas programs, a kindergarten Oprea, a 4th grade play, the BCHS spring Musical, Boyne Meets Broadway, and Young American Summer Camps. These demonstrate her commitment to providing meaningful musical experiences for Boyne City’s students. Additionally she has chaperoned high school students during their spring break, to Broadway. She arranges for the young Americans to come to Boyne City to do workshops. She also offers voice lessons to students. These activities showcase her selfless nature and unwavering dedication to the growth and development of her “kids”.
One particular act of kindness that stands out to me is watching Erin provide free piano lessons to a child, from a military family with ADHD, during one of her prep periods each week one year. She saw he had an interest and a talent so she used this time to inspire and encourage him in a way no one else had done before. This exemplifies her compassionate and generous spirit, as well as her belief in the potential of every student she encounters.
Erin truly embodies the qualities of an exceptional educator and role model, making a significant impact on the lives of those around her. Her unwavering commitment to music education and dedication to her students make her a deserving candidate for the CAPE Award."
Champion for Children Honorable Mention~ Jill Haan
“Jill Haan is a quiet champion for the youngest children in our tri-county region through her work as Director of Early Childhood for Char-Em ISD. Her role is not just a job to Jill; it is her calling. Her laser focus on what is best for kids birth through age 5 in particular is unmatched. She partners with other entities in our communities to find solutions to issues such as the child care shortage and early education teacher shortages. She works so hard with her staff to support children with disabilities, encouraging every effort possible to help them and their families. Her staff loves her and respects her. Our administrative team likewise respects Jill's passion for our area's children. She is respected for her insights into best practices in the provision of early childhood services. Incidentally, her mom, Patricia A. Taylor, is the namesake of the Patricia A. Taylor School for Exceptional Learners in Petoskey, aka "Taylor School." Pat was also a champion for children, serving the ISD as Director of Special Education and Assistant Superintendent decades ago. She definitely passed on her passion and compassion to her daughter, Jill. Jill has truly given a voice to Early Childhood in our region and beyond by encouraging others to give her a seat at the table in important conversations about caring for our area's children. Thank you for considering Jill for this recognition! “
Champion for Children Award Recipient~ Becky Friske
Champion for Children Award Recipient~ Julie Jamison
The Mental Health Supervisory Team with the Health Department of NWMI (Samantha Johnstone, Rebecca Litzner, and Jill Towne-Patton) would like to nominate mental health professional, Julie Jamison, LMSW, for the 2024 Champion 4 Kids Community Celebration. Julie has worked as a therapist in our school-based program at Boyne Falls Public School over the last four years, and has taken great pride in her work.
Julie goes above and beyond to develop relationships with her students and staff through mental health related initiatives. Some of these activities include:
- Being an active member of the Boyne Falls Public School's Wellness Committee.
- Forming the 1st annual Boyne Falls Public School's Walk for Mental Health Awareness.
*Assisting to coordinate the Boyne Falls Public School's Community Expo.
*Developing a "Kindness Club" for Middle School students.
*In conjunction with grant funding from SAFE in NM, Julie assisted in developing a "Chill Lounge" at the school, where students can go to calm down and get back into a positive head space, ready for learning.
*In conjunction with school staff, Julie implemented and participated in their Peer-to Peer Bullying Awareness and Prevention Program at Boyne Falls Public Schools.
- Performing weekly announcements over the school's PA system, to increase mental health awareness and teach Mindfulness (Mindful Moments) skills.
- Creating daily school activities related to mental health during Mental Health Month (May).
- Implementing a Mindfulness and Social Emotional Health Library of resources for school staff members personal use and classroom use.
- Designing coping skills tool kits for each classroom at Boyne Falls Public Schools.
These are only a sampling of the good work that Julie provides to the youth and their families at Boyne Falls Public Schools on a daily basis. She is an asset to the school, to the Health Department, and to the community as a whole. Julie is a kind and giving person, that dedicates much of her time to the kids and families in our communities. We are proud to have her as a part of our team, and feel she is more than deserving of this award!
Champion for Children Organization Award Recipient~ Great Start Collation Family Collaborative
The Great Start Collaborative Family Coalition comprises parents, caregivers, and grandparents who volunteer their time to enhance our local early childhood system, making it easier to raise healthy and thriving children in our community.
The Family Coalition convenes monthly to discuss the successes of our local early childhood system, exchange ideas for improvement, and advocate for local initiatives aimed at enhancing opportunities for young families. Over the years, the Family Coalition has been instrumental in promoting the local Talking is Teaching campaign. Volunteers have dedicated time and effort to establish Talking is Teaching installations in laundromats, nature trails, and grocery stores, as well as assembling literacy kits for families and local libraries. These efforts aim to expand access to and awareness of the importance of daily communication, reading, and singing with children.
Additionally, the Family Coalition has played a pivotal role in supporting the FreeCycle Book Project, which redistributes gently used children's books at over 70 locations throughout the community, often distributing 20,000 or more books annually. More recently, the Coalition has initiated bi-monthly Family Adventures Days, inviting young families to enjoy free outdoor activities, storytime sessions, snacks, and connections. Furthermore, they have spearheaded sensory-friendly movie experiences, bringing together over 135 community members for family-friendly movie screenings tailored to their unique needs.
The Family Coalition serves as a steadfast guiding voice for the Great Start Collaborative, the body responsible for building our community's early childhood system. Their insights and expertise drive innovation and enhancements in local service delivery to ensure that all families can access the support they need to thrive.
Today, we commend their exceptional dedication to the community and their unwavering commitment to empowering fellow parents, caregivers, and children to reach their full potential.
Child Abuse Prevention And Education Council Of Antrim, Charlevoix and Emmet Counties is a 501c3 non-profit organization. P.O. Box 414, Petoskey, MI 49770 Phone: 231-675-5047 |
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