Back to Champions for Children awards programs overview

Marty Clark is a working father of a child with special needs. He has learned to navigate both the educational and health systems so that his child receives whatever is needed. In this process, he has become a powerful parent advocate. He is an active member of both the Male Caregivers Advocacy and Support (MCAS) Group and the Parent Advocate Leaders Support (PALS) Group. He has assumed leadership roles within the two support groups and has become a positive representative to the community on their behalf.

His generosity and commitment goes beyond his participation in these support groups. Having learned to navigate the systems of care that many of the group members are faced with, Marty will attend school hearings and Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings with parents/caregivers to advocate on their behalf and to show them what they need to learn to do for their children. Through his efforts, parents are empowered to take on these responsibilities and become better advocates for their children.

Bruce Frishman is the President of New Hampshire Pharmacy and has been a provider of durable medical equipment and supplies for many years. His commitment to serving children with special needs and their families goes beyond providing good customer service. On a personal level, he takes an active role in educating himself and others on the needs of this population. He continues to serve on HSCSN’s Community Services Advisory Council and has participated in various focus groups, all on his own personal time. During off business hours and inclement weather conditions, Bruce has been known to personally make deliveries so that those who needed medical equipment and supplies would have them when they needed them most.

Special Olympics DC has provided sports training for children and adults with intellectual disabilities for over 36 years. Through athletic competition, Special Olympics DC helps athletes, young and old, to improve their confidence and self-esteem and allows them to demonstrate courage while experiencing the joy of sports. Without Special Olympics DC, these opportunities would not be available. Because of their efforts, there are now more than 2,000 Special Olympics athletes in the District of Columbia. They offer a variety of sporting programs throughout the year, which culminate at the Summer Games. Amazingly, they do all of this with a very small, but committed staff, lots of volunteers, and limited funding. However, they always manage to provide their services with a smile and a commitment to excellence.

Katina Flournoy is an Education Specialist at The HSC Pediatric Center. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her job, but she doesn’t limit herself just to her job. Her colleagues often turn to her for advice and she is always willing to assist. Most recently, Katina has been instrumental in helping our parent support and advocacy groups develop their children’s programs. She is always willing to volunteer her time to work with child care providers of these groups and is a reliable resource for children’s educational activities. She has taken it upon herself to learn about these support and advocacy groups so that she could make sound recommendations on how to develop the children’s programs appropriate to the needs of the groups.