The Child Care Council of Cornell Cooperative Extension Identifies Award Recipients from Herkimer, Madison and Oneida Counties
(Whitesboro, NY ? June 2011) The Child Care Council of Cooperative Extension, a member of the Early Care and Learning Council (ECLC) recently named the 2011 award recipients at its annual Early Childhood Recognition Awards Dinner held on June 7 at Harts Hill Inn in Whitesboro.
The Friends of Children award recognizes child care professionals in all modalities of NYS regulated child care programs, as well as community members, community agencies, family friendly employers and youth who provide or support outstanding services and dedication to children.
?This is an important event because it is the only venue in the area that specifically recognizes the field of early childhood education, those caring for and about children under the age of 12 years,? stated Lorraine Kinney-Kitchen, Child Care Council program director. ?This year?s awards honored people from all across the spectrum, including a special education teacher, health agency Director, bus driver, family child care providers and child care center staff, a family-friendly employer and a longtime, dear friend of children who recently passed away. ?
Throughout the year, the Child Care Council accepts nominations at their website www.mycccc.org or through the mail from those in the community that want to recognize the efforts of people who dedicate themselves to giving our youngest citizens the best possible start in life. This year, they received 48 nominations and honored 18.
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The 2011 award recipients are as follows:
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- Kristen DiGiorgio, family child care provider, Yorkville
- Melissa Engelhart, teacher, Neighborhood Center, Utica
- Christine Garneau, teacher, Madison ?Cortland ARC, Oneida
- Erica Gavett, director, Leonardsville ABCD Child Care
- Heidi Griffith, teacher, Clinton Early Learning? Center, Hamilton College
- John Kurgan, bus driver New York Mills
- Jenna Macri, family child care provider, Herkimer
- Pam Muller, Group Family Child Care Provider, Poland
- Erica Rivera, teacher, Neighborhood Center, Utica
- Saturday Friends ? Oneida-Lewis Chapter NYSARC, Marcy
- Betty Schuck, family child care provider, Clinton
- Phyllis Spinner, retired director Herkimer County HealthNet, Dolgeville
- Michele Stanley, group family child care provider, Holland Patent
- Rosanne Swift, director, Folts Home Child Care Center, Herkimer
- Tammy Taylor, group family child care provider, Poland
- Shaniece Toner ? assistant? teacher, Neighborhood Center, Utica
- Upstate Cerebral Palsy, Director Louis Tehan, family friendly employer, Utica
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- The 2011 Vivian C. Kinney Lifelong Friend of Children award was presented posthumously to Sharen Vibbert, who, with her husband, Pete operated a successful group family child care business for many years in Oneida, NY.
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For more information on any of the awardees, contact the Child Care Council at 223-7850.
The Child Care Council of Cornell Cooperative Extension is one of several child care resource and referral agencies across NYS, funded by the NYS Office of Children and Family Services. They maintain a comprehensive database that contains every regulated child care program in Herkimer, Madison and Oneida Counties. They provide parents with resources, education and a list of programs that specifically meet their needs. The Council maintains a free lending library with books, audio and video resources related to early care and learning. They offer parent and provider education to those in the community who care for and about children and they host and support community outreach events designed to increase awareness about the importance of giving every child the opportunity to reach their full potential.
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