Each year, we celebrate those people and organizations within our community that make a difference in the lives of children. In total, we recognize ten individuals, child care programs, businesses, and organizations that have made strides in quality child care and education.
The 2013 Child Care and Education Award Winners
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Ms. Jacqueline Knowles
Jacqueline's Daycare
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Ms. Dianne Mitchell
Lacey's Play and Learn
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Ms. Barbara Greer
Barbara's Babies Day Care
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Villa Maria College
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Ms. Lana Penfold
Director
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Brierwoord Child Care Center
Lancaster
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Mrs. Renee Benning
Something Special Day Care
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Mrs. Bernadette Dockery
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Mary Jo Hunt
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Ms. Jacqueline Knowles of Jacqueline’s Daycare is the 2013 Business Award Winner! Ms. Knowles has been a small business person for many years. She actively markets her child care program's mission and educational programs. Over the years she has been recognized as a community leader with the Black Achievers Industry Award, Women Making History Award, and Buffalo Common Council's Business Award. Ms. Knowles said I felt happy about winning the award. I have worked hard to provide a safe and loving environment for our children. For 19 years it has been a joy to my everyday life. I look forward to feeding the children physically and also spiritually.
Ms. Dianne Mitchell of Lacey’s Play and Learn is the 2013 Child and Adult Care Food Program Award Winner! Lacey’s Play and Learn provides children with a loving, safe, fun, stimulating and structured learning environment that will instill a readiness not only for school but for life and society as a whole. Ms. Mitchell said One of the most important roles I have is to help your child to develop the proper skills that will turn them into lifelong learners. Healthy eating habits are essential, at Lacey’s a well balanced diet is an important part of child development and I pride myself on serving high quality meals and snacks. By winning this award it lets me know that I am doing my job.
Ms. Barbara Greer of Barbara’s Babies Day Care is the 2013 Peg Agnello-Kulu Scholarship Award Winner! She attended EOC then furthered my education at ECC for business. She then began attending classes at Child Care Resource Network and became a facilitator through EPIC. Ms. Greer said I am continuing my education so I can always be physically and mentally educated for my precious daycare children and their families. My children are like flowers. I keep watering them and they bloom.
Brierwood Child Care Center in Lancaster, managed by Ms. Lana Penfold, is the 2013 Center-Based Program Award Winner! Ms. Penfold said It feels so wonderful to be publicly acknowledged as a quality child care center. It takes the tremendous effort of many individuals to create an environment for children where love and learning truly do come together. The center has enrichment programs including music participation, Spanish and physical education. Sign language is used in the infant and toddler rooms to help children cope with communication before their verbal skills have developed. The program offers a water splash park and pony rides for summer fun. Brierwood's dedication to quality child care shows through great programming and committed staff.
Villa Maria College is the 2013 Corporate Award Winner! Villa Maria College offers individual attention and fosters compassion, justice, peace, respect for human dignity and a commitment to service. This individual attention includes offering resources, programs and services to students with families and to offer at Villa Maria College professional development opportunities for all child care providers.
Mrs. Renee Benning owner of Something Special Day Care is the 2013 Home Based Child Care Program Award Winner! Mrs. Benning said The award makes me feel good. It let me know that all my hard work is not in vein. When you feel like giving up—don’t, because there is always someone that needs you even when you don’t think so.
For the first time in our 25 year history of offering the Home Based Program Award, every parent from Something Special Day Care submitted a nomination form for her to win the award. This makes Mrs. Benning truly something special.
Mary Jo Hunt is the 2013 Dorothy B. Millard Award Winner! Ms. Hunt is a true advocate for the betterment of the lives of children. Since 1984 she has been committed to high quality child care for all children and helped found the Child Care Coalition of the Niagara Frontier in 1987. From the beginning of her early childhood career at Head Start in the early 1980s to her work in expanding professional development opportunities for child care providers, Mary Jo has been committed to the betterment of the lives of children all her life. Mary Jo said I met Dottie when my oldest daughter was enrolled at Westminster and we began to talk about the state of what we then referred to as day care in our community. I was surprised at how little quality care there was and the lack of assistance to parents in locating care. Thus began a series of conversations and collaboartions that led to the CCRN and many other initiatives for early care and education. Dottie was my mentor in this work and truly a visionary. I am humbled to be receiving this award.
Mrs. Bernadette Dockery is the 2013 Legally Exempt Child Care Award Winner! Mrs. Dockery has a great zeal to help and empower other child care providers, as she was empowered. As she trains other child care providers, she stresses, it is not about the money, it is about providing quality care for children. In winning the award, Mrs. Dockery said My children would be my greatest gift to the world. Love is the gift that keeps giving.
Ms. Virginia Goodremote of Churchill Child Care Center is the Quality Care Award Winner! A parent from Churchill Child Care Center wrote Virginia provides quality care for children by taking the time to learn about and know your child so the child feels safe and loved, while you as the parent feel comfort leaving the child in excellent hands of someone you can trust.
Awards Dinner
Celebrating a quarter century of service
at
Samuel’s Grande Manor
8750 Main Street Williamsville, NY 14221
Music by Trio Payazzo
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