Do you know a Champion for Children? First 5 Riverside (F5R) will accept nominations for its Champion for Children Award between Nov. 29 and Jan. 11 for the Champion for Children Award. The nomination form and guidelines can be found at www.First5Riverside.org. Select “news/alerts” at the top of the page to find Champion for Children Award in the drop down.
The award is a way to honor those in Riverside County whose work benefits and supports children ages 0 to 5 in education, health and development.
What is the recipient criteria? The nominee should support and/or advocate for young children and families in Riverside County, have created dynamic change or longevity within Riverside County, be a positive role model, be a Riverside County resident, have lived and/or worked in the county for at least two years and their achievements are in alignment with First 5 Riverside strategic goals (quality early learning, comprehensive health and development and resilient families).
Carmela Garnica, director of the Escuela de la Raza Unida Learning Centers in Blythe, won the honor this year.
The county wrote in the press release, “During her nearly 40 years with the centers, Ms. Garnica has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of children ages 0 through 5 by her efforts to bring critically needed subsidized child development, preschool and infant services to the Palo Verde Valley for low-income working families.”
First 5 Riverside, the Riverside County Children & Families Commission, is funded by Proposition 10 tobacco tax revenues.