PAST HONOREES
Here are some of the people and projects
that the Pacera Award has honored.
Marya Small
Challenging Convention for Better Care
(2009)
Long-time
community advocate Marya Small has dedicated a lifetime
of care to helping the most vulnerable South Jersey
residents. Her deep compassion and commitment to
helping is apparent in every aspect of her professional
and volunteer career, especially in her work with
Down Syndrome children and as a nurse caring for
clients of the Atlantic City Rescue Mission. Her
pursuit of large -scale and individual change has
helped challenge conventional thinking and inspired
positive developments in care for special populations.
Cynthia Green
Opening Doors for People Who Need Care
(2007)
For
almost 50 years, Cynthia Green has worked to improve public health in Atlantic
County . She is often given sole credit for keeping open
the doors of Child Federation, the only healthcare
resource for many at-risk families in the area:
those without insurance, immigrants who don't
speak English, and teen parents. Combined with
her leadership in areas of immunization, pregnancy
counseling, and WIC programs, Judy represents
the ideal in public service.
Judith Ford
Supporting Families in Pain
(2006)
Judy
Ford is a nurse who decided that the healthcare system should do a better
job of supporting parents who suffer a perinatal loss—and then set out
to improve it. She developed and delivered best
practices professional training on the subject
that was backed by years of her personal experience.
She dedicates herself to helping grieving parents
deal with everything from insurance claims to
funeral arrangements. On its own, Judy's effort
is rare, personal, and difficult. She is changing
the way the system cares for parents who lose
their babies.
Birthing Project of Atlantic County 's Jewish
Family Services
Better Parenting Through Friendship
(2001)
For at-risk pregnant women, emotional support is just as important as good medical care. The Birthing Project matched first-time moms with “sister friend” volunteers who help them balance babies, work, and school. These special relationships last through the baby's first birthday (or longer if the mom and sister friend want them to). The greatest effect of the program has been to help many new moms become better parents.
Past Honorees (complete list)
Marcia Grossmick-Acevedo
(2010)
Recognized for: Years
of community outreach providing meals for needy
families and inspiring children at the after-school
program to develop a more positive outlook on their
lives.
Marya Small
(2009)
Recognized for: Her
long-time advocacy of children with Down Syndrome
through the 21 Down of South Jersey family support
group.
Deacon Felix “Tito” Miranda
(2008)
Recognized for: Providing
ministry and comfort at any hour of the day or
night for Spanish-speaking families of premature
and at-risk babies treated at intensive care
nurseries in Camden City and Burlington.
Christine Mulford, RN, BSN, IBCLC
(2008)
Recognized for: Local,
national and international breastfeeding advocacy,
from counseling individual women to contributing
to policy documents and strategies.
Cynthia Green
(2007)
Recognized for: Fifty years
of volunteer and professional efforts to improve
public health in Atlantic County, with particular
praise for keeping afloat a vital healthcare
resource serving at-risk, uninsured, non-English-speaking
families and teen parents.
Judith Ford
(2006)
Recognized for: Developing
and delivering best practices professional training
on caring for parents who suffer a perinatal
loss while also personally helping them deal
with everything from insurance claims to funeral
arrangements.
Marguerite L. “Peggy” Smith, RN, IBCLC
(2005)
Recognized for: Her
compassionate support of new mothers throughout
her 30-plus-year career as a pediatric nurse and
trusted resource for pregnant and parenting women
in Cape May.
Joann Pierce,
RN
(2004)
Recognized for: Her
dedication to children in Vineland that drove the
creation of a clinic for uninsured children that
grew from a twice-a-week, volunteer operation into
a full-service pediatric facility praised by
the state of New Jersey.
Nancy Ivey, RN
(2003)
Recognized for: Making
a generational impact upon child safety in Vineland
by creating the city's first youth center, leading
childhood lead poisoning prevention initiatives,
and quilting hundreds of blankets for babies born
to DYFS families.
Cynthia Wilks-Mosely
(2002)
Recognized for: Her
commitment to complete childcare services, including
nutrition guidance, positive parenting, and safe
and healthy activities for hundreds of kids in
Cumberland, Salem, and Gloucester counties.
Birthing Project of Atlantic County's
Jewish Family Services
(2001)
Recognized for: Guiding first-time,
at-risk mothers to become better parents with
the help of “sister friend” volunteers, who help
them balance life with their babies, work, and
schooling.
Carmen Ramirez
(2000)
Recognized for: Working
tirelessly to improve delivery of services for
Spanish-speaking residents in Atlantic City.
Mujeres
Latinas En Accion (MLA)
(1999)
Recognized For: Helping families
of terminally ill children in Cumberland County
meet expenses incurred in the care and treatment
of these children.
ACCEPPT Program
(1998)
Recognized For: Providing
a full academic and parenting education curriculum
to help keep teenage mothers on track with their
schooling while meeting the demands of pregnancy
and parenting.
Reverend Floyd White
(1997)
Recognized For :
Establishing the nonprofit Woodland Community Development
Corporation, which provides after-school activities,
academic assistance, and cultural enrichment
to help keep young children in Camden, NJ away
from alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs.
Osborn Family Health Center
(1996)
Recognized For: Providing
primary and specialty care for Camden's most
vulnerable pediatric and high-risk obstetric
patients.