Julie Halloran, JLSN President 2008-09, with the 2009 Community Leadership Award winner Dr. Madhu Mathur, MD, MPH, Director of the Goldstein Children’s Health Center at Stamford Hospital, Diane Rosenthal of Literacy Volunteers – Stamford/Greenwich and Stephanie Fairleigh, President-elect
The JLSN Community Leadership Award
This distinguished award is presented to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the communities in our service area as well as a meaningful impact in one or more of the JLSN focus areas: positive youth development, child health and welfare and self-sufficiency of women.
Award Recipients
Dr. Madhu Mathur, MD, MPH - Director of the Goldstein Children’s Health Center at Stamford Hospital
Dr. Mathur is a pediatrician and Director of the Ambulatory Division of Pediatrics at Stamford hospital. In partnership with Literacy Volunteers – Stamford/Greenwich, she coordinates the Reach Out and Read Program, which provides free books to children age 6 months to 5 years who receive health care at the Goldstein Clinic. She is a founder and the Chairperson since 2004 of the Obesity Task Force in Stamford. In collaboration with the Stamford Youth Foundation, she established the Fun Fit Club, with eight-week classes on nutrition, yoga and trampoline. Dr. Mathur has recently accepted the position of medical advisor to the Department of Public Health in Hartford. She is also the Director of a Regional Medical Home Initiative for Southwest Ct., which is funded by a grant from the Department of Public Health. In addition, Dr. Mathur continues to be involved in research on childhood obesity with a co-researcher at Columbia University.
Leslie Caney Berni - Women’s Mentoring Network
President since 2004 of the Women’s Mentoring Network (WMN), a nonprofit organization serving lower Fairfield County that provides career, educational, and personal resources that lead to the economic empowerment of low-income women. WMN also provides tutoring and support for the children of the women in the program and has successfully moved 3,500 women to better employment and 2,500 women to higher education degrees or certifications.
Alonzo Virgil - A.C.H.I.E.V.E. Enrichment Programs
Founder and CEO of A.C.H.I.E.V.E., a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting excellence by providing a safe, fun, educational and culturally enriching atmosphere in which children can reach their individual, social, emotional and academic potential. A.C.H.I.E.V.E. provides morning and after-school enrichment to over 300 students in grades K through 8 in seven Norwalk schools as well as a summer enrichment program.
Virginia Katz - The Courage to Speak, Inc.
Founder of The Courage to Speak, an organization dedicated to fostering open communication to prevent alcohol and drug use among young people. Katz' son died of a heroin overdose in 1996 which prompted her to encourage people to step forward, confront their situation and address their problems. She often speaks on how the courage to talk about fears, substance abuse and other troubling issues presents an opportunity for healing.
Richard Fuller Sr. - George Washington Carver Center
Until his retirement in July 2004, Fuller was the Executive Director of the George Washington Carver Community Center (GWCCC) for 25 years. Under his direction, the GWCCC began offering programs providing job training, day care, athletics and after school activities. He also serves on the Norwalk Board of Education.
Laura L. Simon - Connecticut Commission on Children
A founding member of the Connecticut Commission on Children, Simon currently serves as Chair Emeriti. Her many accomplishments include being the first female chair of the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut Broadcasting Company and a founding member of the Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition.
The Reverend Richard Schuster - St. Luke’s Lifeworks
Recognized for his work leading this non-sectarian, multi-faith based, non-for-profit agency, Schuster has led the quest to provide services for disadvantaged children as well as persons who have become homeless, acquired AIDS or struggled with psychiatric disabilities. He has counseled numerous non-for-profit agencies in fine-tuning their missions and determining their desired outcomes for service.
The Honorable Moira K. Lyons - Speaker of House of Representatives in CT
Lyons is recognized for her role in championing the passage of laws that provide the foundation for quality education as well as sponsoring legislation creating micro-loans encouraging women and minorities to become business owners.
