1st Annual Foster Focus Awards

Prepare to be dazzled by the most difficult, most fun and most frustrating thing I’ve done owning the magazine to this point. Alright, I may be overselling it a bit. The dazzling part, not the experience.

You may be enlightened or surprised by the First Annual Foster Focus Awards. The surprise will come with some of the names of the awards and the inspiration’s background. You’ll be enlightened to find out about the great work the winners are doing on behalf of the nation’s foster youth. Maybe you will be dazzled, dazzled by the fact that I can still put two sentences together after a six-month choosing process that turned my hair grey.

There were so many choices to pick from to select a winner. I didn’t want to leave anyone out, but I didn’t want to give away too many awards either. I also wanted the awards to mean something. I wanted them to have a hook. Something that brought hope to current foster youth. Something to aspire to. Something to chase. When I found out the creator of Gumby was a foster youth, I started to think I could accomplish whatever I set out to do. I thought that maybe if I named the awards after notable former foster kids that might have the same effect.

When it came to presenting the awards and their winners in the magazine and online I wanted to do things a bit differently. Rather than tell you everything about who the awards were named after and the winners, I’d let your curiosity get the better of you in the hopes that you’ll learn more about them on your own. I could have easily given you biographies on the awards’ namesakes. I could have given you detailed backgrounds and mission statements for all the winners. I could have done that, but then I would have cheated you.

What I decided to do was break it down into three parts; The Inspiration, The Winner and The Reason. For the inspiration, I’ve highlighted some of the more interesting facts about the former foster kids I named the awards after. Their stories to the top are compelling, my hope is that you follow up and find out more about them. You might find yourself or someone you care for, inspired. I’ve given you some background about the winners. Some information about their work, what they’ve done so far. But again, my hope is that you will follow up, fall in love and maybe volunteer or donate to these great causes and people.

I saved my reasoning for the last section. I feel I was fair and vetted each winner thoroughly. There are other groups and individuals worthy of recognition, they will get their due in future award searches. This is the first of what I hope will be many Foster Focus Awards.

Finally, it has been my privilege and honor to have had a foster care magazine long enough to justify giving out awards. I’ve watched most of these winners grow and evolve into the powerhouse advocates the world gets to see today. The dedication and hard work that went into each winner’s lifelong journey to aid and assist this country’s most vulnerable children is mind boggling. When you care about something so much that it becomes who you are, you know you have a calling for the work.

So, congratulations to all the winners. May the rest of the world be as appreciative and in awe of your work as I and Foster Focus magazine do. Your work will inspire the next generation of Foster Focus Award winners.

Misty Stenslie Dedication Award- Lisa Dickson
James E. West Do Something Award- Celeste Bodner & FosterClub
Sam Goldwyn Big Picture Award- Danielle Gletow & One Simple Wish
Chris Chmielewski Got Your Back Award- Rhonda Sciortino
Dr. Ruth Westheimer Truth Seeker Award- Children’s Rights
Billy Mills Distance Covered Award- Jarett Wilkins and his Forever Family Walk
Art Linkletter Trendsetter Award- Foster Care Alumni of America (FCAA)
Dr. Wayne Dyer Vision In Action Award- Leigh Esau and the Foster Care Closet
Eartha Kitt C'est Si Bon Award- California Youth Connection (CYC)
Vidal Sassoon Good Look Award- Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI)
Louis Armstrong What a Wonderful World Award- Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

Misty Stenslie Dedication Award- Lisa Dickson 

The inspiration..... What can I write about the great Misty Stenslie that I haven’t already written? If you aren’t familiar with Misty, allow me to give you a brief overview. Misty is a pioneer in the world of former foster kids. Through her efforts, tireless advocacy and partnerships with organizations and other former foster youth, Foster Care Alumni of America was born. She passed on in 2016 but her legacy will live on through her work and this award. The winner has shown unrelenting dedication to their advocacy, the same way Misty did during her time.

And the winner is.... The smile that Lisa Dickson possesses has many purposes. First, it’s involuntary, she can’t help but project enthusiasm and genuine affection. Secondly, that smile can ease a young person’s fears as they journey through foster care and adulthood. The Ohio native is a staple at any event that furthers the success of the Buckeye state’s foster youth. Among the many programs she has spearheaded or been a part of; a yearly trip for Ohio foster youth to Washington D.C. to advocate on their own behalf, an annual Thanksgiving dinner in different parts of the state and a summit for foster youth where they receive dress clothes they can wear to job interviews.

And here’s why…. Besides her tireless advocacy, Lisa prefers the background, the nuts and bolts of it all. How shy is Lisa to the glare of the spotlight? When I asked her if there was anything she’d like me to mention about her, she responded with three emails, typical of Lisa, with information about the programs she’s involved with and their importance to Ohio. Per her request; “Foster care youth and alumni deserve employment supports. Suits for Success provides professional attire to current and former foster youth who are preparing to enter the workforce. This program was created in 2011 by the Ohio State Bar Foundation and Ohio foster care alumni. Lisa served as lead facilitator of the 2011 Career and Entrepreneurship Conference,  2012 and 2013 Connecting the Dots Conferences and the 2014 Fostering Pathways to Success Conference. Each of these events included Suits for Success, a Resume Clinic engaging speakers and hands-on workshops. Lisa and the Ohio foster care alumni group (ACTION Ohio) continue to assist with annual statewide conferences for youth. In 2015, Lisa and Doris Edelmann were each awarded the Founder's Award for their work on annual foster youth conferences.”

James E. West Do Something Award- Celeste Bodner & FosterClub

The inspiration..... James E. West grew up in an orphanage and that experience pushed him into a life of making sure children in the US were taken care of, had lives that could improve and given the option of play and the outdoors. He worked his whole life on those causes, work that would lead him to a floundering idea of a group. The Boys Scouts of America were a ship without a rudder. West took over and for 32 years turned an idea into a national symbol and household entity.

And the winner is.... Since 2000, Celeste Bodner and her creation, FosterClub have turned Seaside, Oregon into a hotspot for foster youth on their way to the real world. FosterClub was founded with the mission of connecting foster youth to their peer group, teaching foster youth their rights, giving them the ability to represent themselves and inspire others. It worked and it grew. These days it’s hard to throw a rock in D.C. or any corner of the child welfare world and not hit a FosterClubber.

And here’s why.... Each Summer foster kids who have shown leadership skills or a vested interest in advocacy head to the Pacific coast to a tiny beach town to learn the ins and outs of advocacy, intense social interaction and life. They become what they call “All-Stars” and roam the country training people in child welfare about the wants and needs of today’s foster youth. FosterClub All-Stars become so skilled at advocacy that many land jobs or internships with the nation’s top groups. Celeste is hands on with this work, because of that she is beloved by former foster kids from coast to coast. 

Sam Goldwyn Big Picture Award- Danielle Gletow & One Simple Wish

The inspiration..... You probably don’t realize that you have known the name Sam Goldwyn your whole life. You don’t realize you know about the scrappy lad from Warsaw, Poland who made his way to the New World on his own at the ripe age of 16. Though his name might not be at the front of your mind, had you ever watched a movie with a roaring lion in the intro, you’ve seen it. That scrappy lad was a founding member of MGM studios. MGM became one of the most powerful movie studios in Hollywood in great part due to the vision of Goldwyn. His ability to see beyond the present was his greatest asset.

And the winner is.... Much like Goldwyn, Danielle Gletow, founder of One Simple Wish, is always looking ahead to meet the needs of today’s foster youth. Through the OSW website, children from across the nation can request things they need or want to make foster care just a little easier. Those wishes are granted through a vast network of donors that Danielle has amassed over the years. To date OSW has granted over thirty-five thousand wishes for kids in care.

And here’s why.... Since she began One Simple Wish over a decade ago, Danielle has been responsible for bringing joy to tens of thousands current and former foster youth all over the country. She’s been a CNN Hero finalist, been on several television programs and featured in several magazines. But that’s not what drives her. Danielle works nonstop to ensure that the needs of foster youth are met, publicity only expands the organization’s network, allowing for more wishes to be granted. With a quality team around her, a background in marketing and an unwavering belief in what she is doing, Danielle has become a vocal leader in the world of foster care.

Chris Chmielewski Got Your Back Award- Rhonda Sciortino

The inspiration..... Some goofball kid from Pennsylvania. Okay, because the winner of this award will scold me without end if I make this self-deprecating, I will attempt to write about myself seriously. The very quick version goes as follows; I grew up in Central PA, in a town called Mt. Carmel. A booming coal town that had lost its boom. I grew up lower/middle class. That upbringing made me two things, innovative and fiercely loyal. The world knows me as a kid who covered a fire for a local newspaper when I first came to care, leading to a life of journalism. I spent my teens in foster care and aged out to college, homelessness, local success and marriage. Now a husband and father of three, I started Foster Focus in 2011, fulfilling a promise I’d made when I aged out of creating a magazine to provide foster care information to the masses.

And the winner is.... When I say Rhonda Sciortino lives foster care, I am understating what is a life devoted to this country’s most vulnerable youth. Not only is she a speaker, trainer, motivator and advocate. She also started, sold and continues to work for Markel Insurance, the leading child welfare insurer in the nation. She has given her entire life to the cause.

And here’s why.... There are few people in this world who have believed in me at the level that Rhonda has. I call her Yoda and much like the little fella in the swamp, my Yoda gives me sage advice and guidance at every turn. She’s my Columnist, my sounding board, my life travel guide, but more important than all these jobs, she is my friend. In times of doubt she delivers confidence. When I want to quit she explains how not quitting has given her the great life she has. When the weight of the world crushes my already curved spine, Rhonda Sciortino steps in to lighten my load. Beit a referral for a new advertiser or an introduction to someone I should know, Rhonda knows when I need help, knowing I’d never ask. 

Dr. Ruth Westheimer Truth Seeker Award- Children’s Rights

The inspiration..... If you are old enough to have spent time in the 80’s you know all about Dr. Ruth Westheimer. Dr. Ruth, as she was known, was an expert in an area of the world that made people blush; sex. Her frankness and diminutive stature made her a favorite of both news and talk shows. Before the fame, she lived a frantic life. A refugee of the holocaust and later a soldier fighting those same Nazis that forced her into the life of an orphan. After the war, she sought refuge in her studies leading her to become the leading sex therapist in the world. Her enthusiasm and desire to get the truth about sex to the world, matched with her accent, has made her a major character in our history.

And the winner is.... It’s tough to describe what Children’s Rights does without letting out so many other facets of their work. If forced, you would describe it as a national watchdog group that watch the backs of kids in care. If the government is considered the parent of youth in care, who governs the government? Children’s Rights does that. Through the court system Children’s Rights uses the laws of the land to hold the government accountable for any wrongdoings.

And here’s why.... Let’s be clear, as far as voices go, foster kids are working with a whisper. Consider Children’s Rights as your really outspoken friend. They say what you can’t. Stand up for you when you won’t. Makes sure no one messes with you. That’s the job Children’s Rights has taken on. The lawsuits against states that they have won have led to changes within those states’ foster care system. Children’s Rights has found a way to both shed light on injustices within the system and bring justice for those foster kids who were wronged. 

Billy Mills Distance Covered Award- Jarett Wilkins and his Forever Family Walk

The inspiration..... Billy Mills is a champion to many groups. He is a Native American by birth, an orphan through circumstance and an Olympic gold medal winner through hard work. Before reaching the podium in 1964, Billy Mills spent his life in constant movement. From a reservation in Pine Ridge, South Dakota to the campus of the University of Kansas, mills honed his running skills to become an upset winning Olympian. He was a First Lieutenant in the US Marines when he defeated a world record holder in the 10000 meters (6.2 miles) for the gold.

And the winner is.... Jarett Wilkins decided that more attention needed to be brought to the plight of foster kids and at risk youth. So, what did he do about it? He put on his backpack and hiking boots. Jarett, a former foster kid himself, set out on a 30 state social media based trek across the country. Along the way, he’s been interviewing key members of the child welfare community to find out how they are caring for the kids in their steed. Specifically, Jarett is after answers regarding the nation’s gay foster youth. The end product of those interviews will be featured in a future issue of the magazine.

And here’s why.... 30 states. I feel like I can end my reasoning there but I think I’ll list the two legs of this epic journey across the US. He’s already completed the first leg and about to embark on the second. He’s trekked the northern states of America from Virginia to California including WV, OH, KY, IN, IL, MO, KS, NE, CO, WY, UT and NV. Next is the 2nd leg travels the southern states of America from California to NYC including AZ, NM, TX, OK, AR, TN, AL, GA, SC, NC, VA, MD, PA, NJ and finally, NYC. 

Art Linkletter Trendsetter Award- Foster Care Alumni of America (FCAA)

The inspiration..... There were few TV personalities in the 60’s and 70’s that were more respected among their peers than Art Linkletter.  He was known for making the idea of Kids Say the Darndest Things into a hit TV show and series of books by the same name. He was also an author of several self-help books. Among other accomplishments was his 75-year marriage to wife, Lois. Upon his death, Phyliss Diller said, “In a couple of months Art Linkletter would have been 98 years old, a full life of fun and goodness, an orphan who made it to the top. What a guy."

And the winner is.... I feel like I’ve written so many things about Foster Care Alumni of America that I could compile a book to accompany their critically acclaimed book, Flux. As a former Boardmember it has been my pleasure to watch this grassroots group transform to an influential national advocacy organization. FCAA is a foster care advocacy group comprised wholly of former foster youth and their allies. They influence policy and have chapters in over 20 states.

And here’s why.... Feeling alone is one of many side effects of being in care. FCAA becomes a touchstone for former foster youth. A place where they feel their voice is heard. That leads to many policy ideas that can’t be found in D.C.. As FCAA continues to grow they will find more and more ways to impact change on both a state and federal level.

Dr. Wayne Dyer Vision In Action Award- Leigh Esau and the Foster Care Closet

The inspiration..... Dr. Wayne Dyer was a motivational speaking phenom for the better part of four decades. He authored over thirty books that delved into self-discovery and personal growth. His following reached hundreds of thousands he also spawned a new generation of thinkers and motivators.

And the winner is.... I get excited when people are presented with a problem and rather than sit and cower, they take action and find a solution. No one fits the bill better than the Founder of the Foster Care Closet located in Lincoln, Nebraska. There are a few things you should know about Leigh Esau. With a marriage that has lasted thirty years and a devotion to the Nebraska Cornhuskers that may have lasted even longer, she’s a person of dedication. She’s also an adoptive mother and until she began the Foster Care Closet, a foster mother. Oh, and she was a foster kid too. Combine the dedication with the background and you’ve got a strong advocate. She didn’t just advocate the night she received a placement that required she have three car seats. After she acquired the car seats she decided that no foster parent should have to hunt down necessities in the middle of the night. Moreover, no child coming into foster care should be without new clothes and a chance to absorb what was happening to them.

And here’s why.... It’s a warehouse. In 2006 Leigh had the inclination to begin handing out new clothing to kids entering the foster care system, also providing for the foster parents caring for those kids. She became a bargain wizard. No store was safe. She got in the habit of saving hundreds of dollars per store visit. The state of Nebraska began to see the value in this skill and in time a partnership was struck. Fast forward to 2017 and you find Leigh Esau, now an Angels in Adoption winner, looks out over a vast warehouse full of brand new clothes hanging in beautiful cabinets that fill the room. Upstairs is a glass laden office where caseworkers and foster parents can handle phone calls and paperwork while they watch the kids in the playroom that surrounds the office. It’s become a place where kids can get acclimated to what’s happening, get some fresh clothes, a backpack full of essentials and a chance to be a kid and play before going off to their foster home. How good did Leigh get at bargains? She bought so many Sketchers sneakers in one purchase, for such a discount, that Sketchers needed to investigate! They ultimately found that not only was Leigh not doing anything sketchy (pun alert!), but she was someone they wanted to be in business with. And a partnership was born. Full disclosure; Leigh and I are brother/sister close. She was the first person to find out about the Foster Focus awards. She was also the first to win an award. I’m a big fan of what Leigh does. People underestimate the value of clean set of clothes, new shoes, something dependable in an undependable world.

Eartha Kitt C'est Si Bon Award- California Youth Connection (CYC)

The inspiration..... For those of you who do not speak French, allow my freshman year of French I to be your guide.  C’est si bon means It is good…I hope. Every generation has some kind of connection to Eartha Kitt. Whether it’s that song, her time as Catwoman on Batman or as the voice of the villain in The Emperor’s New Groove, you know Eartha Kitt. Don’t believe me yet? Ever hear of a little ditty called Santa Baby? That’s her! Told you that you knew her. Kitt was a star of stage, song and pop culture. She was so talented she even won an award after she died.

And the winner is.... For nearly thirty years, California Youth Connection (CYC), has been assuring current foster youth in California a seat at the table when it comes to policy. They have been responsible for influencing foster care policy with a foster youth voice in place.

And here’s why.... CYC is one of the most active foster care advocacy groups in the nation. They are over 500 members strong and continue to set the standard for training advocates. The key to CYC’s success is the involvement of current foster youth. That kind of involvement is key to change. As the song says, it is good.

Vidal Sassoon Good Look Award- Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI)

The inspiration..... ”If you don’t look good, we don’t look good.” That was the slogan for the beauty empire that an orphan named Vidal Sassoon built. Through his tireless work, he made his name, a household name the world over.

And the winner is.... Sassoon’s slogan can easily be applied to the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) and the work they do. CCAI has managed to work with members of Congress to ensure that those members hear first-hand accounts of foster care experiences. Their Angels In Adoption program highlights people who are making a difference in the lives of foster youth and other children via adoption.

And here’s why.... CCAI does so much, but the reason they win this is award is one of their programs that has become a favorite of mine. The Foster Youth Internship and Congressional Briefing programs have lifted so many foster kids with potential into positions that give them a chance at a brighter future, I can’t begin to list all their names. The chance to work alongside a member of Congress opens doors that would never be opened to them otherwise.

Louis Armstrong What a Wonderful World Award- Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

The inspiration..... No song brings the feelings of hope, joy and possibility like What a Wonderful World by famed trumpeter, Louis Armstrong. His enthusiasm and skilled playing made in a legend in the world of Jazz.

And the winner is.... The Dave Thomas Foundation on Adoption (DTFA) is probably the most well known among the winners. Wendy’s Founder Dave Thomas never forgot about being adopted or the thousands of kids waiting for homes compelling him to create DTFA. Since its creation, DTFA has helped raise awareness and is responsible for thousands of adoptions.

And here’s why.... I mentioned my pension for admiring those that take action. DTFA is more than their mission statement. Nearly everything that is former foster kid or adoption related has a connection to DTFA. This magazine would have had a much tougher go of it if not for the generous support of DTFA. CEO Rita Soronen is beloved in the former foster kid community. If we love her and DTFA, imagine what the adoption community where DTFA really shines, thinks.