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Children’s Playhouse Seeks Great Friends to Families; Winner Earns $500 for the Nonprofit of their Choice

March 26, 2012. BOONE — The Children’s Playhouse is searching for a resident of the High Country whose greatest joy comes from helping kids and families, the 2012 winner of the Great Friend to Families Award. Nominations for this award are due on April 5th.

The fourth annual Great Friend to Families award recognizes sustained contributions by individuals to the well-being of young children and their families in the High Country area.  “This year we will honor up to eight winners in two categories, Helping Hands and Helping Hearts,” Playhouse board president Jen Hayward explains. “’Helping Hands’ awards will celebrate professionals who over the course of their careers have shown extraordinary dedication to improving the lives of children and families, while ‘Helping Hearts’ awards will recognize individuals who have touched the lives of children and families through generous philanthropy and/or outstanding volunteerism.”

The up to eight award winners in each category  will be honored at a luncheon on Saturday, April 21st and one overall winner will be presented with a piece of local art and $500 to donate to the High Country nonprofit of their choice.

Playhouse Executive Director Kathy Parham explains what a wonderful opportunity this is to say thank you to people who have touched your life or your community. “We feel lucky to learn about all of these tireless workers for families and we try to make them all feel special—from telling their story in the luncheon program to giving each award winner a flower arrangement and a certificate, but what touches them the most is the knowledge that their friends and neighbors took the time to nominate them.”

This award is very consistent with the mission of The Children’s Playhouse, which is to provide children with an enriching, educational play environment while at the same time offering their parents and caregivers friendly support in the important job of raising children, explains Parham, “It is our effort to reach out to the community and to honor significant efforts that share our values.” 

How to Nominate

The nomination forms are simple and can be downloaded at The Children’s Playhouse website http://www.goplayhouse.org/events/Great_Friend_to_Families_award_call_for_nominations_2012.html  or by stopping by the children’s museum. Each nomination package must include the names of at least three additional  supporters. All nominations must be submitted by Thursday, April 5th. 

Nominations may be submitted over email to kathy@goplayhouse.org or mailed to:

Great Friend to Families Award Committee, c/o Kathy Parham
The Children’s Playhouse
400 Tracy Circle
Boone, NC 28607

Parham says, “I hope you will take the time to give your special hero the honor and thanks they so much deserve. For more information, please call me at 828-263-0011.”

The winner will be chosen by a distinguished committee of local leaders including Susan Jones of Blue Ridge Electric Corporation and last year’s winners Dick and Joan Hearn.  

 “We are looking for someone who has made significant efforts to make our community a better place for children and families” explains Kathy Parham, the Executive Director of The Children’s Playhouse.

The luncheon will also raise funds to support family resource services at The Children’s Playhouse, enabling the children’s museum to provide scholarship memberships to low-income families and build new educational exhibits.

The meal will be catered by presenting sponsor Storie Street Grille. For more information and to buy tickets click to www.goplayhouse.org or call 828-263-0011.

This is the fourth year of the Great Friend to Families Award. Previous winners were Judith Winecoff (2009), Pat Morgan (2010), and Dick and Joan Hearn (2011).

About The Children’s Playhouse

A nonprofit children’s museum founded in 2002, The Children’s Playhouse provides an enriching play environment for children from birth to age eight that at the same time offering parents and caregivers friendly support in the important job of raising children.                   Located at 400 Tracy Circle near downtown Boone, The Children’s Playhouse boasts a number of play areas including a pretend vet clinic, an art room, dress up area, pretend kitchen, block play area, train table, indoor Romp and Stomp room with climbing wall–all tucked into an intimate, child-friendly space.  Admission to The Children’s Playhouse is $5 per person.  A one year Playhouse Passport Membership for $125 includes admission to The Playhouse and more than 150 children’s museums nationwide. Scholarship memberships are available for families that meet income guidelines. The Children’s Playhouse is supported in part by Watauga County, the Town of Boone, and the High Country United Way.  For more information, call 828-263-0011 or visit the website, www.goplayhouse.org.