Seventeen Outstanding Child Care Providers Nationally Recognized

Seventeen Outstanding Child Care Providers Nationally Recognized

Members of Congress joined PBS Stations WETA and KCET in 'The Second Annual National Child Care Providers Awards Ceremony'

WASHINGTON, May 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Seventeen outstanding child care providers were recognized at a national event on Capitol Hill today at The Second Annual National Child Care Providers Awards Ceremony attended by members of Congress, the presidents of PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and executives from BP and public television stations KCET (Los Angeles) and WETA (Washington, D.C.), among many others. These awardees appeared in the Peabody Award-winning series A Place of Our Own and Los Ninos en Su Casa as "Child Care Providers of the Week." They were nominated for the honor by their local communities.

According to the U.S Census Bureau, more than six in 10 young children in the United States are cared for regularly by a provider. The ceremony highlighted the vital role child care providers play in preparing children for kindergarten by helping them acquire the requisite cognitive, social, emotional, and physical skills. In this weakened economy, there is an ever-increasing demand for individuals providing quality child care for young children.

A Place of Our Own and its Emmy award-winning Spanish language companion, Los Ninos en Su Casa, have undertaken the role of providing useful information, guidance, and training for providers through broadcast and online support services. In fact, 80 percent of child care providers who watched the series reported learning better child care skills.

The awards ceremony was emceed by program hosts Elizabeth Sanchez of A Place of Our Own and Alina Rosario of Los Ninos en Su Casa. Speakers were Al Jerome, president and chief executive officer, KCET; Sharon Percy Rockefeller, president and CEO, WETA; Paula Kerger, president and CEO, PBS; Patricia Harrison, president and CEO, CPB; and Sylvia Baca, vice president of social investments and strategic partnerships, BP.

"These distinguished child care providers are true, unsung heroes in our communities," Jerome said. "They provide some comfort to the families who are dealing with enormous demands in these very stressful times. We would like to thank PBS, CPB, and the BP Foundation for allowing us to connect and provide care givers with essential tools for the next generation."

Kerger said, "Childcare providers are critically important to early childhood development in the United States, but too often, their contributions are overlooked by commercial media. This is why 'A Place of Our Own' and 'Los Ninos en Su Casa' fill such an important gap in helping to shape America's next generation. These two series are vital to PBS's mission to serve children, as well as the people who care for them."

"The exceptional child care providers honored today share a common vision with public broadcasting of nurturing children's love of learning," Rockefeller. "We are proud to be partners in this unique endeavor that benefits families throughout the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and across the country."

"BP is delighted to honor these wonderful caregivers for their remarkable contributions to the lives of young children," Baca said. "As part of BP's overall commitment to educational programs across the continuum - from pre-school through college - we are proud to help make possible and be associated with these unique series."

Harrison said, "Through bilingual Web sites and nationwide caregiver workshops, we are providing important educational assistance to those who care for young children. And, the success of our efforts is demonstrated in the wonderful caregivers whom we are saluting today."

The national honorees who received Congressional letters of recognition are Gilda Flores of Anchorage, Alaska.; Youngshin Gittings of Atlanta, Ga.; Melissa Huber of Austin, Texas; Celeste Joyner of Baltimore, Md.; J-Lane and Daniel Zamora of Carrizozo, N.M.; Noel Fattah of Cleveland, Ohio; Joyce Reynolds of Corpus Christi, Texas; Hildy Blanco of Houston, Texas; Christi Morse Gilbert of Indianapolis, Ind.; Jade Stanford of Los Angeles, Calif.; Connie Williams of Del Rey Beach, Fla.; Kris Dory of Laramie, Wyo.; Veronica Garcia of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Michele Choloply of Sicklerville, N.J.; Mai-Thanh Nguyen Dovinh of Seattle, Wash.; Corrine Bressler of Toledo, Ohio; and Bonnie Stewart-DeLancy of Washington, D.C.

PBS station representatives also attended the ceremony in support of their respective honorees. They were Meghan Welch, GPB, Atlanta, Ga.; Stefanie Malone, KCTS, Seattle, Wash.; Mary Alice Appleman, KLRU, Austin, Tex.; Hollie Lovely, KNME, Albuquerque, N.M.; Ann Crider, KUHT, Houston, Tex.; Kathy Smith, WGTE, Toledo, Ohio; Emily Zyko, WNET, New York, N.Y.; Jennifer Amend, CWC, Riverton, Wyo.; and Courtney L. Muzzio, WVIZ, Cleveland, Ohio

KCET's A Place of Our Own and Los Ninos en Su Casa debuted in September 2004. The series' goal is to educate and inspire parents and child care providers of children under the age of five. The series are broadcast on PBS stations nationwide. BP and CPB provide major funding for the series. For more information, check local listings or visit www.aplaceofourown.org and www.losninosensucasa.org.

A Place of Own and Los Ninos en Su Casa are produced by KCET in association with 44 Blue Productions, Inc. The series are produced in association with Sesame Workshop. Stephanie Drachkovitch and Joyce Campbell are executive producers. Mary Mazur is executive in charge of production.

Source: KCET

CONTACT: Kelly Dieter, Hayes & Associates PR, +1-703-288-8684, Cell:
+1-704-619-5508; or Victoria Portugal, Valencia, Perez & Echeveste PR,
+1-626-403-3200 Ext. 221, Cell: +1-562-587-9525, both for KCET

Web Site: http://www.aplaceofourown.org/

-------
Profile: intent