Modest Needs "Unsung Hero" Grants

Modest Needs "Unsung Hero" Grants is sponsored by Modest Needs Foundation. Provides grants to workers who are facing sudden financial emergencies. They offer immediate, one-time help to those in need for unexpected expenses that an average person or family would otherwise be unable to afford.

Combined Federal Campaign for Nonprofits Faces Uncertain Future Combined Federal Campaign for Nonprofits Faces Uncertain Future Joe Dorman • October 20, 2025 Just over one month ago, notice was issued that the federal government had paused the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), an annual fundraising effort that has contributed billions of dollars to charitable organizations since it was established more than 60 years ago.

This became a temporary halt to allow efforts to continue this year, but notice was served that significant change would be coming. Usually beginning in September, members of the federal sector — including employees, retirees, and contractors — select charitable organizations in which to donate money or volunteer their time to support nonprofit work.

This provides a level of support for organizations to build budgets for the upcoming year’s work. In 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower established the “President’s Committee on Fund-Raising Within the Federal Service” to review and modify the fund-raising program.

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy signed Executive Order 10927, which gave authority to the United States Civil Service Commission to organize nonprofit solicitations of federal government employees. Kennedy’s executive order was eventually replaced by President Ronald Reagan in 1982 when he created the modern Combined Federal Campaign under the United States Office of Personnel Management.

Nonprofits must meet specific eligibility criteria set by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the CFC team. These criteria include the organization’s existence for at least three years, its ability to provide real services, and its commitment to engaging federal employees in philanthropy. Nonprofits must also apply through the CFC’s online application system and may need to apply annually.

The CFC team manages the charity application process, ensuring that only eligible organizations can participate in the campaign. Around $9 billion has been given to approved charities since its inception, and CFC has allowed federal employees to donate to charities of their choice, peaking in 2009 with about $282 million in donations.

The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) has received modest sums in the past from supporters through our numbers (federal - 58911 and state - 8041) for campaigns. Many organizations with higher profiles receive substantial sums which could significantly diminish their mission if this funding stream were eliminated. We certainly understand concerns overseeing the program form CFC.

In a statement issued by President Trump’s OPM Director Scott Kupor, donations have declined in recent years, and administrative costs have grown to oversee the program, which in turn sends fewer funds to nonprofits that also have administrative costs. They also indicated CFC made sense pre-internet – when donors lacked more automated and efficient ways to direct dollars to their favorite charities.

While these concerns are certainly valid, we at OICA feel this is a program worthy of retention. CFC allows employees to learn more about different nonprofit organizations through workplace events. It is a simple task to itemize deductions on Schedule A of Form 1040 when dealing with your own taxes.

The above-the-line deduction for cash donations to qualified charities reinstated in 2026 will make sense for giving. Charities that rely on regular funding from employees will likely benefit more from employee donations, thus providing a sustainable and stable source of income for the nonprofit’s work, thereby reducing fundraising expenses for the nonprofit.

Organizations with a strong sense of community and employee involvement in charitable activities may find it beneficial to support their employees' charitable contributions through a matching dollar program. Offering matching gifts can incentivize employees to contribute more, which can be a win-win for both the charity and the employee.

In a difficult time for charitable nonprofits, we strongly encourage those decision makers at the federal level to weigh the cost and the benefit of CFC. We hope they can find a way to continue support through this process in a streamlined manner that does not diminish the work done for children and other services through charitable giving.

OICA Working with Human Services to Improve Response to Oklahomans in Need Over the past several weeks, many Oklahomans have contacted the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) regarding suspension or reduction of some benefits of the social safety net. Long wait times on help lines, confusion regarding needed forms for verification, and lack of access to internet have impacted Oklahomans, including families with young children.

Oklahoma has quite often fallen into the “Top 10” of states with grandparents raising their grandchildren, placing an even greater strain on families. We at OICA support efforts to streamline eligibility verification and ensure fraud does not occur.

While a dozen people in Oklahoma were arrested recently for SNAP fraud, there are tens of thousands of Oklahomans who qualify, but simply have trouble understanding the requirements. They should not be penalized by an overly burdensome system. The social safety net is heavily subsidized by the federal government.

The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” federal legislation signed by President Trump in July 2025, requires states to pay a share of SNAP benefit costs. The law requires states with SNAP payment error rates greater than 6% to pay a share of benefit costs, with the amount depending on how high a state’s error rate is.

Nationally, advocates are reaching out to members of Congress asking for time for states to adjust their processes. Such a waiver would give states’ SNAP programs time to reduce payment error rates and avoid cuts to needy families. State agencies oversee several programs, including SNAP, childcare services, Advantage support, WIC, Medicaid, and several other social safety net programs.

Each face federal cuts for matching funds. After I expressed concerns during an interview on an OKC news station, senior leadership at Oklahoma Human Services (DHS) reached out to me. I was assured the state will unveil a plan soon to shorten long waits and provide greater assistance, and that improved communications to make sure Oklahomans who qualify for services are receiving services.

Until these adjustments are made, DHS asked me to share with readers of my column how to best prepare before reaching out on the call line or in person at one of the remaining DHS offices still open around the state.

Important information you will need includes information on changed jobs or hours, whether monthly housing costs have changed, whether the number of people living in your household has changed, or whether you moved recently. For your verification checklist, have identification, proof of what you earn, proof of other income, shelter, and utility expenses, as well as medical cost records for those 60+ or disabled.

Here are three points which I was asked to share: Submit – Make sure all required documentation is on hand before applying for SNAP. Save – Save the number 405-522-5050 in your phone to prepare for an interview call to verify the ability to receive support. Standby – No need to call to check the status of your case; the best way to do this is by logging onto your account at OKDHSLive.

org and if you need help with this, see if someone close to you can assist. It is important to not save personal information on a public computer, such as at a library. Purchase a flash drive to store your documents and do not leave it behind following computer use.

I appreciate DHS leadership for sharing this information and look forward to working with state and federal lawmakers to help resolve these issues. Over the next few columns, I will highlight important information needed for each of the programs impacted by the federal mandates on states. Next week, I will meet with members of our federal delegation in Washington, D.

C. , to discuss this directly and appeal for help in allowing Oklahomans who qualify for support to receive this aid. Every Oklahoman should feel free to contact your U.S. senators and members of Congress to share your stories.

Oklahoma Voter Turnout Remains Dismal; Kid Governor® Program Works to Boost Civic Involvement Nominations Open for Fall Child Advocacy Awards During its annual Fall Forum luncheon slated for Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) will announce winners of 13 awards recognizing excellence in advocacy, public service, healthcare, education, and philanthropy for children.

Nominations from members of the public are now being accepted for these awards, which can be submitted on the organization’s website at https://www. oica. org/awards .

The 13 awards are: The Steven A. Novick Child Advocacy Award. The Laura Choate Resilience Award.

The Jasmine and Melvin Moran “Kidizenship” Award. The Burnes/Lichtenstein Award for Excellence in Journalism. The H.

E. “Gene” Rainbolt Corporate Citizen Award. The Ray & Pat Potts Community Leader Award.

The Judy Eason McIntyre Inclusion Award. The Sandy Garrett Educator Award. The Jari Askins Justice for Children Award.

The Jon Hansen Public Servant Award. The Dr. Dwight Sublett Healthcare Award. OICA’s Volunteer of the Year Award.

The CEO’s Award in Child Advocacy. Steven A. Novick served as the legal counsel for the children who brought forth the “Terry D” lawsuit against the State of Oklahoma.

The award is for recognizing an “unsung hero” in the area of child advocacy. Laura Choate has served as a lifelong advocate for Oklahoma children and was the first recipient of the Resilience Award. As a youth, Choate served as a plaintiff in the class-action lawsuit that resulted in dramatic changes to Oklahoma’s juvenile justice system and was used as a model by many other states to establish higher standards.

The award is for someone who, like Laura, has overcome difficult circumstances in their youth to become an effective child advocate. The Kidizenship Award is OICA’s statewide award recognizing and rewarding excellence in youth philanthropy by and for Oklahomans under the age of 18.

The award is named after Melvin and the late Jasmine Moran, philanthropists, best known as the founders of the Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum in Seminole, Oklahoma. H. E.

“Gene” Rainbolt was a prominent figure in the Oklahoma banking industry, having founded BancFirst, the largest state-chartered bank in the state. A strong advocate of improving and diversifying the Oklahoma economy, Mr. Rainbolt worked long and hard to improve health, education, provide better access to capital, and develop Oklahoma’s infrastructure system.

This award will recognize a business which has done significant work to help children outside their normal operations. The Burnes/Lichtenstein Award for Excellence in Journalism is named for Karen Burnes and Bill Lichtenstein, two of the reporters who helped uncover the scandal of child abuse under the Oklahoma Department of Human Services in the early 1980s.

Their reporting was part of the effort that led to wholesale changes to state’s juvenile justice system and the creation of OICA as an independent watchdog organization outside of state government. The Ray & Pat Potts Community Leader Award was named for the co-founders of The Potts Family Foundation, the late Ray Potts and his wife, Pat, who passed on August 20, 2025.

Pat also co-founded the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits where she served as president and CEO for 20 years. Pat’s focus was always on leveraging resources “to address root causes and build the human potential of the people of our state one child and one organization at a time.

” The award will be presented to an Oklahoman in the business world who outside of their profession has done something exceptional to benefit children. A breast cancer survivor who grew up in segregated north Tulsa, Judy Eason McIntyre built a career in social work, served on the Tulsa Public Schools Board, and spent 10 years in the Oklahoma Legislature, serving as a state representative, then a state senator.

Through that time, she helped break down race barriers and elevate difficult conversations for the betterment of generations to come. This award will recognize someone who has helped break down racial barriers to benefit youth. The Honorable Sandy Garrett, a lifelong educator, was first elected state Superintendent for Public Instruction in 1990, and again in 1994, 1998, 2002, and 2006.

Garrett was the first woman to hold the office of Superintendent and is the only woman to hold a statewide office for five consecutive terms. Through her work, early childhood education was significantly expanded statewide. This award will be presented to an educator who has done something significant for the benefit of Oklahoma’s children.

The Jari Askins Justice for Children Award is named for The Honorable Jari Askins, who served with distinction in all three branches of Oklahoma state government and, most recently, as the interim president of Cameron University in Lawton. The Askins Award is awarded to someone in the state’s legal community who has done outstanding work in the courts on behalf of Oklahoma’s children.

Jon Hansen began his 26-year career with the Oklahoma City Fire Department in November 1973, eventually becoming an Assistant Fire Chief, where he served as the department’s Public Information Officer during the OKC Bombing. Following this, he became the Executive Director for the Council on Firefighter Training (COFT), working with volunteer fire departments across the state prior to his death.

This award recognizes a public servant – law enforcement, fire service, or emergency medical service – who has gone beyond in some way to help a child or children. Dr. Dwight Sublett was the President of the American Academy of Pediatrics - Oklahoma Chapter for several years. During his life, he was an extremely accomplished physician working through the pandemic to protect the health of Oklahomans.

He received a multitude of distinguished awards, but the highlight of his career was the children he attended, and the countless lives he touched. This award will go to a member of the healthcare field, individual or organization, who has improved the health of the state’s children through an exceptional act or cause.

The OICA Volunteer of the Year Award will go to an individual who has given of their time, talents, and treasures to help ensure that OICA is able to perform the mission set out for it by its founders more than 40 years ago: “Creating awareness, taking action, and supporting policy to improve the health, safety, and well-being of Oklahoma’s children.

” The CEO’s Award in Child Advocacy will go to a child advocate whose work does not fit into any category for which specific recognition is given. The award recognizes the tireless efforts of individuals in virtually every profession and area of volunteer service who struggle to make a positive difference in the lives of children.

“These awards will allow us to further express our gratitude to those working in different sectors, and who are positively impacting children through their efforts,” said Joe Dorman, chief executive officer of OICA. “We hope this recognition will bring attention to the wonderful advocates who are selected and hopefully provide further encouragement for Oklahomans to do good acts which benefit our children.

” Dorman stated that anyone is eligible to nominate a qualifying Oklahoman for any of the awards. “All one has to do is go to our website at oica. org and fill out the nomination form for a suitable nominee,” he said.

“Each year, we receive a tremendous group of nominees who embody what is best about Oklahoma. I look forward to seeing the suggestions and presenting those to the OICA awards committee who will determine the recipients. ” Nominations will close at 5 p.

m. on Friday, Sept. 11.

Award winners will be determined by OICA’s Board of Directors and announced at the luncheon on Wednesday, Oct. 14 during OICA’s annual Fall Forum, a conference where advocates and state officials come together to learn how to be a better champion for children. The conference was established to help develop the annual “Children’s Legislative Agenda” to guide OICA’s policy work at the State Capitol.

You can find more details relating to the conference at the OICA website. With Primaries Over, Now is the Time to Present Solutions PHOTO CUTLINE – Former state Rep. Joe Dorman (left), then a Democrat from Rush Springs and now CEO of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, and former U.S. Sen.

James Inhofe in a photo dedicated to Dorman by the senator. Inhofe, a Republican representing Oklahoma in the U.S. Senate, called Dorman “a great partner” following their work together on an industrial park project, showing how the two from different political parties worked together to find common ground.

(Courtesy Photo) Please Nominate Child Advocates Who Better Our State Our state is fortunate to have many outstanding individuals who are tireless advocates for children. Often, these silent heroes go unrecognized for helping young Oklahomans have better opportunities and a stronger chance at success in life.

Over the past decade with the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA), I have worked with our Board of Directors to expand the number of awards for those who truly make a difference in the lives of others. On October 14, OICA will convene our first in-person day of our annual Fall Forum, where advocates assemble to improve policies for Oklahoma’s children.

On that day, we will hold our annual awards luncheon to celebrate those chosen by our board from public nominations for a slate of awards. To attend Fall Forum and the luncheon, you can go to https://tinyurl. com/OICAFF26 to register and help set the 2027 Children’s Legislative Agenda.

Those awards are: • Laura Choate Resilience Award – given to a person who has overcome extreme traumatic experiences to contribute back to the children of our state. • Jari Askins Justice for Children Award – given to a member of the bar or judiciary who has bettered the life of children through their work.

• Steven A Novick Child Advocacy Award – given to an unsung hero in child advocacy who is one of those workers “in the trenches” of child advocacy. • Jasmine and Melvin Moran Kidizenship Award – given to a minor (under 18) who has either built a program or bettered one to help their peers.

• Burnes/Lichtenstein Award for Excellence in Journalism – given to a journalist who has elevated issues involving children to help advocates create solutions. • Judy Eason McIntyre Inclusion Award – given to someone who has improved race relations and broken barriers. • Dr. Dwight Sublett Healthcare Award – given to a member of the medical community who has promoted health policies for children.

• Ray and Pat Potts Community Leader Award – given to someone in an Oklahoma community who has improved the lives of children within their area. • H. E.

“Gene” Rainbolt Corporate Citizen Award – given to a business which has elevated support for children beyond the scope of their primary work. • Jon Hansen Public Servant Award – given to a member of Oklahoma’s police, fire or EMS community who has aided a child or children. • Sandy Garrett Educator Award – given to an educator who has gone above and beyond the classroom to help children.

You may submit nominations for those you feel are deserving at https://www. oica. org/2026FallNominations.

OICA also will recognize Oklahomans with two other awards: our Volunteer of the Year Award and the CEO’s Public Service Award. Those are selected internally by our board and staff for those who have contributed both to assisting OICA and to someone who might fall outside the scope of these other awards. You can see prior award winners at https://www.

oica. org/hall-of-award-winners to celebrate those previously recognized or so you do not nominate a prior honoree. I also want to thank those who have recognized OICA and myself recently.

None of us with the organization does this work to gain attention, but it certainly is a nice feeling to know others are aware of the effort you put into the mission. Our organization was voted the “Best Nonprofit in Oklahoma City” by readers of the Oklahoma Gazette. We were extremely thrilled to have so many people vote for us in a crowded field of equally deserving organizations.

Thank you to the Oklahoma Gazette for holding this annual recognition. You can go to https://www. okgazette.

com/ to see the list of the awards and winners. Additionally, I was honored to be included in the 2026 class of “55 Inspiring Oklahomans Over 55. ” My deepest thanks to the selection committee for including me.

It is truly humbling to be included on this list, especially in my first year of eligibility. You can see them all at https://55over55. com/honorees/ along with information on how to attend the recognition ceremony on September 17 should you want to be a part of the celebration at the State Capitol.

Interim Study Season Begins at State Capitol As summer ends, lawmakers officially begin analyzing issues of concern and planning policy proposals for 2027. These “interim studies” allow legislative committees to conduct hearings on proposed issues at the State Capitol between sessions. Here are some of those studies we at the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) feel are among the most critical.

The list includes the study numbers, topics considered, the lawmakers who requested the studies, and committees that will consider them. Studies being conducted by the House of Representatives include: 26-015 Methods of Dealing with Continued Delays in the Chain of Custody and Testing of Sexual Assault Kits and Storage of Non-Reported Kits - Requestors: Roe, Provenzano. Committee: Public Health.

26-022 Trancy and Chronic Absenteeism - Requestors: Lowe, Johns. Committee: Appropriations and Budget – Education. Combined with Study 26-080.

26-026 An exploration of alternative education in elementary schools vs. long term suspension - Requestor: West, Tammy. Committee: Common Education. 26-030 Health of the Childcare Industry Post Rule Changes - Requestor: Schreiber.

Committee: Appropriations and Budget - Human Services. 26-031 State Incentives for Employer Participation in Childcare Costs - Requestor: Schreiber. Committee: Appropriations and Budget - Human Services.

26-033 Domestic Violence in Oklahoma - Requestor: Hefner, Ellyn. Committee: Criminal Judiciary. Combined with Interim Study 26-074.

26-034 Vapes, kratom, THC products, and other substances focusing on youth access, marketing, regulation, health impacts, and policy - Requestors: Pogemiller, Grego. Committee: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Controlled Substances. 26-040 Well-Ordered Schools: Discipline as the Foundation of Classroom Culture, Student Outcomes, and Teacher Retention - Requestor: Hall.

Committee: Common Education. 26-053 Home Delivered Meals - Requestor: Gise, Emily. Committee: Appropriations and Budget - Human Services.

Combined with Approved Combined with Interim Studies 26-091 & 26-092. 26-074 Domestic Violence Registry - Requestor: Timmons. Committee: Criminal Judiciary.

Combined with Interim Study 26- 033. 26-075 Juvenile Statues - Requestor: Lawson. Committee: Appropriations and Budget - Human Services.

26-080 Youth Engagement Opportunities - Requestor: Alonso Sandoval. Committee: Appropriations and Budget – Education. Combined with Interim Study 26-022.

26-082 Child-Sensitive Arrest Policies and Practices in Oklahoma - Requestor: Turner. Committee: Criminal Judiciary. 26-087 Children’s Promise Tax Credit - Requestor: Miller.

Committee: Appropriations and Budget - Human Services. 26-091 Government Provided Meals and Best Nutritional Practices - Requestor Roe. Committee: Appropriations and Budget - Human Services.

Combined with Interim Studies 26-092 and IS26-053. 26-092 SNAP - Requestor: Pae. Committee: Appropriations and Budget - Human Services Combined with Interim Studies 26-053 and 26-091.

26-093 Dylan's Law II - Requestors: Pae, Gise. Committee: Insurance. 26-120 Artificial Intelligence Accountability in High-Impact State Services: Agency Use, Transparency, Human Review, and Public Trust - Requestor: Clinton.

Committee: Government Modernization & Technology. Senate interim studies include: IS 2026-17 Domestic Violence Courts - Requestor: Brooks. Committee: Judiciary.

IS 2026-31 Examining Foster Care Reimbursements - Requestor: Dossett. Committee: Health and Human Services. IS 2026-37 Domestic Violence Survivor Services in OK - Requestor: Gillespie.

Committee: Judiciary. IS 2026-43 Childcare - Requestor: Hall Committee: Health and Human Services. IS 2026-44 Impact of AI Social Companion Use on Minors - Requestor: Hamilton.

Committee: Technology and Telecommunications. IS 2026-51 Supervised Visitation Safety and Accountability - Requestor: Hicks. Committee: Judiciary.

IS 2026-66 Intervention Strategies for Combat Domestic Violence and Juvenile Gang Affiliation - Requestor: Mann. Committee: Judiciary. IS 2026-79 Student Behavior & Discipline - Requestor: Pugh.

Committee: Education. IS 2026-80 Civics Education - Requestor: Pugh. Committee: Education.

IS 2026-89 State Government Funded Meals & the Health of Oklahomans and on Taxpayers - Requestor: Standridge. Committee: Health and Human Services. If you would like to follow any studies, contact the requesting lawmakers to receive meeting notices and learn more about the issue.

You may attend these meetings at the Capitol or watch online at okhouse. gov or oksenate. gov. OICA will monitor these and other studies over the next several months.

You can receive regular updates from OICA Policy Director Greg Sawyer at OICA. org by subscribing to our weekly newsletter. 10th Annual OICA Heroes Ball a True Celebration of Champions for Children OICA Encourages Our Nation's Governors To Expand Civics Education Honoring Oklahoma's Heroes for Children and Remembering the Lost For those of us at the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA), it is Heroes Ball Week!

Our annual gala will be at 7 p. m. on Saturday, July 25 at the OKC Farmers’ Public Market.

We are excited to honor the champions which our board selected for their work. We are also equally enthusiastic about our Anne Roberts People’s Choice Award finalists. Each year, we take nominations from the public for their favorite child advocates of the year in both the individual and organization categories.

Those nominations are narrowed by our board; the finalists are placed into a competition, and a public vote determines the winner. Voting closes at 5 p. m.

on Saturday just two hours before the Heroes Ball begins. Attendees at the gala will have one final opportunity to cast a paper ballot for their choice. Our team will tabulate the votes, add them to the online voting, currently with more than 13,000 votes, and we will announce the winner at the end of the gala.

This year, our finalists are, for the individual category: Lou Carmichael of Variety Care; Michele DeBerry, Ed. D. of the Oklahoma Autism Network; Meghan Hollingsworth of Pioneer Library System; Trisha Koelsch of Calm Waters; Maci Shoemaker at Cordell Memorial Hospital; and Julie Sisler, Ph.

D. of Bethesda, Inc. For the organizational award: Bethesda, Inc.; Hearts for Hearing; New World Comics Superhero School; Oklahoma CASA; Oklahoma Parents for Student Achievement; Parent Promise; and Urban Bridge. You can go to https://tinyurl.

com/ARPCAVidsVote and watch videos submitted by the nominees to learn more about them, then vote for your favorite before the online deadline Saturday. This is the 10th Heroes Ball, our primary fundraiser for the mission of OICA. Most know us for our work at the state and nation’s capitols to promote better policies for youth.

We also run Oklahoma’s Kid Governor® program, hold a year-long leadership development program called Advocacy Boot Camp for adults (with a youth program hopefully kicking off next summer for high school sophomores), and we travel the state train organization members how to be effective advocates on policy issues. We strive to live up to the billing of “the voice for Oklahoma’s children” on policy solutions.

I appreciate each person who has given of their time or donated to the organization to help us achieve our mission. Through our work, we come across many individuals who truly care about others and dedicate their lives to improving Oklahoma. Recently, we lost three of those individuals who are part of the “Capitol Family.

” Two former lawmakers and a retired legislative assistant each passed, and I want to express my deepest condolences to their families and those they held dear. Rep. Bill Paulk served as Oklahoma Labor Commissioner and state representative during his years of service.

He championed many causes tied to workers’ rights and labor laws, including allowing me to work with him on promoting the need for more student nurses in schools. Bill was a gentle soul and will be missed. Rep.

Calvin Anthony represented Stillwater as a mayor and a state representative. I met him in 1992 when he decided to run for the Legislature. His was the first campaign on which I volunteered for a full election.

He was one of the kindest men I knew, and he was “Loyal and True” to Oklahoma State throughout his entire life. Pat Paddleford became my adopted “work mom” at the Oklahoma Capitol when I was first hired in 1994. She worked with Speaker Pro Tempore Jim Glover through his entire time at the Capitol.

When he retired, she became my legislative assistant when I was elected to succeed him; she also worked for Rep. Dan Sullivan and Sen. A.

J. Griffin. She remained one of my “adopted moms” long after leaving the Capitol.

I will miss each of them, as will those who knew them. The Courage of Children Changed a Nation The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) will celebrate our 10th Annual Heroes Ball on Saturday, July 25. This fundraising gala recognizes and celebrates Oklahoma’s champions for children, and we would be honored for you to join us for this very special evening which honors some of Oklahoma’s best champions for children.

This year, we are thrilled to present our Kate Barnard Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously to Clara Luper, and to the members of her Oklahoma City NAACP Youth Council for their peaceful protests that changed the nation. The Katz Drug Store sit in occurred in August 1958 with the mission to end segregation in Oklahoma City.

That effort began a series of non-violent sit-ins across six years until Oklahoma City was no longer segregated. The movement spurred change nationwide. Marilyn Luper, Joyce Henderson, and Joyce Jackson, who as youngsters participated in the sit-in, will participate in a discussion that will serve as the Heroes Ball’s keynote address.

All the living members of the NAACP Youth Council have been invited so we can recognize their accomplishments. Kate Barnard, for whom the award is named, was Oklahoma’s first female statewide elected official, serving as the Commissioner of Charities and Corrections. She is regarded as the foremost child advocate of her time.

The Jay Scott Brown Individual Advocate Award will go to Carmelita Skeeter, the CEO of Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa (IHCRC). The award’s namesake, Jay Scott Brown, was an OICA Board Chairman who passed in 2022 following a career of service to the organization and other youth programs, including the Oklahoma Commission on Children and