Harford County Celebrates 19 Champions for Children and Youth

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Harford County’s 2019 Champions for Children & Youth Awards Breakfast.
Pictured from left: Back Row – Kevin Keegan, Chair, Harford County Local Management Board, with daughter Skyelar; Dr. Austin Hill, Alvo Antonelli, Diana Reeves, Kim Ashman, and Badia Khalid-Manning, 2019 Champions for Children and Youth; Patrick Vincenti, Harford County Council; and Laurie Rajala, Director, Harford County Local Management Board.
Middle Row – Melissa Stout and Christina Douglas, 2019 Champion for Children and Youth; Brandy Naughton, Vice Chair, Harford County Local Management Board; Hailey Allen, Rhonda Davis, Caitlin White, Dennis Reimann, and Sue Rattman accepting for Dr. Susan Austin, 2019 Champions for Children and Youth; and Amber Shrodes, Director, Harford County Department of Community Services; Not pictured: Mario Nandalal, 2019 Champion for Children and Youth.
Front Row (Seated) – Heidi Johnson, Katherine Butterfield, Holly Dixon, Alexandra Abell, Skylar Rutka, and Connie Carnes accepting for Jennifer Cox, 2019 Champions for Children and Youth.

Harford County honored 19 individuals who have improved the lives of local youth at the 2019 Champions for Children and Youth Awards held June 21 at Harford Community College’s Chesapeake Center in Bel Air. The awards presented by the Harford County Department of Community Services’ Local Management Board celebrate professionals, volunteers, and youth who go above and beyond to help young people in our community.

Kevin Keegan, chair of the Harford County Local Management Board, opened the ceremony and presented the awards along with Brandy Naughton, vice-chair. This year’s recipients were Alexandra Abell, Hailey Allen, Alvo Antonelli, Kim Ashman, Dr. Susan Austin, Katherine Butterfield, Jennifer Cox, Rhonda Davis, Holly Dixon, Christina Douglas, Dr. Austin Hill, Heidi Johnson, Badia Khalid-Manning, Mario Nandalal, Dennis Reimann, Diana Reeves, Skylar Rutka, Melissa Stout, and Caitlin White.

“What impresses me most is how the community comes together to take care of our neighbors, providing opportunities to assist others in being successful in achieving their future goals and removing barriers to those goals,” Keegan said of the nominees.

Each Nominee received framed artwork by Ethan Boeren, a fifth grade student at Red Pump Elementary School. Each year the committee chooses a piece of art, created by a local child for the Champions for Children Award, to symbolize the work being done to enhance the lives of young people in Harford County.

“Harford County cares deeply about our youth,” County Executive Barry Glassman said. “This year’s honorees and sponsors have helped to support their education, health and safety, and we are proud to celebrate these champions in our community.”

A special thank you goes to Harford Cable Network for filming this year’s event, which will air Fridays in August at 7:00 p.m.

The Harford County Local Management Board works continually to improve outcomes for children, youth and families in the community. For more information, contact 410-638-3166 or [email protected].

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