We are accepting nominations for the 2010 Be There for Your Kids Awards. This year’s winners will be honored during the pre-game ceremony of the June 18th Rockies game. Nominations are due May 15.

Last year’s winners included:
Jerome Perkins (pictured on the far right) – Fatherhood Practitioner of the Year - Jerome is the administrator of Christlife Ministries in Pueblo. Christlife Ministries focuses mentoring fathers in prison to connect with their children on the inside while also preparing them for a lasting relationship with their family when they are released.

Joel Webster (Pictured on the right with Governor Bill Ritter) – Father of the Year – Joel and his wife Bridget are parents to 13-year-old Michael and 9-year-old Haley. Joel rose from the ashes so to speak . . . after spending part of his childhood in foster care and being homeless for a short period of time, Joel demonstrated a tremendous commitment to getting his life in order and eventually married and became the kind of dad his step son and biological daughter need him to be. Joel broke a negative cycle and has replaced it with powerful presence of courage, nurturance, and hope.

You probably know someone deserving of a Be There Award. Nominees must be a resident of Colorado and fall into one of the following eight categories:

Award Categories
Be There For Your Kids Father of the Year: Awarded to a father or father figure who excels at fathering, has provided community leadership, served as a public role model or acted as a mentor to other children or fathers.

Outstanding Fatherhood Practitioner Award: Awarded to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of fatherhood practice through his or her work in the state of Colorado or local community.

Policymaker or Advocate of the Year: Awarded to a local or state policymaker or individual who has provided valuable leadership in support of policies or legislation affecting issues of positive parenting and fathering.

Colorado Fatherhood Council Member of the Year: Awarded to the Colorado Fatherhood Council member who has made an outstanding contribution to the work of the council.

Program, Coalition or Agency of the Year: Awarded to the program, coalition or agency that has made an outstanding contribution to advancing the field of fatherhood practice or policy in Colorado.

Child Welfare Caseworker of the Year: Awarded to the Colorado Child Welfare Caseworker who has made an outstanding contribution toward engaging fathers in child welfare services.

County Child Welfare Department of the Year: Awarded to the County Child Welfare Department that has demonstrated improvement or excellence in strengthening positive father engagement in the child welfare system.

Other: Workplace of the Year, Media of the Year, Visionary of the Year, Collaborator, etc. Individuals are encouraged to nominate other institutions/ individuals that do not fit any of the categories above. Nominees should achieve a high level of support for fathers and/or for the field of fatherhood practice and policy. The selection committee will determine the number of awardees in this category.

Follow this link to nominate someone today.