Children playing in classroom

Donley Award to Northampton Medical Alliance, Allentown Police Chief

 On April 18, 2013, Community Services for Children will recognize Allentown Police Chief Roger MacLean and the Northampton County Medical Society Alliance with The Inez and Edward Donley Award for Children’s Advocacy. The event takes place at The Sands Conference Center, Monroe Room, at noon. Tickets are $50. Sponsorships are available.

 Given for the first time in 1996, Community Services for Children established this prestigious award to acknowledge public service at the local, state, and/or national levels which has significantly improved the quality of life for children. Mr. and Mrs. Donley, who exemplify the spirit of the award, were the first recipients. We continue to honor  their example by naming the award for them.

 Chief Roger MacLean Chief MacLean of the Allentown Police Department has been a leading spokesman throughout our region and Pennsylvania promoting the importance of quality early childhood education as a deterrent of juvenile crime. The program is called “Fight Crime, Invest in Kids.” This anti-crime organization of over 5000 police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors and violence survivors across the country takes a hard look at the research about what prevents kids from becoming criminals and puts that information in the hands of policymakers and the general public. As such, Chief MacLean is a major proponent of quality early education and prevention of child abuse.

 Northampton County Medical Society Alliance The Alliance has partnered with CSC/Head Start of the Lehigh Valley for 15 years. Alliance members provide health-related instruction in the classrooms, educational materials, and annual financial donations to the Family Resource Fund (aka “Operation Heart Throb”). When they come into the classrooms, they do art activities with the children, lead them in gross motor activities, sing, read, provide the children with a healthy snack as well as a book related to the activity of the month. They sponsor special speakers to come speak with the children and parents, especially physicians, who talk about keeping their bodies healthy.

 In addition to the Donleys, past individual recipients include Mrs. Rebecca Gorton, Mrs. Ardath Rodale, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Butz, Mr. Kostas Kalogeropolous, Mrs. Patricia W. Levin, The Honorable Edward G. Rendell, Dr. Arthur L. Scott, Mr. Scott Fainor, Dr. Diane Scott, The Honorable Jeanette Reibman, Mr. L. Jack Bradt, Mr. Peter Carpino, Mrs. Marlene “Linny” Fowler, and Dr. and Mrs. Peter Likins.

 Past recipients of the Organization Award are Computer Aid, PPL Corporation, Education 2020!, St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network, The Women’s Leadership Initiative of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley; PNC Financial Services; Just Born, Inc; The Harry C. Trexler Trust; Bethlehem Steel Corporation; Agere Systems; Air Products & Chemicals, Inc; Lehigh Valley Health Network; CoreStates Bank; and Binney & Smith, Inc (now “Crayola”).

 For additional information, call Community Services for Children at 610-437-6000, x2113, or log onto www.cscinc.org/events.

 Community Services for Children is a regional leader in early childhood education and family development, affecting the lives of 40,000 children annually.