Two New "Annual Awards" Announced

Annual Awards Announced!

We had a successful conference and award Gala this year. The theme was, Mothers...Influencing the World One Child at a Time. We had over 125 mothers in attendance at the Flintridge County Club in La Canada, California. 

Besides announcing and honoring our new Mothers of the Year  and Mother of Achievement,we also introduced two new annual awards. The first is the Francis Eleanor Smith Award, “Helping the Helpless Children.” Francis Eleanor Smith, the mother of six children, was named the 2nd National Mother of the Year in 1936. Born in Warrenton, Virginia, she moved at an early age to California where she attended school, married and raised her family. Francis is best remembered today for what her selection as National Mother of the Year created.   When chosen her friends and neighbors were so elated that they raised funds to start a rehabilitation center for crippled children in her honor. 

In 1938 Casa Colina in Chino, California, (She refused to let them name the center for her) opened its doors. Since then thousands of children have left the center able to care for themselves. Francis herself worked full time at the facility without salary until her death in 1952.  Casa Colina is a center, not a hospital. Francis always insisted on a home-like atmosphere.  Nurses do not wear caps; work is carried on today just as she wanted, giving hope and a chance to many “hopeless” children. Today Casa Colina is located in Pomona and thrives as a center still helping thousands of people. 

                     

The other annual award is the Dorothy Winder DeVore Award, “Influencing The World, One Child at a Time.”  Dorothy and her husband, Greg, have been the rock of the California American Mothers Inc. program for the past five years. She has been dedicated and selfless to all of us.  Here are some thoughts about Dorothy and her characteristics, which the recipients of these newly created annual awards will need to exemplify.

“Mothers get caught up in wanting to do big things and if they can't accomplish grandiose projects they become discouraged and start feeling they are not as good as other mothers.  In reality, just doing the small things on a daily basis by helping  their children, husbands and those with whom they come in contact are worthy of the highest award.  Most women do wonderful things daily and get no recognition and don't expect recognition; it's just part of who they are and how they live.” That is what motherhood is all about.  Influencing one child at a time…be it one child or one person... that is Dorothy!