Congratulations to the winners of the 2005 Children’s Champions Awards recognizing exceptional contributions to promoting the well-being of children and youth in the St. Louis region. The awards are presented annually by Vision for Children at Risk and the St. Louis Metropolitan Children's Agenda.  The 2005 Children’s Champion winners are:

Corporate involvement, AT&T Missouri (formerly SBC-Missouri); for their visible support of children’s issues and encouraging investments in children’s services

Philanthropic support, Thomas Gunn and Kathleen Toohey Gunn, for their leadership and fundraising work for St. John’s Mercy Medical Center, Voices for Children, Saint Louis University, Fontbonne University and many others


Governmental leadership, St. Louis Mental Health Board, for their funding support of many children’s initiatives and in 2004 leading the campaign for the Children’s Services Fund in the City of St. Louis

Governmental leadership, State Rep. Margaret Donnelly, for being a strong advocate for children in the Missouri Legislature

Media coverage, St. Louis Post-Dispatch Editorial Page, for calling attention to children’s needs on an ongoing basis

Media coverage, KSDK-TV, for a regular noon news “Parenting Tip of the Week” segment covering family mental health issues in cooperation with the Family Support Network

Leadership by youth, Darolyn Cunningham of St. Louis, for her work with Let’s Start, a program for formerly incarcerated women

Volunteerism, Black Leadership Roundatable Board of Directors, for the Parent Engagement and Empowerment Center program

Faith community leader, Linda Kessler of Ballwin, for her work with the Family Support Council, United Way Success by 6, Tumani Family Learning Center, the St. Louis Children’s Agenda Family Support work group, and other organizations