United Voices for Children: Speaking and Acting on Behalf of Troubled and Needy Children and Youth

2002 Child Advocacy Awards

Bishop Jesse R. DeWitt Award

The Bishop Jesse R. DeWitt Award is presented to Verna Schubert.

Verna SchubertVerna Schubert (left in the photo) is Director of the Saturday Kids’ Club at Centennial Multicultural United Methodist Church in Rockford. She has served five years: several months as a volunteer and then as Director. She does an outstanding job of providing activities for low-income children of the community. The scope of these activities ranges from a nutritious meal to opportunities for artistic expression, to lessons about conflict management and resolution. She is excellent in her own relationships with the children and inspires and motivates a large number of volunteers who work in the program.

Verna, states her pastor, “is one whom god has chosen and called to ministry — very special ministry with those children whose needs are great.”

(Lynne Vass, vice president/development at Rosecrance Health Network, presented the award to Verna at UVC's breakfast during Northern Illinois Annual Conference in June.)

Katherine B. Greene Award

The Katherine B. Greene Award is presented to Heidi Soderberg.

Heidi SoderbergHeidi Soderberg (left in the photo) volunteered in 1998 to be the Director of the Logos youth program in DeKalb. This is a 23-week program, based on theology and practice in a disciplined, four-part context for children in the first grade through high school. Logos includes family time, worship, skills, Bible study and recreation time. Heidi has diligently directed this program in addition to a full time job as a first/second grade teacher.

Heidi spends endless hours coordinating the many people needed to run this program and is in attendance for every minute of very session. If a volunteer is absent, she automatically substitutes — whether teacher, cook, dishwasher, mentor or record keeper.

Her pastor states: “Where the youth are, Heidi is, participating right along with them, encouraging them and praising them.”

(The Rev. Margaret Ann Williams, associate executive director, Marcy-Newberry Association, presented the award to Heidi at UVC's breakfast during Northern Illinois Annual Conference in June.)