Plenty of Glamour and Inspiration as CT Parent Power Hosts “Red Carpet Hero Award Gala”

It was an evening to honor and celebrate three individuals for their unwavering leadership and support of Connecticut’s children and families. It was also a night to put on a fancy outfit, kick up your heels and enjoy a night of togetherness and fun.

“The CT Parent Power Red Carpet Hero Award was inspired by our parents who wanted to instill a sense of hopefulness, happiness and a deeply rooted sense of ‘unity with community,’ which we believe was accomplished with the outpouring support of many who came together to share one vision on one night,” said Marilyn Calderon, Executive Director of Connecticut Parent Power.

Three awards were bestowed at the event, held at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Meriden on September 20. David Nee, Executive Director of the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund, was the recipient of the “Philanthropic Hero Award;” George Hensinger, a long-time member of CT Parent Power and steering committee leader, was honored with the “Hall of Fame Parent Hero Award;” and Myra Jones-Taylor, the Executive Director of the Office of Early Childhood, was honored with the “Dynamic Early Childhood Hero Award.”

For Hensinger, the honor was a complete surprise, just the way Calderon had planned it.  He was finally tipped off when Calderon and an accomplished group of singers sang a new version of “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” from Broadway’s “Gypsy” to include Hensinger’s and Nee’s names.

“I was definitely surprised and I appreciate the award and the help of the supporting organizations, especially the Graustein Memorial Fund, without whom I could not have accomplished what I have,” said Hensinger.

“Humbling” was a word that came to mind for one of the night’s guests of honor, David Nee. Listening to the way he was portrayed in a number of speeches was very complimentary, Nee said.

“It was a great honor to be recognized the same night as George Hensinger was because I aspire to be like him in retirement,” said Nee, who plans to retire in early 2014. Anyone who knows Hensinger knows that retirement has not slowed him down one bit.

Myra Jones-Taylor applauded CT Parent Power for making sure the parent voice is included in policy creation.

"Parents are our children's first teachers,” said Jones-Taylor.  “Listening to them and learning from them should be a priority for all of us who work with children and families.  So many parents make tremendous sacrifices each and every day to make sure that their families' and communities' needs are addressed.  It is a distinct honor to be recognized by CT Parent Power for all of the critical work they do ensure that parents have a voice in the policies that affect children and families."

CT Parent Power’s mission is to educate, engage and mobilize parents to act on children's issues.  CT Parent Power brings timely, clear, and accurate information to Connecticut parents and delivers meaningful opportunities for parents to take action on children's issues that matter most to them in the areas of early childhood, healthcare reform and school systems PreK-12th grades.

“We know that children can’t vote, so we need informed parents to advocate for the well-being of their children. That’s what we do at CTPP,” said Hensinger.