Cleft Palate Foundation
Leadership Award Recipients
All winners of this award are personally affected by cleft or craniofacial conditions, either as affected individuals themselves or through family members.
| 2011 | Paula Miller Founder of Virginia Smiles, Mrs. Miller has distributed Pigeon Feeders and copies of the Cleft Palate Foundation’s feeding video to all birthing hospitals in Virginia, as well as information about the Infant Toddler Connection of Virginia, Craniofacial Teams in Virginia from the Cleft Palate Foundation, and information from Cleft Advocate. |
| 2010 | Harriet Fisher Founder of Thanksgiving in the Country, Mrs. Fisher has raised more than $500,000.00 for cleft care, education and advocacy. Her efforts also support the work of Casa Azul America, a group working on cleft repair and care in central Mexico. |
| 2008 | Claire Crawford Founder of Claire’s Bears project. By April 2008, Miss. Crawford had raised $13,500 for bears, cleft education and advocacy. She is also a co-founder of her high school’s Operation Smile Student Association. |
| 2007 | Paula Goldenberg Founder of VCFS listserv and Medical Director of the International 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome Foundation. |
| 2006 | Cheryl Hendrickson Founder of Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome Support Network and Beckwith-Wiedemann Children’s Foundation. |
| 2005 | Debbie Oliver Founder and developer of cleftAdvocate and the Pathfinder Outreach Network. |
| 2004 | Carrie Gruman-Trinkner Advocate and author of the book, Your Cleft Affected Child: The Complete Book of Information, Resources & Hope. Ms. Gruman Trinkner also serves as director of the Beacon of Hope Fund, which offers information on clefting to the public. |
| 2003 | Ginny Patzer Member of the Maryland Society for Cleft Lip and Palate Children. |
| 2002 | Julie DeLaurier Liaison with Cambodian orphanage who has so far facilitated the adoption of nine children with clefts to US families. |
| 2001 | Karen LeClair Creator of the “Bears for the Kids” program, providing special teddy bears to individuals born with cleft lip and palate. |
| 2000 | Arthur and Shelley Green Regional coordinators for Florida Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association and coordinators of a craniofacial camp. Advocates for Florida legislation mandating insurance coverage for children with clefts. |
| 1999 | William Eiserman Founder of Rocky Mountain AboutFace Chapter. Co-developer of AboutFace school program “Unwrapping the Package.” |
| 1998 | Hope Charkins Founder of the Treacher Collins Foundation and author of “Children with Facial Difference: A Parent’s Guide.” |
| 1997 | Joanne Greene Founder of Wide Smiles and mother of adopted children with cleft lip and palate. |
| 1996 | Rickie Anderson Founding President of the Advisory Board for the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Craniofacial Center. (Now the Executive Director of AboutFace USA.) |
| 1995 | Betsy Wilson US Founder and Director of Let’s Face It. |
| 1994 | Peg Bryner Founder of Cleft Lip and Palate Support Group Inc. and Board Member of the National Cleft Palate Association. |
| 1993 | Pamela Onyx President of the National Cleft Palate Association and Director of AboutFace USA. |
| 1992 | Karen Schudson Coordinator of the Milwaukee Cleft Lip and Palate Helpline and Charter Member of the National Cleft Palate Association. |
| 1991 | Bernice Bergen Founder and Executive Director of FACE of Sarasota, a nonprofit support organization for individuals affected by craniofacial disorders. |
| 1990 | Donnie Schlereth President of the National Cleft Palate Association. |
| 1989 | Elisabeth Bednar Executive Director of AboutFace International. |
| 1988 | Hyman Gardsbane Founder of the National Cleft Palate Association, a parent-patient organization. |