Children’s Playhouse honors Hometown Heroes

The Children’s Playhouse’s fifth annual Great Friend to Families award will be presented March 2, with the winner selected from a group of other winners — Helping Hands and Helping Hearts.

Helping Hands awards celebrate professionals who, over the course of their careers, have shown extraordinary dedication to improving the lives of children and families, and Helping Hearts awards recognize individuals who have touched the lives of children and families through generous philanthropy and/or outstanding volunteerism.

The 2013 Helping Hands award-winners are Jim Atkinson of the Watauga County Department of Social Services; Renee Boughman of F.A.R.M. Café; Lucy Hoffman of Avery Amigos and WAMY Community Action; Edith Mubanda, Laurie Cimino and Eloisa Hernandez-Ruiz of the Watauga County Health Deptartment WIC Program; Kelly Sheets of Two Rivers Community School; Nancee Pond of the teen parent GED program; and Lillian Worley of the Appalachian District Health Department dental office.

The 2013 Helping Hearts award-winners are: Amber Bateman (Quiet Givers), Leigh Girard (Temple of the High Country Sisterhood, Children’s Council of Watauga County), Evelyn Johnson (Kiwanis, Watauga County Library, Watauga Baptist Church), Roachel Laney (Special Olympics, Victory Junction Gang Camp, Santa’s Toy Box and the Red Cross), Mary Mast (Watauga County Schools), Amber Mellon (Girl Scouts, Watauga County Schools, The Children’s Playhouse) and Madison Welch (Hunger Coalition, Who Needs a Change?, Humane Society).

The overall award winner will be announced at the March 2 luncheon, which runs from noon to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, at the High Country Home Builders Plaza (755 N.C.105 By-Pass in Boone).

Tickets are $20 per person, of which $15 is tax-deductible. Tickets may be purchased no later than Feb. 27, either online at http://www.goplayhouse.org, in person at the Playhouse or over the phone by calling (828) 263-0011.