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May 4, 2015
HER EXCELLENCY SHARON JOHNSTON RECEIVES ONE OF TWO
“BECAUSE MOTHERS MATTER” AWARDS FROM HIPPY CANADA
OTTAWA_ Home Instruction Program for Parents of Preschool Youngsters
(HIPPY) Canada, is celebrating fifteen years of serving more than 6,500 lowincome newcomer and Aboriginal mothers and to celebrate this milestone an
inaugural “BECAUSE MOTHERS MATTER” award has been established.
The ceremony to honour the recipients will take place on May 6 th ,
2015 in Ottawa. The ceremony and reception will be hosted by the
Australian High Commissioner at the Australian High Commission
residence.
Dr. Ruth, the American media personality and author will attend and speak at
the ceremony, as well as Dr. Ruth’s daughter, Dr. Miriam Westheimer, the executive
Director of HIPPY International. The guest list will be comprised of funding
ministers, senior government officials, potential sponsors and stakeholders.
Two awards will be given – one to a prominent Canadian mother who has achieved
noteworthy success while giving back to her community and the second to a HIPPY
mother who has succeeded in using the HIPPY program to help her children and
herself.
Her Excellency Sharon Johnston will be one of two recipients of the award.
Her Excellency has led by example with her groundbreaking professional work in
rehabilitation science and respiratory mechanics which has bettered the lives of
those who suffer from cystic fibrosis, her work as an author, her dedication to
volunteer and community work and her commitment to raising five accomplished
daughters. Both the Governor General and Her Excellency are patrons of HIPPY
Canada and recognize the powerful impact that the HIPPY program has on
changing the lives of mothers and their families.
The second recipient and outstanding HIPPY Mother is
Nagham Fawaz who will receive a $500 scholarship from the
Carol Slater Scholarship Fund. Nagham moved to Canada with
her husband and son from Beirut. While a HIPPY mother, she
obtained her diploma from Seneca College in Toronto. After
working two years as a HIPPY Home Visitor, Nagham is now a Youth Case Worker
with the Client Support Services team at COSTI Immigrant Services where she
works with government-assisted refugees, helping families and youth settle and
adapt to their new lives in the Greater Toronto Area.
The HIPPY Program: Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters
(HIPPY) is an evidence-based program that works with families in the home to
support parents – primarily mothers – in their critical role as their child’s first and
most important teacher. HIPPY strengthens families and communities by
empowering mothers to prepare their children for success in school. Each year
HIPPY works with 1,000 families of preschool children in five provinces.
To attend the ceremony, to arrange for interviews or for more information, please
contact:
Mariu de la Hoz
HIPPY Canada
508-1190 Melville Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 3W1
Work: 604-676-8250
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.hippycanada.ca