Beth Cardina, licensed social worker, received the “Trailblazer” award at the Oct. 1 Akron Children’s More childhood, please.™ Awards event. Not only has Beth’s heart for helping people guided her through a 40-year career in child welfare – but it’s helping her honor her son’s memory. Beth’s beginnings When she was in elementary school, an […]
Melody Strait’s award showcases the heart of community health workers
Melody received the first “Akron Children’s Advocate Award” at the 2025 More childhood, please™. Awards held Oct. 1. Although it’s an individual award, Melody shares it with her fellow community health workers (CHWs). “What an honor to be nominated for the Advocate Award. I cried when I found out I won,” she shared. “Most people […]
Jack Weber’s compassion for kids isn’t bound by borders
Jack discovered his love for working with kids when he was in graduate school to become a speech language pathologist, also called a speech therapist. Now, he helps patients in both Akron and the Dominican Republic. His skills and dedication recently earned him a More childhood, please.™ Akron Children’s Caregiver Award. The Akron Children’s Caregiver […]
More childhood, please.™ Awards celebrate those who positively impact children’s lives
More than 200 people gathered Oct. 1 to celebrate our community’s brightest stars. The inaugural More childhood, please. Awards honored community members and Akron Children’s employees who improve kids’ lives throughout northeast Ohio. Welcome and entertainment Chris Gessner, Akron Children’s president and CEO, greeted the event attendees. “When I look around this room, I am […]
No more silence! Mia Rodriguez hears her parents’ voices for the first time
Dressed in adorable gold ballet flats and a white ruffled top with matching pants, 9-month-old Mia Rodriguez was observing all the commotion and admiring the cameras and spotlight on her. She locked eyes on her mom, who was calling her by name, because for the first time she heard her mother’s voice. Mia cracked a […]
