Weller Center Announces 2015 Honorees for Outstanding Friend to Kids Awards

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - March 6, 2015 - PRLog -- The Weller Health Education Center has selected its eleventh annual Outstanding Friend to Kids award honorees:  David Yanoshik, St. Luke’s Community Health Department, and Leadership Lehigh Valley Education Team. The 2015 Awards celebration will be held on Wednesday, April 22 from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at Lehigh Country Club in Allentown. The awards are given to individuals and organizations that have made a significant and positive impact on the health and well-being of children in the greater Lehigh Valley.

Children’s Advocate Award - David Yanoshik, Director at Penn Jersey Advance
David Yanoshik is a dedicated volunteer and board member who unselfishly shares his time and talent with many organizations, including the Weller Center. Motivated by a commitment to community David makes a powerful, positive impact on the lives of children and youth everywhere. As the perfect role-model, we celebrate his tireless efforts.

Health Partner Award – St. Luke’s Community Health Department
The Community Health Department of St. Luke’s University Hospital leads the way to a better quality of life. Critical programs for mental health, literacy, youth empowerment and character development, plus environmental and policy interventions, serve children's needs each day. St. Luke's increases health awareness, improves health status, provides access to health care throughout the community--while promoting healthy living--and offers youth the best in daily medical, dental and vision care.

Education Award – Leadership Lehigh Valley Education Team
Leadership Lehigh Valley, which has developed the next generation of community leaders for over 30 years, focused its 2014 Education Team initiative on social issues which derail children in middle schools from a hope of higher education--including stress, depression, prescription drug use, heroin addiction, cyberbullying and social media behaviors. Congratulations on your goal to bring awareness to these ubiquitous challenges, demonstrate the programs currently available, encourage volunteer leadership and establish a model of efforts needed to mitigate the issues!

Funds raised at this year’s event will support the Weller Health Education Center’s new programs on Stress and Resiliency and Adolescent Depression Awareness which will be presented to thousands of school children in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.   For more information, including sponsorship opportunities, and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.wellercenter.org.

The Weller Health Education Center is dedicated to helping children lead healthy, happy, long lives. Partnering with hundreds of schools each year, the Weller Center connects with young people to change behaviors and help them develop life-long healthy habits that will prevent chronic disease, reduce violence and improve the overall health, safety and well-being of children and families in our communities.