Thursday, October 20th was a beautiful evening for Eluna’s Champions for Children Celebration at Ballroom at the Ben in Philadelphia. For the first time since 2019, Eluna supporters were able to attend this annual event in person, to celebrate the Power of Community.

During the cocktail hour, guests submitted their own memories to remember someone they are grieving or reflect on positive memories of a loved one struggling with addiction. These submissions were developed into a poignant Community Poem, read aloud by the campers as part of the opening ceremony and accompanied by acoustic guitar played by music therapist, Jenny Borgwardt.

Host, Lou Nolan - known as the voice of the Philadelphia Flyers - began the program announcing this year’s recipients of the Peter DeGeorge Family Foundation scholarship, supporting Camp Erin alumni, and the Susan and Erik Hansen Scholarship, in support of Camp Mariposa alumni, followed by remarks from Eluna’s Chief Executive Officer, Mary FitzGerald.

Finally, awards were presented to three special champions who provide much needed support to children and families impacted by grief or addiction.

 

Champion for Children honorees pictured left to right: Craig Kramer, Jennifer Lewis-Hall, Susan Barber, RN

Champion For Children Award, presented to Craig Kramer, Mental Health Ambassador and Chair, Global Campaign for Mental Health, in Neuroscience External Affairs at Janssen R&D, a Johnson & Johnson Company, by Eluna Co-Founder, Karen Phelps Moyer, for his outstanding work in the field of mental health and suicide prevention.

Media Partner Award, presented to Jennifer Lewis-Hall, award-winning TV news journalist with PHL 17, by Ray Didinger, well-known local sportswriter and author, for her work with Eluna’s Community Conversations program. 

Resiliency Award, presented to Susan Barber, affectionately known as “Nurse Sue” at Camp Mariposa Sarasota, by Board Member Henry Miller, for her dedication and mentoring of campers, and her impressive career in pediatric nursing.

We are grateful for the outpouring of support, and our success would not have been possible without the generosity of our sponsors and so many individuals who enthusiastically participated in our online auction.  

 

View online photo album here!

Thank you to our 2022 Champions for Children Sponsors!

 

Luminary Sponsor

The Peter DeGeorge Foundation

 

Presenting Sponsor

AmerisourceBergen

 

Platinum Sponsors

New York Life

Russell and Stephanie Deyo

 

Gold sponsors

Alera Group

Anonymous

Answering Service for Directors

Compass Wire Cloth Corp.

Duane Morris

Independence Blue Cross

 

Silver Sponsors

Bittenbender Construction

Brown & Brown Insurance

K10 Kids Foundation

M&T Bank

Odgers Berndtson

Perkins Coie

Ricoh

The Walter Williams Foundation

 

Bronze Sponsors

Brandywine Developers, Inc.

Intech Construction

LF Driscoll

Merrill Lynch – Nottingham, Walsh, Goodman & Associates

Jeff Hilliard and Sheila Turner-Hilliard 

Stifel

Tierney

Tonbo Visual Productions

Wells Fargo