Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina Presents Donna Stone Memorial Award
Morrisville, N.C. (March 28, 2023) — Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina (PCANC) announced on March 28 that Dr. Wanda Boone, Founder and Executive Director of Together for Resilient Youth, is the recipient of its Donna Stone Memorial Award. The award recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to supporting children and families across North Carolina. PCANC established the award in 1986 to honor Donna J. Stone, founder of Prevent Child Abuse America. Each recipient of this award embodies Stone’s vision of utilizing community engagement, collaboration, and volunteerism to prevent child abuse and neglect.
Dr. Boone’s steadfast work with at-risk families and youth, advocacy for families and development of culturally affirming and community-driven solutions to teach resilience skills and provide new understandings about trauma, embodies the passion and drive of a Donna Stone Award Winner. Her expertise in the field of Resiliency and Adverse Childhood Experiences and belief that children thrive when the adults that surround them are well and do well will nurture positive childhoods for North Carolina’s children for years to come.
“From her work with the National Society of Prevention Sciences and the National Institutes of Medicine Healthy NC 2030 Social and Economic Factors work group focusing on the impact of trauma, to work with Duke Professors creating the Coping Together Program serving North Carolina and Kenya families, to her work during the pandemic with hospital personnel, school personnel and healthcare workers, we’re honored to present this award to Dr. Wanda Boone,” PCANC President and CEO Sharon Hirsch said.
Eulanda Thorne, Ms. Black NC, presented Dr. Boone with the award in front of 350 child advocates and prevention experts during PCANC’s virtual Learning & Leadership Summit on March 28, 2023. In addition to the award, she received a $500 stipend to be used to further prevention efforts in her community.