The Jerry Paul Youth Advocacy Award was created in 2015 to honor the life and legacy of Rev. Jerry Paul. Rev. Paul was a former Neighborhood Houses (now Unleashing Potential) board member, the founding CEO of the Deaconess Foundation, and a dedicated advocate for children across the St. Louis area.
Rev. Paul was a hospital executive from 1982-97, serving as president and CEO of Deaconess Incarnate Word Health System during its last 5 years. In 1997, when the hospital was sold, Rev. Paul served as founding president and chief executive officer of the Deaconess Foundation, creating it as an independent, innovative program of charitable giving. Under his leadership, the Foundation’s major focus was to improve the lives of children in stressed urban neighborhoods, particularly supporting charities that provide healthcare, educational support, housing assistance, and legal services—ultimately affecting the lives of tens of thousands of area youth and their families.
Unleashing Potential is now accepting nominations for the 2018 Jerry Paul Youth Advocacy Award. Nominees for the Jerry Paul Youth Advocacy Award will:
- Be an outstanding advocate for the health, education, and well-being of children and youth, especially those in challenged, under-resourced communities.
- Exhibit a strong personal dedication to improving the lives of children and youth.
- Have a body of work, through personal, volunteer, and/or professional efforts, that demonstrates positive impact on children and youth.
Nominations are due July 31, 2018. Click here to download a nomination form.
Previous Awardees
2015 | Carol Swartout Klein, Author, Painting for Peace in Ferguson
2016 | Susan S. Stepleton, Ph.D., Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis
2017 | Ron Jackson, Retired nonprofit executive
