2008 Destiny Awards

The Destiny Award was created in 2001 to recognize individuals and organizations who are dedicated to the welfare of Kentucky’s kids and whom have demonstrated significant leadership in fulfilling the Five Promises ...Caring Adults, Safe Places, a Healthy Start, Marketable Skills, and Opportunities to Serve.

2008 Destiny Award Recipients

Youth Award
Jessica Amburgey, Mt. Sterling

Business Award
Republic Bank, Louisville

Government Award
Steve Davis, Lexington

Non-Profit Award
Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati

Individual Award
Marlene Huff, Lexington

Individual Award
Donna Wilson, Mt. Sterling

Distinguished Service Award
Carol Blethen, Midway

Kentucky Child Now (KCN) has announced the 2008 Destiny Award winners! The Destiny Award honors the wonderful work of individuals and organizations that has had a significant positive impact on the future of Kentucky's children. This year’s event will be held Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at the Marriott Griffin Gate Ballroom in Lexington. The event, which is part of the 5th Annual Great Kids Summit, will include the awards ceremony, reception, and the legendary jazz of famed pianist, Harry Pickens.

The Destiny Award was created in 2001 to recognize individuals and organizations who are dedicated to the welfare of Kentucky’s kids and whom have demonstrated significant leadership in fulfilling the five fundamental resources youth need to succeed in life … the Five Promises: Caring Adults, Safe Places, A Healthy Start, Marketable Skills and Opportunities to Serve. KCN will present seven awards in the categories of youth, individual, government official, nonprofit organization and business.

Dr. Marlene Huff will be recognized as an individual fulfilling the Five Promises. Marlene B. Huff is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Section of Adolescent Medicine, at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Huff is a licensed clinical social worker and holds a doctorate in medical sociology. She has over twenty years of clinical experience in working with adolescents and their families. Dr. Huff’s research and clinical interest lie in working with individuals who have mood disorders. She has served as a social work educator for the past nine years teaching social welfare policy, human behavior in the social environment, and social work practice.

Dr Huff is a unique professional. Most will do their job, but Marlene does much more. Watch her work with a four year-old sexual abuse victim, an eleven year-old autistic boy or a seventeen year-old suicidal teen and you see someone who is equally capable to be supportive, helpful and compassionate in all cases. To her, the patient is family. She knows all about them and they feel comfortable with her. She would meet a patient for lunch on Saturday if needed; she will keep in touch with them by phone or email. Her patients know that they have someone to turn to even if it is just to talk. She will talk to parents, teachers, layers, judges or anyone that has anything thing to do with the patient. Dr. Huff does these mostly on her own time, evenings and weekends. She is also a very good teacher and still finds time to do research and help better understanding of teens. Dr Huff is a great role model for professionalism, compassion and dedication.
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Jessica Amburgey will be recognized as a youth fulfilling the Five Promises. Jessica is currently a junior at the University of Kentucky where she is pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in History with a minor in French. A lifelong resident of Mt. Sterling, Jessica is involved in numerous community programs. Since 2005 she has been a youth representative on the Montgomery County Community Education Board. In this role, she helped plan 2006 and 2007 Regional Youth Service Day, a National and Global Youth Service Day Project involving 2,000 youth from 10 counties around Eastern Kentucky. Jessica has completed more than 3,500 hours of community service since she began volunteering. Jessica served as chair of theKCN Youth Advisory Council and also as a trainer and youth development intern for the organization. She has participated in 3 political campaigns and is currently a member of the Youth Service America National Youth Council.

Jessica believes that all youth have the right to question the decisions and policies of those who represent them and advocates for legislation regarding the issues that are most important to her. According to Daniel Hatcher, Director of Outreach at Youth Service America, “Jessica is an amazing asset to the YSA National Youth Council. One of only twelve youth from across the country to serve on the Council, Jessica brings incredible energy, ingenuity, idealism, and commitment to the group and strengthens Youth Service as it seeks to expand the impact of the youth service movement. Jessica and young people like her are not just the hope of the future; they are very much the hope of today!”
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Dr. Steve Davis, MD will be recognized as a government official fulfilling the Five Promises. Dr. Davis currently serves as Deputy Commissioner/Senior Deputy State Health Officer for the Kentucky Department for Public Health. Prior to his appointment in state government, Dr. Davis was a practicing pediatrician. His practice grew and he later established a larger pediatric medical practice which provided comprehensive pediatric care to approximately 16,000 children. As an advocate for Kentucky’s children, Dr. Davis recruited five pediatricians and established evening and outreach clinics to improve access to care. He also worked with Pikeville Methodist Hospital helping to establish a Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and a Pediatric Transitional Care Unit for critically ill children.

During his public health career, Dr. Davis has lead public health efforts that have resulted in legislation to establish early childhood development programs that include Birth Defects Prevention, Home Visiting Program for improved pregnancy outcomes (HANDS), Healthy Start in Child Care, Immunizations for Underinsured Children, Early Childhood Mental Health, and Oral Health for Children. In 2005, Dr. Davis led a group effort that developed legislation to Expand Newborn Metabolic Screening that passed into law in 2005, resulting in improving the health and lives of children across the state. Dr. Davis has shown a true commitment to the health and welfare of Kentucky’s children. His work as a pediatrician and a public health professional has offered many of Kentucky’s children a healthier start, helping to secure a healthy future!
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Donna Wilson will be recognized as an individual fulfilling the Five Promises. When thinking of Education and Community Service, there is one individual that is sure to come to mind - Donna Wilson. Donna Wilson and Education go hand in hand. Donna has served as a guidance counselor in the Montgomery County School system for over 35 years. In those 35 years Donna devoted her life to guiding youth in pursing their career interests, making sure that youth met the requirements to graduate, and most of all showing others around her the importance of Community Service. Donna has had many accomplishments throughout her life including being selected as one of 250 educators from across the USA as an “Educator of Distinction” by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. She has assisted local leaders and government leaders to secure Montgomery County’s honorary position as one of America’s Promise’s 100 Best Communities in the nation. Donna has also donned the role as an advisor for SERVE Club (Students Enjoying Rewarding Volunteer Experiences). She is certified in recognizing youth with the Presidential Volunteer Service Award and is also a member of the Montgomery County Champions Against Drugs. Donna received “The Educator of the Year” award from the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce. Her leadership and service expands outside of Montgomery County as an advocate for youth. Donna currently serves on the KCN Board of Directors; the Junior Miss Board of Directors; and the High School Advisory Board for Bluegrass Technical Community College. Many people pass through our lives that we will never forget and some may leave impressions on our hearts. We can definitely tell by her dedication to young people that Donna Wilson is that person.
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Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati will be recognized as a non-profit organization fulfilling the Five Promises. The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati is dedicated to improving community health by awarding grants to nonprofit and governmental agencies for programs and activities that improve health in Cincinnati and twenty surrounding counties in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. After listening to the community and what it felt were the important unmet health needs, the Health Foundation selected four focus areas in which to work. One of these is school-aged children’s healthcare, which concentrates on delivering healthcare to children in school—a safe, familiar, and comfortable environment.

While the Health Foundation played a drastic role in improving the lives of thousands of our citizens, one of its most extraordinary contributions was its trail-blazing role as the primary funder of a then cutting-edge concept in primary care delivery model to children: the school-based health center. Over the past ten years, the Health Foundation has invested $ 5.1 Million in school-based health centers in Northern Kentucky through planning, start-up, and challenge grants. Because of the Health Foundation’s financial support and inspirational partnership with dedicated school district employees, tens of thousands of Kentucky school children are leading healthier lives, staying in school, and achieving their educational goals.
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Kentucky Child Now will recognize, Carol Blethen with the Distinguished Service Award for her commitment to Kentucky’s youth. It is a rare journey in a life that one has the opportunity to be a part of the birth and growth of an organization, and then see it through from its embryonic stages to fruition. And it is a rare person who can guide and lead that growth process. That is what Carol Blethen has achieved in her role as the founding Executive Director of KCN.

When Carol began, KCN was the dream of Dr. Thomas Young, University of Kentucky Pediatrician and internationally renowned leader in children’s health and development. She began working with Dr. Young and only a $5000 grant. Over the past eight years, Carol has taken the organization to a respected, statewide leader, acknowledged for its unique and powerful emphasis on creating a Kentucky culture that “Keeps the Five Promises” for all of its young people.

Now, as Carol so honorably steps aside to allow for new leadership, KCN offers heartfelt thanks for her loyalty and devotion, the years of struggles and triumphs, and her sensitivity and wisdom in understanding the watershed moment her leadership and timing have created. As Kentucky continues its struggle to provide a healthy, caring, and safe climate for our youth to learn and grow in, all of us will be better for the past, present and future work of KCN, so purposefully and lovingly nurtured from the beginning by Carol.
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