The Friend of the Year Award is presented to an individual, group, or organization who has made significant contributions to the fields of parent education, Early Childhood Family Education, and/or early childhood programming in public schools in Minnesota and thereby has been a champion for young children, parents and/or families, and/or the publicly funded programs that serve them. The individual, group or organization does not provide consistent direct service within parent education, Early Childhood Family Education, or early childhood programming in public schools in Minnesota. The award is presented to acknowledge MNAFEE's appreciation of contributions to children, parents and families and/or the publicly funded programs that serve them.
Examples of nominees could be (list is not all-inclusive): state legislator, author, vendor, group that presents to parents or professionals, advocacy group, agency or organization that works with children, parents, families (e.g. museum, theater, hospital)
The individual, group or organization selected for the award will be recognized at the Annual Family and Early Childhood Education Conference in midApril. They will receive a plaque, news release and a one year membership in MNAFEE.
Nominees for the MNafee Friend of the Year Award must:
- reside or have resided in Minnesota or does business in Minnesota
- have made a statewide impact on the lives of young children, parents and/or families, and/or the publicly funded programs that serve them
- have improved the quality of life for young children, parents and/or families, and/or the publicly funded programs that serve them
The individual selected for the award will be recognized at the Annual Family and Early Childhood Education Conference in mid-April. They will receive a plaque and news release.
Nominations must be completed and submitted by February 21, 2025.