Winners of the 29th annual TARC Advocacy Awards have been selected and will be presented with their awards at the Advocacy Awards & Volunteer Recognition ceremony on Dec. 10, 2019 at the Marriott Hotel Southern Hills in Tulsa. The awards recognize individuals and organizations who have provided outstanding service and advocacy for Oklahomans with developmental disabilities.
Winners of the 2019 Advocacy Awards are:
Volunteer of the Year – Joe Honeycutt
Self-Advocate of the Year – Tomas Davis
Parent of the Year – Andee Cooper
Direct Care Provider of the Year – Brooke Andrews
Professional Provider of the Year – Jeff Wonderly
Case Manager of the Year – Ellen Kunze
Educator of the Year – Cassandra Marlar
Elected Official of the Year – Cyndi Munson
Media Advocate of the Year – TulsaKids Magazine
Board Member of the Year – (tie) Seth Campbell and John Corpolongo
Special Achievement in Advocacy – Individual – Lori Hauge
Special Achievement in Advocacy – Group – Chris Castleberry and Darla Hill-Myers
Catalyst of Change Award – Early Access Program – Oklahoma Autism Center
Catalyst of Change Award – Wanda Felty
Catalyst of Change Award – Joanne Goin
Shelby Hard Courage in Advocacy Award – Valerie Wood
Lifetime Achievement Award – Sandy Ingraham
Each of these award recipients has done something remarkable in helping to achieve TARC’s mission of ensuring a high quality of life for Oklahomans with developmental disabilities and their families.
The event will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at the Southern Hills Marriott Hotel in Tulsa beginning at 6 p.m.
LeAnne Taylor, KOTV’s “6 In The Morning” personality, will serve as the master of ceremonies. Guests will gather in the ballroom for an evening filled with live music provided by local music sensation, Branjae, the opportunity to bid in a silent auction, dinner, and program featuring keynote speaker, Richard Hight. Richard is an internationally-known artist and motivational speaker who hails from Oklahoma. His work is housed in more than 50 museums and universities around the country.
Established in 1952, TARC is a Tulsa-based nonprofit organization and Tulsa Area United Way agency that provides a network of services and programs that educates, empowers, and advocates for Oklahomans with developmental disabilities and their families.