Received the Stewart B. McKinney Award for His Foundation’s Service to Others
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. received the Stewart B. McKinney Award for his foundation’s service to the homeless. The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty celebrated 25 years of service which has resulted in a large impact on many people. The awards ceremony marked the 16th annual presentation of the McKinney-Vento Awards. Senator Patty Murray received the Bruce F. Vento Award in recognition of how she has fought to raise funds to help support those who are facing homelessness.
The Steve Smith Family Foundation was created by Steve Smith Sr. and his wife Angie. The foundation was started in 2013 and has already gotten recognition for the great work that it has done. Smith Sr. has achieved great success on the football field and is respected by his peers for his tenacious style of play. He spoke about how he uses the same approach to help the less fortunate attack the various life issues that they are faced with.
“It’s been interesting. There have been some heated and great discussions which is really good because that means that people are excited. They’re willing to help and work and stand on the table for their idea of how to help the various families. I think we have an open mind. We try not to put anything or anyone ahead of anyone. We make sure that everyone has a seat at the table. We encourage everyone to share their ideas. No idea is too stupid. That part becomes really fun because we figure out how to make things work.”
Jeff Pash presented the McKinney Award to Smith. Pash is the Executive Vice Present and General Counsel of the NFL. He spoke very highly of Smith. Pash said that he was honored to give him this award because of how Smith has been a leader in advancing solutions for helping those who are less fortunate. He spotlighted how the Steve Smith Foundation gives both resources and hope to those who are in need.
As Pash said; “Steve represents everything that is good and admirable about the men who play in the National Football League.”
Many people who receive an award simply stand in front of the crowd and tell people about what they’ve done to earn the award. Most people thank the organization that honors them by simply saying “Thank you.” Smith took it many steps further. He not only thanked the National Law Center with words, Smith pulled a check for $5,000 out of his suit pocket to donate to the organization. These are the kinds of things that prove that Smith is an example of the good guys that are in the NFL.
Giving back to the community has always been important to Smith. He is entering the latter part of his career but chose to start his foundation because he didn’t want to bypass a great opportunity to impact the community while he has the platform. “As we get old, we all start to question our ‘why’ but at the end of the day, you can’t die with a pot of gold. At the same time, the cemetery is full of great inventions that the world has never seen or been exposed to. I don’t want to be one of those groups or a person that let a great idea go to waste.”
Smith said that his foundation works to be the “voice for the voiceless” by partnering with organizations such as the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty that have a strong voice. To him, seeing how a strong community can come together and raise a family, then improve that family inspires him to keep doing the work that he does. The foundation has helped families in both the Charlotte and California areas. Smith spent the first 13 years of his career with the Carolina Panthers and is originally from Los Angeles, California. For more information and how to support, please visit their website: Steve Smith Family Foundation
Sidley Austin, LLP was also honored for his service by way of pro bono work. He has been a pillar in the fight to protect the rights of many homeless Americans. Austin has also played a key role in fighting to advance solutions to homelessness.
The ceremonies saved the best award for the final moments. Ms. Aleah Green was presented with the Personal Achievement Award. Her story is a moving one because it teaches us that homelessness is something that any of us can be faced with regardless of gender, race or status. As she says, “Homelessness is something that can happen to anyone at anytime. Although circumstances can get out of control, you are not powerless.” Ms. Green was met with a standing ovation when she received her award.
She lost her home, her car and any way to provide for her son Shiloh when she was laid off of work. She wanted him to start kindergarten but he was denied enrollment because she could not provide any proof of residence. This was a violation of her son’s right to receive an education. Ms. Green was educated abroad (B.A. Psychology along with MBA). Despite all of those accomplishments, she was homeless. The good thing is she didn’t give up. She contacted the National Law Center and they fought to get the school district to allow Shilloh to immediately be enrolled. Ms. Green has since been able to get things back in order and is now an advocate for homeless children who are denied school simply because they are homeless.
Fast Facts on the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty
-Founded in the mid 1980s by Maria Foscarinis who was a lawyer that volunteered to represent homeless families on a pro bono basis
-Foscarinis established the Law Center in 1989 with one goal in mind: “ending homelessness in America”
-The Law Center has been a voice and advocate for many men, women, children and families that have not had the opportunity to have their voice heard
-The Law Center’s staff is comprised primarily of attorneys are experts on homelessness and poverty issues and include specialists in housing, civil rights, human rights, youth and education, and domestic violence.
-Through training and technical support, the Law Center also enhances the capacity of local and national groups to become more effective voices for the needs and rights of homeless people.
For more information, please visit click the link to visit their website: National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty
Here are some things that you may not know about homelessness and how the National Law Center helped reduce them:
-Domestic Violence is a leading cause of homelessness for women. In 2013, the Law Center was able to secure four million new housing units for domestic violence survivors thanks to the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. Now the women won’t have to choose between becoming homeless or staying with the person who is abusing them.
-Homeless children are often times robbed of their legal right to stay in their school. The Law Center developed Project Learn which fights to keep homeless children in school so that they can get the education and tools that they need to break free from homelessness and poverty.
-Over two million poor and homeless Americans receive shelter, housing, food and employment services in what used to be vacant federal properties that a made available without cost to non profit service providers. This is thanks in large part to a law that the Law Center helped create and enact.
If you would like to help the National Law Center continue to be an advocate and voice for those who are struck with poverty or homelessness, please be sure to donate to the Law Center: http://www.nlchp.org/donate
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