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"Each of these individuals has made a significant contribution to
state government and society in a variety of different ways," said
the association's chairman, Virginia Gov. Mark Warner. "On behalf of
the nation's governors, I commend and thank these honorees for their
hard work and commitment to improving their states, our communities
and the nation." Annually, the National Governors Association
presents eight awards in three separate categories: state officials,
private citizens and distinguished service to the arts. Winners in
the state official category are Barry Maram, director, Illinois
Department of Public Aid; Allen C. Harris, director, Iowa Department
for the Blind; and Dr. Antonia C. Novello, commissioner, New York
State Department of Health.
The governors also will recognize three individuals in the
private citizen category: Bob Fisher, an advocate for affordable
housing in Minnesota; John C. Whitehead, chairman of the Lower
Manhattan Development Corporation and the World Trade Center
Memorial Foundation; and Pat Halpin-Murphy, founder of the
Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition.
Aaron Dworkin and the Sphinx Organization, Michigan, and Pamela
Bass-Bookey and Harry Bookey, Iowa, will receive awards for artistic
production and arts support, respectively.
Established in 1976, the National Governors Association Awards
for Distinguished Service to State Government allow governors to
bring national recognition to their states' most valuable civil
servants and private citizens. The awards emphasize the commitment
of state administrators and the important contributions private
citizens make to state government. The awards program is
administered by a selection committee comprised of three permanent
representatives from the academic community, as well as a designee
from both the NGA chairman and vice chairman.
The NGA Award for Distinguished Service to the Arts, established
in 1980, is given in two areas: artistic production and arts
support. The award recognizes outstanding service to the arts,
focusing on contributions that improve the quality of life and bring
distinction to a state or community. Lisa Collis, first lady of
Virginia, chaired this year's arts review panel, which is comprised
of three permanent representatives from the arts community.
* * *
Award winners
State officials
Barry Maram, director, Illinois Department of Public Aid
Barry Maram's three-decade career has included service in
both the public and private sectors. As a former associate director
of the Illinois Department of Public Health and director of the
Illinois Health Facilities Authority, Maram was able to hone the
administrative skills and leadership abilities that mark his current
tenure as director of the Illinois Department of Public Aid, to
which he was appointed in 2003.
Known for innovation and vision, Maram has cut red tape and
eliminated bureaucratic barriers to enrollment for the agency
responsible for providing health care to those eligible for
Medicaid, ensuring that children receive the child support that is
owed to them and helping low-income families meet their home energy
needs. Under Gov. Blagojevich's leadership, he has expanded health
care coverage to more than 315,000 working parents and children --
all without cutting benefits. He has transformed the state's child
support enforcement system through reorganization and an innovative
use of technology. Recently, he worked with federal and state
officials to bring hundreds of millions of dollars back into the
Medicaid system through a statewide hospital assessment.
"Barry has consistently provided tremendous leadership and has
worked tirelessly on behalf of the countless Illinoisans who receive
assistance but who are often unable to advocate for themselves,"
said Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. "A skilled problem-solver,
experienced manager and expert consensus-builder, Barry has played
an irreplaceable role in my administration since Day One."
Allen C. Harris, director, Iowa Department for the Blind
Born with congenital glaucoma and permanently blind by age
15, Allen Harris has defied odds and broken down barriers his entire
life. Despite being a valedictorian of his high school, Harris was
told he could not attend college. Undeterred, he not only graduated
from college, he went on to earn a master's in education. When told
he could not student teach, again he ignored the naysayers and
successfully completed two semesters as a student teacher in
downtown Detroit. In 1968, Dearborn High School hired Harris to
teach and coach wrestling. He has committed his life to public
service, first as a teacher, coach and school administrator, and
then in 2001, he became the director of the Iowa Department for the
Blind.
Despite a soft labor market, increased service demands and budget
limitations, Harris has done an outstanding job of providing blind
Iowans, many of whom have secondary disabilities, with better,
higher-paying jobs. Harris upgraded Iowa's Library for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped and bolstered the state's innovative Model
Distance Learning program.
"Allen Harris learned the true challenges blindness poses and has
overcome these with a genuine zeal to effect positive change," said
Iowa Gov. Thomas Vilsack. "Under Allen's leadership, the Iowa
Department for the Blind provides the nation's most successful and
progressive services to the blind, and the economic livelihoods of
blind persons here are steadily improving."
Antonia C. Novello, M.D., Dr.P.H., commissioner, New York State
Department of Health
A former U.S. surgeon general with nearly 30 years of public
health experience, Dr. Antonia Novello has been New York State
commissioner of health since 1999. As commissioner, Novello has
implemented numerous statewide reforms, including expanding access
to health care for the uninsured, improving health care quality and
strengthening the state's disaster preparedness.
After Sept. 11, 2001, Novello led the massive public health
response by increasing hospital resources, personnel and
communications. She visited with health care workers, comforted
loved ones and provided New Yorkers with help for emotional and
physical injuries. She later led the response to the anthrax crisis
by increasing her department's capacity to support around-the-clock
testing and educating the public about preventing and responding to
bioterrorism. Charged with protecting the health of 19 million
diverse individuals, Novello, a native of Puerto Rico, works
tirelessly to eliminate health disparities among minorities. She led
efforts that resulted in thousands of previously uninsured New
Yorkers receiving access to health care through various state
programs, including Medicaid.
"Dr. Novello has implemented numerous public health reforms in my
administration to expand health care access for the uninsured,
improve quality and strengthen disaster preparedness," said New York
Gov. George Pataki. "In the hours and days following 9/11, Dr.
Novello played a critically reassuring role in the strong public
health response to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade
Center."
[to top of second column in this article]
 |
 Private citizens
Bob Fisher, Minnesota
In 1996, shoe repairman Bob Fisher decided to make a
difference in his community of Wayzata, Minn. Fisher slept outside
in the middle of winter to raise money to buy Thanksgiving dinners
for 100 needy families. With a fundraising goal of $7,000, he
committed to sleeping in his tent until the goal was met. Two weeks
later and back in his own bed, he had raised $10,000 for client
families of Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners, a nonprofit
ecumenical social service organization. Later, Fisher raised his
fundraising goal and refocused the event to help meet IOCP's most
pressing need -- affordable housing. In 2000, the event became a
communitywide celebration with more than 300 individuals joining
Fisher on the sleep-out's first night.
Over the years, Fisher has reached out to hundreds of local
congregations, civic groups, Scout troops, schools and media members
to discuss the problems of homelessness and affordable housing.
Starting with a dream and desire to help others and enduring 205
cold Minnesota nights, his annual Sleep-Out has raised more than $4
million from more than 2,000 supporters in nine years.
"Bob's hard work and dedication helped raise awareness about the
desperate need for affordable housing throughout his community,"
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty said. "Bob's efforts are proof of the
difference one person can make. He is a role model for all
Minnesotans."
John C. Whitehead, New York
Needing someone to oversee the rebuilding and revitalization
of Lower Manhattan after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, New York
turned to John Whitehead. As head of the Lower Manhattan Development
Corporation, Whitehead is responsible for this entire rebuilding
effort. More recently, he assumed the role of founding chairman of
the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation, which is responsible for
raising funds to construct the Memorial and Cultural Complex at the
World Trade Center site.
In 1947, Whitehead, a decorated navy veteran, began his 38-year
distinguished career at Goldman, Sachs & Co. A former deputy
secretary of state and Presidential Citizens medalist, he has
chaired many of the country's most prestigious boards, including the
Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Outward Bound and the J. Paul
Getty Trust, and he is currently the director of the Nature
Conservancy, Lincoln Center Theater and the Eisenhower Exchange
fellowships.
"At 83 years young, many would have long since retired, but John
remains committed to public service and has shown humility and honor
in this important endeavor," said New York Gov. George Pataki. "His
leadership inspires a pervasive spirit of cooperation among his
staff and throughout the city, state, nation and world. When our
work is done, our history won't be written by terrorists who
attacked our city but by millions of New Yorkers who rebuilt it --
and none more than John Whitehead."
Pat Halpin-Murphy, Pennsylvania
For a dozen years, Pat Halpin-Murphy has steadfastly worked
with state government and the private sector to eradicate breast
cancer.
In 1993, Ms. Halpin-Murphy, a breast cancer survivor, founded the
Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition to build greater public
awareness of breast cancer and encourage increased funding for
research, advocacy, screening, diagnosis and treatment. In the
mid-1990s, she convened a bipartisan coalition of state legislators
to establish the Pennsylvania Breast and Cervical Cancer Research
Fund. Since 1997, Pennsylvanians have designated more than $1.5
million for this fund by voluntarily contributing a portion of their
state income tax refund toward cancer research. She fought hard for
groundbreaking legislation that required insurance companies in
Pennsylvania to cover costs associated with reconstructive breast
surgery and post-surgical hospital stays. She also organized a
powerful traveling photo exhibit, "67 Women -- 67 Counties -- Facing
Breast Cancer in Pennsylvania," which showcased the faces of
citizens from all counties in the Keystone State who have been
fighting against breast cancer.
"Despite all the obstacles in her way, Pat Halpin-Murphy has
tirelessly given her time, sweat and tears to work with state
government to achieve a greater public good for the better part of a
decade," said Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell. "Few people have
dedicated themselves as much to change scores of lives for the
better more than Pat has. She is a true Pennsylvania hero."
Arts
Artistic production -- Aaron Dworkin and the Sphinx Organization,
Michigan
At an early age, Aaron Dworkin recognized the lack of
minority participation in classical music training. He started
playing violin at age 5, and went on to receive his bachelor's and
master's degrees in violin performance at the University of
Michigan.
Along the way, he frequently noticed he was one of only a handful
of minorities in the orchestra. In 1996, Dworkin founded the Sphinx
Organization to help black and Latino youths gain an appreciation
for classical music and the classical music profession. Every year,
Sphinx in-school programs reach 20,000 underserved students in 100
urban schools nationwide, and the Sphinx Instrument Fund provides
$100,000 in quality instruments to further the career potential of
aspiring musicians. To date, the Sphinx Music Assistance Fund has
awarded more than $600,000 in prizes and scholarships. The Sphinx
Competition laureates have made more than 100 orchestral
appearances, reaching more than 60,000 in audiences, and many of the
Sphinx Competition's alumni have gone on to study at prestigious
music schools and perform with major symphony orchestras.
"Aaron Dworkin and the Sphinx Organization are two of Michigan's
cultural treasures," said Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm. "This
one-of-a-kind organization is about the young people performing,
growing and striving to reach their full potential. The Sphinx
Organization is making significant inroads toward building diversity
in classical music, and thanks to Mr. Dworkin's leadership and
vision, its success is undeniable."
Arts support -- Pamela Bass-Bookey and Harry Bookey, Iowa
Thanks to the generous support of Pamela Bass-Bookey and
Harry Bookey, four of Iowa's greatest artistic treasures will thrive
for generations to come. Five years ago, the Bookeys conceived "The
History Series at Salisbury House," which brings four of the
nation's eminent historians to that national trust home to deliver
an annual public lecture and book signing. The following day, the
historians work with a group of students studying the lecture
subjects.
In 2002, the couple came forward at the 11th hour and saved Des
Moines' century-old Masonic temple before it was demolished,
transforming it into the Temple for Performing Arts -- the
centerpiece of a downtown renaissance. As president of the Des
Moines Art Center board of directors, Ms. Bass-Bookey brought an
annual arts festival downtown and quickly made it one of the
nation's most successful festivals, with 200,000 visitors annually.
The Bookeys also are the major donors and creative impetus for the
development of a poetry and chess park adjoining the new downtown
public library.
"Iowa is lucky to have Pamela and Harry," said Iowa Gov. Thomas
Vilsack. "Through their hard work, generous philanthropy and
remarkable vision, they are committed to creating a better, more
culturally rich Iowa. Their unflinching support of the arts has
included a wide variety of endeavors, from volunteering and
fundraising to founding and developing arts organizations and
institutions."
[National Governors
Association news release] |
