OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES, July 7, 2016 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Recognizing her commitment to empowering urban children and families to build strong futures and reach their full potential, Christine Stoner-Mertz was honored last week with the KPIX CBS Bay Area Jefferson Award.

Founded in 1883 as the first racially integrated orphanage in Northern California, Stoner-Mertz has been President and CEO of Lincoln since 2006. Stoner-Mertz has led Lincoln’s transformation over the last decade from one focused on residential care of foster youth to one that disrupts the cycle of poverty and trauma through services to youth and families in their homes, schools and communities.

Moving headquarters from the Oakland Hills to West Oakland, opening additional program sites in Hayward and Pittsburg, and putting staff in more than 30 local schools, Lincoln has tripled the number of children and families served, impacting more than 4,000 each year in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. “We need to be where children and families are to truly serve them effectively,” said Stoner-Mertz. “For every family we can impact, I’ve made a difference in somebody’s life, which gives me meaning.”

The belief that every young person deserves a supportive caregiver, and every parent wants his or her child to succeed despite the challenges of poverty, trauma, substance use, and limited educational resources drives her work. “Each family has unique issues which need to be addressed comprehensively and met with real solutions, to develop the skills and resources needed for children to have a permanent home and succeed in school,” said Stoner-Mertz.

Founded by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Senator Robert Taft Jr., and Sam Beard, the Jefferson Awards honor extraordinary individuals and companies whose profound achievements and commitment to their communities are making the world a better place to live. The Jefferson Awards are presented on two levels: national and local. On the local level, Jefferson Awards recipients are ordinary people who do extraordinary things without expectation of recognition or reward. By honoring the Jefferson Award recipients, it is the goal of the American Institute for Public Service to inspire others to become involved in community and public service.

Katherine Enad
Lincoln
510.421.6869
email us here

Legal Disclaimer:

EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.