United Voices for Children presented their three awards for outstanding advocacy and service for children and youth in Northern Illinois to four recipients at their annual breakfast at the 2018 Northern Illinois Annual Conference.

The Bishop Jesse R. Dewitt Award was given to Deacon Wes Dorr of United Church of Rogers Park (Chicago) for his dedicated advocacy for and ministry with urban children and youth.  

The Katherine B. Greene Child Worker Award went to two recipients: Karen Klaus of First UMC Crystal Lake for instituting the Nathaniel’s Hope Buddy Break program for special needs children and their families; and to Chana UMC for its recreational, education and social service ministries with rural children and youth in its community.  

The Rev. Margaret Ann Williams Service Award was given to Licia Knight of St. Mark UMC (Chicago) for her lifelong service of establishing a Children’s Church and directing a dance ministry, among other ministries with children and youth. 

Any United Methodist member or congregation in Northern Illinois can nominate someone to receive one of these awards. Nominations are received in the winter and early spring and the awards are given at the Northern Illinois Annual Conference in June. 

United Voices for Children is a coalition of congregations and individuals in Northern Illinois dedicated to speak and act on behalf of needy children, youth and their families as well as to support ministries in the Conference serving these children and youth. For more information visit unitedvoicesforchildren.org/programs/awards.