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We are thrilled to announce our Inaugural Virginia’s Kids Belong “Family Means Care and Belong” Award; a new award to honor one special foster, kinship, or foster-to-adopt family within the Commonwealth.
Providing care and belonging is the heartbeat of VKB’s work and the mission of so many foster families we know. After such a difficult year, we decided in early 2021 that we wanted to do something innovative to honor our foster families for the time, attention, extra effort, and sacrifice they show every day.
The FMCB award will be given to one Virginia-certified foster, kinship, or foster-to-adopt family who has a compelling story that exemplifies the concept of “Family Means Care and Belonging.”
This $2,500 prize will be awarded at Virginia’s Kids Belong’s annual benefit event in early October. There are no restrictions on how these funds are used by the winning family. We hope the prize will allow the family to realize a dream they have had but might not have the resources to achieve it.
This award is made possible by a small group of donors who helped start VKB and who give generously to enable our work.
The F in Family recognizes the contributions of Tom and Anne Garland Farrell.
The M in Means recognizes Governor Bob McDonnell.
The C in Care recognizes Kim and Phil Cox.
The B in Belonging recognizes Bob and Melinda Sledd.
Without these families, VKB would not exist and would not be able to do the work we are called to do. Representatives from these families will be reviewing nominations and choosing the award winner.
Recently we asked kids participating in the I Belong Project video shoots what the word “Family” means to them. Their answers confirmed what we thought we knew. Many of them long for people who care about them and a place to belong. This award shines a light on the foster, kinship, or adoptive families who are providing this care and sense of belonging for kids in foster care.
If you are or know of a family who symbolizes the belief that “Family Means Care and Belonging,” please apply or nominate them using one of the links below. We welcome nominations for any foster, kinship, or adoptive family currently residing in Virginia. (Kinship families are relatives or close family friends who are caring for a child.)
Nominations will close Tuesday, August 31, 2021, so don’t delay!