Mothercraft announces recipient of Inaugural Bill Bosworth Memorial Award

TORONTO, June 17, 2013 /CNW/ - This evening at a special ceremony, Mothercraft will celebrate the selection of Laurel Rothman as the inaugural recipient of the Bill Bosworth Memorial Award.  Established to recognize outstanding contributions made to the lives of children and families in Toronto, Ms. Rothman's long and distinguished career as a social justice and child poverty advocate, policy and social planning expert and child care activist made her a natural choice for this award.  Ms. Rothman is currently the National Coordinator of Campaign 2000 and the Director of Social Reform with Family Services Toronto, a not-for-profit service organization.

As the recipient of the award, Ms. Rothman will receive a prize of $1,000 in addition to having her work celebrated at tonight's event.   "I am delighted and honoured to be recognized by Mothercraft and the Bosworth family with this wonderful award," said Ms. Rothman.

Developed by Mothercraft and Bill Bosworth's family following his death in 2011, the Bill Bosworth Memorial Award honours this well-respected leader whose loss continues to be felt across the city and in the many lives he touched.  The award is open to volunteers, professionals and students who work in the fields of early learning, early intervention and family support and who exemplify Bill's ability to 'think big and do bigger'.  In addition to being a long-serving Mothercraft Board Director, Bill spent more than thirty years working in the area of social housing.  Bill was the founder of Homes First Society and a driving force behind initiatives like Street City, Raising the Roof and the redevelopment of various Toronto Community Housing complexes into mixed-income neighbourhoods.

"Bill was an extraordinary volunteer, exemplary leader and passionate supporter of Mothercraft and the work the organization does with families," said Elaine Atkinson, President of the Mothercraft Board of Directors.  "Ms. Rothman represents all of the qualities we admired in Bill: a system-thinker, a tireless advocate for children and families, an innovator, mentor and leader."

"Our family is deeply touched by the establishment of this award.  Bill was very proud of his involvement with Mothercraft and he would be pleased to know that outstanding work within the not-for-profit sector will be recognized through this award," said Joan Bosworth, Bill's wife.  "We couldn't be happier with the selection of Laurel Rothman as the inaugural recipient of the award."

In addition to the presentation of the award to Ms. Rothman, the June 17^th event will also celebrate the official opening of Mothercraft's new location for Early Intervention programs and the achievement of full accreditation status as a children's mental health organization through Children's Mental Health Ontario (CMHO).

Mothercraft is a not-for-profit charity that provides a wide range of supports and services to children and families including: licensed child care, family support and early years programming, early intervention and special needs services.  Mothercraft College is the only not-for-profit private career college in Ontario offering a Diploma in Early Childhood Education.  For more information about Mothercraft, please visit www.mothercraft.ca.

SOURCE: Canadian Mothercraft Society

Michele Lupa at 647-962-5630