Family Champion Awards
Celebrating advocates that go the extra mile for families.
Join us September 30
The Mission InCommon Summit and 2025 Family Champion Awards will be held September 30 at The Duke Endowment in Charlotte, NC. Join us for an afternoon dedicated to celebrating the essence of family! The Awards Luncheon will be an intimate yet impactful gathering of family service professionals and advocates. Nominations for the Family Champion Awards are now open.
This event brings individuals together from 4 key sectors Education, Public Health, Child Welfare and Community to celebrate accomplishments and envision ways to disentangle their systems to work more effectively and empathetically for families. We will honor professionals in these sectors who go the extra mile to uplift their communities and support family well-being at this year’s Family Champion Awards.
Event Details
Doors open at 9:00 AM for registration and networking.
Programming begins at 10:00 AM.
Event will conclude at 1:00 PM.
About the Awards Luncheon
The Family Champion Awards will celebrate professionals in various industries across North Carolina who go the extra mile for families. Each awardee receives recognition at the luncheon, including a $150 cash prize. Sponsored by the Institute for Family at CHSNC, this event honors those who strengthen, build, and advocate for families. Their dedication forms the backbone of every resilient family. Be part of this inspiring occasion as we celebrate their invaluable contributions.
Register today to attend the luncheon.
Keynote Speaker
Kody Kinsley served as North Carolina’s 18th Secretary of Health and Human Services under Governor Roy Cooper, unanimously confirmed by the North Carolina Senate. Throughout his tenure, he focused on improving health, strengthening rural access, and making care more affordable and accessible for families. He played a pivotal role in expanding Medicaid through bipartisan collaboration with the General Assembly, resulting in 600,000 North Carolinians gaining coverage in the first year—twice the expected pace. Kinsley also secured major policy reforms and one of the largest behavioral health investments in state history—$835 million—to expand access to mental health and substance use services. His career includes roles at the White House, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where he was appointed by President Barack Obama and continued under President Donald Trump as Assistant Secretary for Management. Secretary Kinsley currently serves as a Senior Policy Advisor at Johns Hopkins University, Senior Advisor with the Milken Institute, an Aspen Institute Fellow and member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, and serves on numerous boards.
Nomination Criteria
The Family Champion Awards is expanding to celebrate individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to family well-being across four key sectors: Education, Public Health, Child Welfare, and Community-Based Organizations. These awards honor professionals and community champions dedicated to fostering collaboration, amplifying family voices, and driving impactful change for families!
A nominee for the Family Champion Award will:
- demonstrate a strong commitment to families by promoting family strengthening, family preservation, community uplift,
- be recognized as a role model who inspires others to prioritize family, and
- be available on the day of the event to travel to the conference, to accept the award.
Nominees for each category should exhibit the following:
Innovative Solutions Award: Demonstrates creative, forward-thinking approaches to solving challenges in family well-being
Amplifier of Family Voice: Actively promotes and amplifies the voices of families, ensuring their perspectives shape policies and practices.
Collaborative Leadership Excellence: Fosters cross-sector collaboration to create lasting impact for families. Builds strong networks to advance family well-being.
Generational Impact Leader: Drives initiatives that create long-term, generational benefits for families. Invests in sustainable family support structures.
Empathy Champion: Demonstrates deep understanding, compassion, and commitment to addressing families’ needs.
Social Capital Builder: Strengthens community connections and builds social support systems that enhance family resilience.
Nomination and Selection Process
Nominations were due by 5pm EST August 7, 2025 and are now closed.
Should you have any questions, please contact the Institute for Family at information@instituteforfamily.org.
Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
 |
 |
Bronze Sponsors
 |
 |