Every year FamilyWise presents awards to individuals and organizations that are making a difference in the lives of young people and their families. This Spring we celebrate the contributions of one organization and four individuals who are creating ripples of hope and wellbeing in families and communities across Minnesota.
2025 Buron-Campbell Innovation Awardee
The Buron-Campbell award recognizes organizations that help young people faced with adversity build resilience so they can grow up to be healthy, successful adults. This year we were pleased to present the award to the Sauer Family Foundation.
The Sauer Family Foundation creates meaningful dialogue and leverages funding to support better outcomes for young people. Throughout its history, the foundation has convened thought leaders to develop best practices in child welfare, provided critical investments in community support through family resource centers and community needs assessments, and supported direct practice in early childhood and child welfare.
2024 Champions for Children Awardees
The Champion for Children Award honors individuals and organizations that have gone above and beyond in making the world a better place for children. This year we are happy to honor the following individuals as Champions for Children: Danny Wild, Ken Thomas, Jeff Hilborn, Amee McDonald, and Mary Sue Hansen
Danny Wild and Ken Thomas
Through the Radiothon, Danny and Ken brought awareness to the issue of child abuse with great care and thoughtfulness for more than three decades. Their empathy made it easy for people to tell their stories and compelled people to donate. They helped raise over $1 million to support children and families in the Brainerd Lakes Area.
Jeff Hilborn
Jeff brought renewed energy and enthusiasm to the Radiothon to End Child Abuse. Through his strong relationships and reputation, he established event partnerships that brought revenue to a new level. He is committed to helping others and achieving shared goals that benefit the Brainerd Lakes Area. His leadership of the Radiothon contributed to the safety and wellbeing of many Minnesota kids and families.
Amee McDonald
Amee is a champion of nonprofits and a supporter of children and families. As a professor, she facilitates capacity-building opportunities that partner students with nonprofits. Through these Impact Labs, she is growing the commitment of the next generation to nonprofit support, while providing creative solutions for nonprofit organizations. Amee is dedicated to the safety and wellbeing of children and has worked to tell the stories of children that have been involved in foster care and child welfare systems.
Mary Sue Hansen
Mary Sue dedicated her career to supporting the wellbeing of children and families. For 26 years, as the Executive Director of the Suburban Ramsey Family Services Collaborative, she served as a transformative leader focused on equity and empowerment in her community. Her work creating inclusive, cross-cultural community engagement with Marnita’s Table, and the convening and training she facilitated on the International Social Interactions model, which promotes the idea of “nothing about us without us,” have inspired our approach at FamilyWise.
