Lincoln Honors Community Volunteers and Partners
On the evening of Tuesday, October 13, 2015, many long-time volunteers gathered at Trader Vic’s in Emeryville to honor this year’s recipients of Lincoln’s James Mann Award. Since 1978, this award, named for Lincoln’s leader from 1957-1975, has annually recognized extraordinary contributions to Lincoln’s work in the community. James Mann led Lincoln during its transition from a traditional orphanage to a nationally respected, multiservice organization providing education, mental health and support services.
This year's awardees were Diane Goodhue, for her decades of volunteer dedication to Lincoln, and the Pittsburg Unified School District (PUSD) for their partnership to improve students’ success in school by providing essential mental health services for youth and families. Both Diane and PUSD have shown outstanding commitment to the well-being of Bay Area children and their families and to the mission of Lincoln Child Center.
Diane Goodhue, Lincoln’s 2015 Volunteer Service Award Honoree, began volunteering for Lincoln in 2006 when she joined the Daffodils, a group of East Bay women dedicated to raising awareness and funds for Lincoln. She has spent most of the past 35 years volunteering wherever she found a need in her community. From hosting general membership meetings in her beautiful home to serving as the honorary co-chair of Lincoln’s first ROOT event at Rock Wall Wine Company, Diane has worked tirelessly over the years in her efforts to support the Daffodils, Lincoln and children, youth and families in our communities.
Pittsburg Unified School District, Lincoln’s 2015 Community Service Award Honoree, has improved students’ success in school by providing essential mental health services for youth and families since 1998, working in partnership with Contra Costa County Mental Health, and later with Lincoln. PUSD sees their students’ access to mental health as a social justice issue—understanding the impact of poverty and trauma on a child’s ability to engage in learning and to build a strong foundation that helps them achieve success. Their dedication to strengthening Pittsburg families and changing students’ lives exemplifies what the James Mann Award represents.