The 2004 PAUL G. HEARNE/AAPD LEADERSHIP AWARDS
Information
THE AWARDS PROGRAM
Up to three people with disabilities who are emerging as leaders in their respective fields will each receive $10,000 to help them continue their progress as leader. They will also have an opportunity to meet and network with national disability leaders at the AAPD Leadership Gala in Washington, DC in early 2005. U.S. residents with any type of disability are eligible to apply.
View the biographies of the 2004 Paul G. Hearne/AAPD Leadership Award Recipients.
SELECTION CRITERIA
An "emerging leader" is defined as someone who has demonstrated leadership qualities in his/her personal and/or professional life, and who is just starting to be recognized at a local, regional or national level. Winners of The 2004 Paul G. Hearne/AAPD Leadership Awards must demonstrate all of the following:
Leadership achievements that show a positive impact on the broad community of people with disabilities or within their area of disability interest.
Connections they have made between individuals with disabilities and others in their communities.
A positive vision for the disability community and a continuing commitment to their leadership activities.
Potential to contribute at a national level.
AAPD encourages emerging leaders with disabilities of any age to apply. The 37 previous awardees represent a diverse group of people with disabilities aged 11 to 56. Individual award recipients have: built a web site to educate people with psychiatric disabilities; gone into academia to direct the education of tomorrow’s social work professionals; worked to educate the public about the abilities of people with Down Syndrome; been raising money for accessible playgrounds across the country; and been actively promoting the political participation of people with disabilities. For more information on many of the past awardees and what they were able to accomplish as a result of receiving this award, visit AAPD’s web site, and click on the link entitled “Past Paul G. Hearne/ AAPD Leadership Award Recipients: Where are They Now?”.
AAPD HONORS A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP
Paul G. Hearne was a tireless advocate and visionary leader who achieved success as a lawyer, nonprofit executive, foundation president, federal agency director, and mentor to countless people with disabilities. A passionate advocate for increased employment of people with disabilities, Paul opened doors for thousands through his leadership of Just One Break, an employment agency for people with disabilities in New York City, and The Dole Foundation for Employment of People with Disabilities in Washington, DC.
In addition to sharing his expertise and working as an advocate, Paul also positively affected anyone with whom he came in contact. He used his wonderful sense of humor and positive outlook on life to "win people over" in any situation.
Until he died in 1998, Paul was consumed with two burning passions: to create a national association to give people with disabilities more consumer power and a stronger public voice and to cultivate potential leaders to carry on the disability rights movement. Paul achieved his first goal during his lifetime with the 1995 creation of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), now recognized as the largest and fastest growing force for consumer empowerment.
The Milbank Foundation for Rehabilitation established The Paul G. Hearne Leadership Awards in 1999 to honor their friend and to help realize Paul's second goal by helping to find and support emerging leaders with disabilities.
In 2000, the administration of the awards program was turned over to AAPD. Major funding for the 2003 awards was provided by the Milbank Foundation for Rehabilitation, with additional funding provided by the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, The Seth Sprague Educational and Charitable Foundation, and the Honorable Robert J. Dole.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS AND PROCEDURES
To be considered for a Paul G. Hearne/AAPD Leadership Awards, a candidate must complete an application and submit it along with a statement of no more than 700 words that addresses all of the selection criteria, as well as a letter of commitment from his/her mentor or supportive colleague who is prepared to work with the applicant in pursuing his/her leadership goals. Applicants should be aware that, if they are selected for an award, then they will be expected to promote The Paul G. Hearne/AAPD Leadership Awards program and work with AAPD to help grow the program. If selected to receive a 2004 Paul G. Hearne/AAPD Leadership Awards, the applicant must also make himself or herself available to participate in the production of a video highlighting his/her accomplishments that will be shown at the AAPD Leadership Gala in 2005.
Any person who is a member of the AAPD staff, Board of Directors, a contractor doing business with AAPD, or a relative of any such persons, will not be eligible for an award under this program.
Applications are now closed.
Any questions concerning The Paul G. Hearne/AAPD Leadership Awards should be directed to:
Tracey Murray
Leadership Awards Coordinator
phone: 770-232-9001 (voice only)
email orMarie Campos
AAPD
phone: 1-800-840-8844 (voice/TTY)
The Paul G. Hearne/AAPD Leadership Awards Program was created to cultivate potential leaders to carry on the disability rights movement. Awardees are people with disabilities who are emerging as leaders in their respective fields and honored with cash awards to help them continue their work and leadership activities both locally and nationally. Your contribution enables AAPD to continue offering a program that provides support to emerging leaders as they continue their progress as disability rights leaders. | Benefits | Info | Join | Other Sites | News | Feedback | Calendar | Home |