WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a major upcoming tribute to national changemakers and youth advocates, the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) has announced that it will host its highly anticipated "A National Celebration of Joy" gala this coming November at Washington, D.C.’s historic Howard Theatre. The premier national advocacy organization will use the landmark evening to celebrate the vital partnerships and collaborative efforts that continually drive its enduring mission forward on behalf of children, youth, and families across the United States.
Central to the evening’s festivities will be the formal presentation of the Marian Wright Edelman Advocate for Joy Award. This prestigious accolade is bestowed upon exceptional individuals, leaders, and institutions that champion progressive policies, successfully build community power, and strengthen programs designed to fundamentally improve the lives of children and youth. The award holds profound significance within the organization, as it is proudly named in honor of CDF Founder and President Emerita Marian Wright Edelman, a towering figure in the modern history of civil rights and child advocacy.
Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson, the President and CEO of the Children’s Defense Fund, emphasized the profound weight and historical importance of the honor as the organization prepares to gather in the nation’s capital.
"The Marian Wright Edelman Advocate for Joy Award is CDF’s highest honor, recognizing servant leaders whose advocacy and partnership have made a demonstrable difference in the lives of children, young people, and families," said Rev. Dr. Wilson. "This year, the award has been renamed in honor of our Founder and President Emerita, Marian Wright Edelman."
As part of this year’s celebration, CDF has proudly announced that Casey Family Programs will be honored as one of the distinguished recipients of the award. The nationwide organization stands today as America’s largest operating foundation explicitly focused on safely reducing the need for foster care while simultaneously improving the overall safety, health, and well-being of vulnerable children throughout the country.
Established six decades ago in 1966 by United Parcel Service founder Jim Casey, the Seattle-based foundation has grown into a cornerstone of American child welfare policy and practice. Today, the organization is led by President and CEO William C. Bell, Ph.D. In his prominent leadership role, Dr. Bell provides strategic direction for Casey Family Programs across its nine field offices nationwide, while actively leading a dedicated staff that works hand-in-hand directly with youth, families, and professionals within the public child welfare system.
The gala itself is scheduled to take place on Thursday, November 5, 2026, commencing with a formal dinner and program beginning at 7:00 p.m. at The Historic Howard Theatre, located at 620 T Street NW in Washington, D.C. The venue, deeply rooted in the cultural and historical fabric of the nation’s capital, provides a fitting backdrop for an evening dedicated to celebrating community resilience, advocacy, and joy.
Reflecting on the selection of this year’s institutional honoree, Dr. Wilson offered high praise for Casey Family Programs, pointing directly to its visionary approach to child well-being and its decades-long, historic partnership with the Children’s Defense Fund. These shared institutional values and collaborative efforts have made the foundation an exceptionally fitting and deserving recipient of the newly renamed award.
"It is our privilege to honor Casey Family Programs as the first institutional recipient of the Marian Wright Edelman Award," Dr. Wilson stated. "For 60 years, Casey Family Programs has been building Communities of Hope to ensure more children grow up safely at home. Working in all fifty states, their mission is to provide and improve — and ultimately prevent the need for — foster care. Casey Family Programs is one of CDF’s most enduring institutional partners in advocacy, thought leadership, investment, and a shared commitment."
The upcoming gala promises to bring together prominent advocates, community leaders, policymakers, and youth champions from across the country to recognize these monumental contributions and look toward the future of child advocacy in America. Through events like the National Celebration of Joy, the Children’s Defense Fund continues to spotlight the organizations and individuals who dedicate their lives to ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive in a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment.
