WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Children’s Defense Fund (CDF), a prominent national advocacy organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth, has announced that it will honor Casey Family Programs with its highest accolade, the Marian Wright Edelman Advocate for Joy Award. The prestigious recognition will be presented during the organization’s upcoming "A National Celebration of Joy," a gala event scheduled for this November at Washington, D.C.’s historic Howard Theatre.
The national celebration was established to honor changemakers, youth advocates, and community leaders while celebrating the vital partnerships that drive the Children’s Defense Fund’s enduring mission on behalf of children. The evening’s centerpiece will be the presentation of the Advocate for Joy Award—an honor recently renamed in tribute to CDF Founder and President Emerita Marian Wright Edelman. The award recognizes individuals and institutions that champion forward-thinking policies, build community power, and strengthen programs designed to fundamentally improve the lives of children, youth, and families.
Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson, President and CEO of the Children’s Defense Fund, emphasized the profound significance of the honor and the legacy behind its newly minted name.
"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."
This year, the Children’s Defense Fund is proud to announce Casey Family Programs as one of the distinguished award recipients. As the nation’s largest operating foundation focused on safely reducing the need for foster care while simultaneously improving the safety and overall well-being of children, Casey Family Programs has established a formidable nationwide presence.
Established in 1966 by United Parcel Service founder Jim Casey, the Seattle-based organization approaches its mission with a comprehensive strategy. Today, the foundation is led by President and CEO William C. Bell, Ph.D. Under Dr. Bell’s strategic direction, the organization operates nine field offices across the country and leads a dedicated staff that works directly with youth, families, and professionals within the public child welfare system.
Rev. Dr. Wilson praised Casey Family Programs for its visionary approach to child well-being and its historic, decades-long partnership with the Children’s Defense Fund, noting that these qualities make the foundation a uniquely fitting recipient of the award.
"It is our privilege to honor Casey Family Programs as the first institutional recipient of the Marian Wright Edelman Award," Rev. Dr. Wilson said. "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 gala event in Washington, D.C., is expected to draw prominent leaders, advocates, and supporters from across the country to celebrate six decades of impact by Casey Family Programs and to reaffirm a shared dedication to the nation’s youth.
Event Details:
What: National Celebration of Joy
When: Thursday, November 5, 2026 | Dinner and Program at 7:00 p.m.
Where: The Historic Howard Theatre, 620 T Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
For more information regarding the event, tickets, or the ongoing work of the Children’s Defense Fund and its honorees, media representatives and interested parties are encouraged to contact John Henry, CDF Media Relations Manager, at [email protected] or by phone at 708-646-7679.
