The gala, established by the national advocacy organization, serves as a premier gathering to celebrate changemakers, youth advocates, and the enduring partnerships that drive policies and programs designed to improve the lives of children and youth. Alongside the festivities, the event features the presentation of the Marian Wright Edelman Advocate for Joy Award, an honor named in tribute to CDF’s Founder and President Emerita, Marian Wright Edelman. The award is given annually to individuals and institutions that have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to championing policies, building community power, and strengthening programs that protect and uplift the nation’s younger generations.
Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson, President and CEO of the Children’s Defense Fund, emphasized the profound significance of the award and the legacy of the leader for whom it is named.
"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 national advocacy organization is proud to announce Casey Family Programs as one of the distinguished recipients of the award. Casey Family Programs stands as the nation’s largest operating foundation focused entirely on safely reducing the need for foster care while simultaneously improving the safety and overall well-being of children across the United States.
Established six decades ago in 1966 by United Parcel Service founder Jim Casey, the Seattle-based organization has grown into a cornerstone of American child welfare reform. Today, the organization is led by President and CEO William C. Bell, Ph.D. Under Dr. Bell’s strategic direction, the foundation operates nine field offices and oversees a dedicated staff that works directly with youth, families, and communities embedded within the public child welfare system.
The formal presentation of the award to Casey Family Programs will highlight an evening dedicated to nationwide advocacy and community resilience. The National Celebration of Joy is scheduled for Thursday, November 5, 2026, commencing with dinner and a special program beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the historic Howard Theatre, located at 620 T Street NW in Washington, D.C.
Reflecting on the decades-long relationship between the two organizations, Rev. Dr. Wilson praised Casey Family Programs for its visionary approach to child well-being and its historic partnership with the Children’s Defense Fund, qualities that make the foundation a fitting recipient of the newly renamed institutional honor.
"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 announcement underscores a shared mission between the Children’s Defense Fund and Casey Family Programs to address systemic challenges facing children and youth, particularly those navigating vulnerable circumstances within the child welfare system. As the November gala approaches, leaders from both organizations anticipate an evening that not only celebrates past achievements in child advocacy but also renews a collective national commitment to protecting the future of America’s children, ensuring that policies, programs, and community power continue to align in pursuit of equitable and joyful futures for all youth.
