WASHINGTON, D.C. — In November 2026, the national child advocacy organization Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) will host its highly anticipated "A National Celebration of Joy," a premier gala established to honor changemakers, youth advocates, and community leaders while celebrating the enduring partnerships that drive its nationwide work for children.
The landmark event, scheduled to take place at Washington, D.C.’s historic Howard Theatre, will feature the presentation of CDF’s prestigious Marian Wright Edelman Advocate for Joy Award. This distinguished accolade is bestowed upon individuals and institutions that champion progressive policies, build community power, and strengthen critical programs designed to drastically improve the lives of children and youth. The award carries profound significance, named explicitly in honor of CDF Founder and President Emerita Marian Wright Edelman, a towering figure in the American civil rights and child advocacy movements.
Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson, President and CEO of the Children’s Defense Fund, emphasized the gravity of the honor and the legacy behind it.
"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 Dr. Wilson. "This year, the award has been renamed in honor of our Founder and President Emerita, Marian Wright Edelman."
As part of the upcoming gala festivities, CDF is proud to announce that Casey Family Programs will be named one of the distinguished award recipients. Casey Family Programs stands as a cornerstone of child welfare in the United States, operating as the nation’s largest operating foundation focused specifically on safely reducing the need for foster care while simultaneously improving the overall safety, permanency, and well-being of children and families.
Established six decades ago in 1966 by United Parcel Service founder Jim Casey, the Seattle-based organization has grown into a formidable national presence. Today, Casey Family Programs is led by President and CEO William C. Bell, Ph.D. Under Dr. Bell’s strategic direction, the foundation operates nine field offices across the country and leads a dedicated staff that works hand-in-hand with youth, families, and public child welfare systems to transform how communities support vulnerable populations.
The gala itself is structured to be an evening of reflection, celebration, and forward-looking commitment. The official schedule for the National Celebration of Joy places the dinner and core programing at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 5, 2026, hosted within the iconic walls of The Historic Howard Theatre, located at 620 T Street NW in Washington, D.C.
In announcing the honor, Dr. Wilson praised Casey Family Programs not only for its visionary approach to child well-being but also for its historic, decades-long partnership with the Children’s Defense Fund, qualities that 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," 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 convergence of CDF’s mission and Casey Family Programs’ sixty-year legacy highlights a shared dedication to systemic reform and community empowerment. Both organizations have spent decades navigating complex policy landscapes, advocating for marginalized youth, and striving to ensure that every child in America has the resources, protection, and opportunities necessary to thrive.
As the date for A National Celebration of Joy approaches, leaders from both organizations, alongside advocates, policymakers, and community builders from across the nation, prepare to gather in the nation’s capital. The event at the historic Howard Theatre will not only celebrate past victories in child advocacy but also steel the resolve of a national movement dedicated to securing a brighter, more equitable future for the nation’s youngest generations.
