WASHINGTON, D.C. — The national advocacy organization Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) has announced that it will honor Casey Family Programs with its prestigious Marian Wright Edelman Advocate for Joy Award this coming November. The high-profile recognition serves to celebrate the nationwide foundation’s decades-long dedication to championing policies, building community power, and advancing programs designed to fundamentally improve the lives of children and youth across the United States.
The award presentation will take place during "A National Celebration of Joy," a gala event hosted by CDF at Washington, D.C.’s historic Howard Theatre. Established to bring together changemakers, youth advocates, and philanthropic leaders, the November gathering is designed to highlight the powerful partnerships that drive CDF’s ongoing mission on behalf of children. The gala will put a spotlight on organizations and individuals who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the well-being of the next generation.
At the heart of the evening’s recognitions is the Marian Wright Edelman Advocate for Joy Award, which represents CDF’s highest honor. The award is named in honor of CDF Founder and President Emerita Marian Wright Edelman, a legendary figure in the child advocacy movement whose life’s work has inspired generations of leaders, policymakers, and community organizers.
Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson, President and CEO of the Children’s Defense Fund, emphasized the profound significance of the award and the reasoning behind its renaming. He noted that the honor is specifically designed to recognize servant leaders whose advocacy and partnership have made a measurable, demonstrable difference in the day-to-day lives of children, young people, and their families. By attaching Marian Wright Edelman’s name to the award, CDF is permanently linking her enduring legacy of courage and justice with those who continue to push the boundaries of child welfare and family support today.
This year, CDF has selected Casey Family Programs as a primary recipient of the award, marking a historic moment for the foundation as the first institutional recipient of the newly renamed honor. Casey Family Programs stands as America’s largest operating foundation dedicated specifically to safely reducing the need for foster care while simultaneously improving the overall safety, permanence, and well-being of children in the child welfare system.
Founded in 1966 by United Parcel Service founder Jim Casey, the Seattle-based organization has spent six decades evolving into a cornerstone of American child welfare policy and practice. 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 across the country and leads a dedicated staff that works hand-in-hand with youth, families, and professionals directly engaged in the public child welfare system.
Dr. Wilson praised Casey Family Programs not only for its clear vision of child well-being, but also for its historic, enduring partnership with the Children’s Defense Fund. He highlighted the ways in which the two organizations have worked in tandem over many decades to advance shared goals and protect vulnerable populations.
Reflecting on the partnership, Dr. Wilson shared that it is a distinct privilege to honor Casey Family Programs as the inaugural institutional recipient of the Marian Wright Edelman Award. For sixty years, the organization has been actively building Communities of Hope with the ultimate objective of ensuring that more children are able to grow up safely in their own homes and communities. Operating across all fifty states, the foundation’s core mission centers on providing and improving care while systematically working to prevent the need for foster care altogether. Dr. Wilson characterized Casey Family Programs as one of CDF’s most steadfast institutional partners, noting their deep contributions in the areas of advocacy, thought leadership, financial investment, and a shared, unwavering commitment to the nation’s youth.
The upcoming gala event promises to be a landmark gathering for advocates, community leaders, and supporters of child welfare. Scheduled for Thursday, November 5, 2026, the evening will commence with dinner and a formal program beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the historic Howard Theatre, located at 620 T Street NW in Washington, D.C.
As the date of the gala approaches, anticipation continues to build around the celebration of both Casey Family Programs and the broader community of advocates working alongside the Children’s Defense Fund. Through decades of collaborative effort, strategic investment, and grassroots organizing, organizations like CDF and Casey Family Programs continue to shape a future where every child has the opportunity to grow, thrive, and experience joy in a safe and supportive environment.
