CHampions for change 2025
We are excited to host Champions for Change, an exclusive event honoring those creating change for children and families impacted by childhood trauma in South Carolina. We are now accepting nominations for individuals who are creating positive change in our state. Complete the form below to nominate an individual for the following awards: Lived Experience, Caregiver, Community Leader, and Culture of Care Award. Please share why this person or organization deserves to be honored. Include specific examples of their impact, resilience, leadership, or contributions to children and families impacted by trauma.
Champion Award for Lived Experience
Honors an individual with personal experience of foster care, adoption, kinship care, or childhood adversity who uses their story to inspire change for others.
Champion Award for Caregiving
Recognizes a foster, adoptive, kinship, or reunified parent who demonstrates resilience, compassion, and trauma-informed care in supporting children and families.
Champion Award for Community Leadership
Celebrates a leader in faith, education, nonprofit, business, or civic life who strengthens families and communities impacted by trauma.
Champion Award for a Culture of Care
Acknowledges an organization, program, or professional that models trauma-informed practices and creates safe, supportive environments for children and families.
Nominations will close on October 17th.
CHampions for change
2024 Event
We recently hosted Champions for Change, an exclusive evening honoring an adoptee, adoptive parent, adoption professional, and government official. Award winners were nominated by their peers as Champions for Change in 2024. We are extremely grateful to everyone who attended and for the great honor of highlighting the collective power in the room that evening as we continued collaborative conversations to strive to meet the needs of South Carolina children and families in the years to come.
Thank you to our award winners who aim to meet the needs of vulnerable children in South Carolina.
Adoptee: Brooke Jeffcoat
Adoption Professional: Starla Fowler
Adoptive Family: Deborah Wessel
State Agency Leader: Mike Reichenbach
CHampions for change 2023
Adoptee: Carolyn Abrahamzon
Honorable Mention: Brittney Clow
Adoptive Parent: Carrie Tucker
Honorable Mention: Hannah Hunter
Adoption Professional: Dale Dove, Attorney at Thompson Dove Law Group
Honorable Mention: Rebecca Moore, Residential Clinical Director at Thornwell
Government Official: Michael Leach, State Director for SCDSS
Honorable Mention: Murrell Smith, Speaker - South Carolina House of Representatives





































