@AtlDiaperRelief and Founder @KiaMorganSmith Named as @Ford Freedom Unsung Hero Award Winner

I am beyond honored to be named as a Ford Freedom Unsung Hero by the Ford Company and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.

This is a great honor and achievement and a true blessing to have Atlanta Diaper Relief recognized in this way. We are one of five non-profits recognized in the category of ORGANIZATION. I could not do this work to help families without thanking some very important people who have made carrying out this mission a little easier. Since I won’t get to make a speech during the ceremony on Dec. 7th, I will make my speech now 🙂

Thank you to my husband Rudolph Smith for being such a strong supporter who believes in everything I say and do. Thank you to my mother Janice Pugh for always being supportive and that shoulder to lean on and cry when times get rough. Thank you to my sister Chanel for always saying yes when I need you. Thank you to Dr. Di-Di St. Louis for believing so very much in this work and for being the absolute BEST supporter and friend and always opening up your purse to support Atlanta Diaper Relief financially.

Thank you to Huggies for giving back to the community in such a significant way. The millions of diapers you donate to diaper banks across the country is literally changing so many lives. I am thankful to be a part of your Every Little Bottom initiative.

Thank you to K.I.D.S (Kids in Distressed Situations) for your on-going diaper donations and commitment to helping this diaper bank and so many others. And of course thank you to the team at the National Diaper Bank Network for being hands-on and helpful and always supportive and ready to assist this diaper bank and you deliver. I truly appreciate you!

A very special thank you to Judge Beau McClain, Paul Zachos and Alma George. I appreciate the Faith in Action team for helping me is SUCH a significant way by donating a space where I can store all those diapers for free! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Thank you to Sandra Price and Loving Hand Ministry for being on the front lines everyday with this organization and for the outstanding work you do as a partner agency. Thank you!

To Lamar and Ronnie Tyler of Black and Married with Kids.com, I love and appreciate your ongoing support and for being among the FIRST people to invest in this organization. Thank you so very much for your encouragement and support, support, support!

To my friends Desiree Miller, thank you for your wonderful financial contribution that was so-needed and Alicia Hagan for your huge diaper donations again and again, I really, really appreciate you ladies beyond words can say.

And to Ford… Thank you Ford for again and again being such a wonderful supporter of this organization and this cause. Thank you to Craig Daitch who first reached out to me and helped get my first large shipment of Huggies delivered. And thank you to Wade Ford in Smyrna for your support and for delivering free of charge. Thank you to KP Smith and Katie Spillman of Ford for your continued support as well.

And I can’t name everyone but there are NUMEROUS everyday people who I consider everyday heroes who donate diapers, throw diaper drives at schools and community events; who donate food, and their time and so much more …Thank you to all of you who help me to carry out this mission. This organization is a VILLAGE and we are working together to help these babies. To the many people, supporters, churches and businesses I thank you again and again and appreciate you so very much!

The official press release is below and I will be honored in a ceremony FridayDec. 7th with 24 others. The top 25 were chosen out of 177 entries! I am so thankful! Thank you all!

~Kia Morgan Smith

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ford Motor Company Announces Ford Freedom Unsung Award Winners

• Ford partners with The National Center for Civil and Human Rights (NCCHR) to recognize winners of Ford Freedom Unsung in Atlanta

• Actress KeKe Palmer to present Youth Awards

• 25 Winners selected from 177 nominations

DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 28 , 2012 – Ford Motor Company today announced winners of the Ford Freedom Unsung Award, celebrating individuals who have made significant contributions in their communities. Honorees will be recognized for their outstanding achievements at the Academy of Medicine at Georgia Institute of Technology on Dec. 7.

Made possible by a grant from Ford Motor Company Fund, Ford Freedom Unsung salutes and honors everyday people and organizations that have positively impacted communities and whose achievements serve to enlighten and inspire others.

“Ford is proud to honor the contributions of others who go above and beyond to positively impact communities, but are often not recognized for what they do,” said Pamela Alexander, director of Community Development, Ford Motor Company Fund. “Whether it is a mother who tutors children, a brother who sacrificed years serving his country, a neighbor who leads a nonprofit organization or a father who dedicated his life to serving the homeless, unsung heroes surround us every day and look for nothing in return.”

Ford is launching this new national program in Atlanta as part of its ongoing commitment to honor distinguished Americans who dedicate their lives to improving the community where they live and the world at large. Award categories include Community, Education, Military, Youth and Organization.

”The National Center for Civil and Human Rights is honored to partner with the Ford Motor Company in presenting these awards to 25 very deserving persons.  What we have learned from studying the American Civil Rights Movement and human rights movements across the globe is that every day people who decide to do extraordinary things do indeed change the world.  These are change agents in our own backyard and we thank them for their service and commitment to the community, “ said Deborah J. Richardson, Executive Vice President, National Center for Civil and Human Rights.

Awarding-winning actress KeKe Palmer will serve as youth ambassador for the Ford Freedom Unsung program. KeKe is not only known for her outstanding career in entertainment, but also for her ongoing commitment to youth issues such as bullying prevention. Palmer joins others lending their support to this effort in presenting the awards.

In honor of their contributions to their community, the 2012 Ford Freedom Unsung –Atlanta Edition awards will be given to:

Community

Tracy Campbell

John “JT” Johnson

Christopher Leggett

Sheila Tenney

Lisa C. Williams

Education

Ulester Douglas

Garry A. Harris

Allen E. Lee

Camille Russell Love

Alvetta Peterman Thomas

Military

John M. Bailey, Jr.

Marcelite J. Harris

Johnny Miller

James Richard Morton
Garfield L. Peart

Youth

Sydney-Alyce Bourget

Nyomi Haynes

Cameron Harris

Alexus N. Means

Robin Okunowo

Organization

Atlanta Diaper Relief

Boys2Men Home & Sanctuary for Youth

Cool Girls, Inc.

Sisters … By Choice, Inc.

Zion Hill Community Development Center

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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 172,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.

The National Center for Civil and Human Rights (civilandhumanrights.org) will display The Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection, the award-winning Without Sanctuary lynching exhibit and the Benny Andrews John Lewis Collection. The Center will serve as a hub for ongoing dialogue, attracting world-renowned speakers and artists who work on a variety of human rights topics. Located in Downtown Atlanta at Pemberton Place and equipped with broadcast and event space, the Center will host civil and human rights conversations among scholars, organizations and the public.