Pearl H. Rieger Award
The Pearl H. Rieger Award pays tribute to an individual or institution that has made a significant difference in the lives of children with neurobehavioral issues. 

2010 Recipient
The Cove School, represented by Dr. Sally L. Sover 

The Cove School, founded in 1947, was the nation’s first school exclusively for the education of children with learning disabilities. Cove continues to be a leader in helping children with learning disabilities develop the skills and self-confidence they need to transition to community schools or post-secondary education. 

Dr. Sover has led The Cove School for the past seven years through a period of great change, growth, and advancement. She has helped change the culture of the school; strengthen the board of directors; overhaul the school’s academic programs with an increased emphasis on literacy, an integrated curriculum, and the introduction of technology to the classroom, all monitored by quantitative measurement of student achievement. Dr. Sover has also led a comprehensive facility improvement and expansion program that provides a clear vision for other institutions across the country. 

2009 Recipient
Susan Noyes 

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Creating the Future Award
The Creating the Future Award celebrates the success of a child affected by neurobehavioral issues and the family that has created an optimal environment for their child’s development. 

2010 Recipient
Ann, Steve, and Ben Bartrum 

Ann, Steve, Stephen, and Ninca have traveled an uncharted journey with their son and brother, the remarkable Ben Bartrum. Their indominable onward and upward attitude has lit the course from the time they were first aware of the challenges Ben might face. Without blinking, Ann and Steve nurtured his interests and build an educational framework to ensure Ben’s many successes. 

We have had the good fortune to see the extraordinary progress Ben has made over the years. His improvement hasn’t happened by accident; it’s the result of a courageous and loving family assisted by freiends and very special educators, along with specialized programs that have benefited his development and growth. 

2009 Recipient
Joe Franco and Family

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Game Changer Award
The Game Changer Award honors the remarkable people who envision solutions for the many issues that confront children in underserved urban neighborhoods and make those solutions a reality. 2010 marks the first year of the Game Changer Award. 

2010 Recipient
Gary C. Comer Family 

Gary grew up on Chicago’s South Side. Too poor to go to college, his remarkable business savvy revolutionized direct merchandizing when he created Land’s End. 

The devotion to improving the lives of children is what really sets Gary and his family apart in our eyes. Gary, who dien in 2006, his wife Francie, and their children Stephanie and Guy are creating a positive future for youngsters in Gary’s old neighborhood and all across the South Side. They have established numerous educational and medical institutions and programs such as Gary Comer Colleg Prep and the Comer Children’s Hospital at the University of Chicago. 

Every day, the Comer family is setting as standard for “changing the game” and proving that the lives of children can be changed for the better when they are offered the right opportunities. 

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Living Proof Award
The Living Proof Award is given to recognize an individual for a lifetime of achievements. 

2009 Recipient
Michael W. Ferro, Jr.