Award Ceremony for the Kellogg's Hannah Neil World of Children December 7, 2001

Musical entertainment was provided by the World of Children Choir, an ensemble of 300 local children from the Hannah Neil Center and many of Columbus’ elementary schools. They were accompanied with performances by children from the Columbus Dance Theatre. Indian hoop dancer world champion Jasmine Pickner gave an astoundingly unique performance, holding her audience captive while she spun and developed intricate shapes out of plain hoops to the beat of drums.

Emcee Leon Harris with the
World of Children Choir.

Also in attendance at the ceremony were Columbus’ mayor Michael Coleman and his wife Frankie; the president of Starr Commonwealth Arlin Ness; many individuals working with the World of Children Organization, including newly appointed Executive Director David Lippy, and even a table full of young people from the Hannah Neil Center for Children. The ceremony was broadcast live on the Ohio News Network (ONN).

Violinist Annabel Vardja of Estonia played a stirring melody, and the Ohio Contemporary Chinese School dancers put on a colorful show of Chinese culture.

A duet by vocalists Schuyler Johnson, 12, of WC Handy Community School and Jenna Handler, 14, of Dublin Scioto concluded the ceremony with beautiful harmony and an important message to listen to the children.
*Ohio Contemporary Chinese School dancers*

Offering a face of hope and strength, Muhammed Ali helped to present the award to Dr. Dicksheet at the end of the ceremony. When asked about the importance of becoming a champion for children, Ali, whose major focus is geared to serving the needs of children in developing nations, said; “To be able to give away richness is mandatory if you wish to posses them. This is the only way you will be truly rich.”
Upon receiving the award, Dr. Dicksheet remarked “My deep gratitude to Kellogg’s and the Hannah Neil Foundation. One hundred thousand dollars will build new life into 600 deformed and disabled children in India. It’s almost like giving life to six million people. Thank you deeply for the great honor.” Dr. Dicksheet has operated with relentless dedication since 1968, providing free corrective surgery to 57,000 of the poorest children in India.	Dr. Dicksheet's (left) reaction as the winner was announced.
Despite the challenges of having survived a partially paralyzing accident, terminal cancer of the larynx and two severe heart attacks, Dr. Dicksheet still boards a plane every fall to fulfill the mission he began back then: The India Project - Plastic Surgery Camp. Dicksheet said he will put the $100,000 into his India Project trust fund to provide medical drugs, equipment and supplies which will enable him to repair the faces of more children. There is no administrative overhead for the program, so every penny can be spent helping needy children. All of the physicians involved with the Plastic Surgery Camp, including Dicksheet, donate their time and pay their own travel and lodging expenses for the trip.
The other 2001 award finalists include Helmut Kutin, president of SOS Kinderdorf International children's villages, from Innsbruck, Austria; Abubacar Sultan, who devotes his life to children forced into combat, from Maputo, Mozambique (Sultan was unfortunately unable to attend the ceremony due to a commitment in Angola to continue his work with children); Sanphasit Koompraphant, director of the Center for the Protection of Children's Rights, Bangkok, Thailand; Andal Damodaran of the Indian Council for Child Welfare, Tamil Nadu, India; and David Kim, president emeritus of Holt International Children's Services from Eugene, Oregon. click here for the photo gallery

The Hannah Neil Center Foundation Board developed the concept for the Kellogg’s Hannah Neil Award in 1998. The board governs and supports the Hannah Neil Center for Children in Columbus, Ohio, a non-profit organization that serves children who suffer from severe behavioral and emotional difficulties, oftentimes resulting from issues of child abuse. The Award is managed by World of Children, Inc., a non-profit corporation. Major sponsors of the Award include Kellogg’s Corporate Citizenship fund, The Kroger Co., Bob Evans Farms, Inc., Lord Sullivan & Yoder Public Relations, Mills James Productions, Partners In Marketing and America West Airlines.

Columbus Wired was also proud to be a part of the Awards as a Contributing Sponsor.