WASHINGTON – ZERO TO THREE, the early childhood development nonprofit dedicated to ensuring all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life, proudly announced today that it will present its Lifetime Achievement Award to founding member and former board president Dr. Jeree Pawl of San Francisco.
“Jeree is a treasure, with the ability to make each and every one of us feel welcome in the important work of improving the lives of babies and their families,” stated Dr. Paul Spicer, president of the Board of Directors at ZERO TO THREE. “Her contributions have been foundational, certainly to ZERO TO THREE, where she has led numerous important initiatives, but as well to the broader field we serve, where she has consistently served as a role model for all of us who want to cultivate more patience and grace in the face of the tough challenges we confront. I’m so pleased to be able to recognize her this year.”
Dr. Pawl was present for the founding of what was then the National Center for Clinical Infant Programs in 1977 alongside fellow leaders in the fields of medicine, mental health, social science research, child development, and community leadership. She later joined the Board of Directors and eventually was elected Board President in 1994, overseeing the organization’s professionalization and transition to becoming ZERO TO THREE. Dr. Pawl founded USCF’s Infant-Parent Program at San Francisco General Hospital, creating an innovative program to provide mental health consultation to centers and family daycare homes as part of a professional home-visiting program. Her work in the field continues to inspire and inform ZERO TO THREE’s efforts today, as well as those of professionals throughout the early childhood field.
“It is no exaggeration that I would not be here today were it not for Dr. Pawl – after all, she was the one who hired me 25 years ago,” stated ZERO TO THREE Executive Director Matthew Melmed. “Dr. Pawl’s innovative approach to early childhood development has inspired countless other professionals, but more importantly, she has done so much to help families across the country. I’m inspired by Dr. Pawl’s tremendous work, and I’m honored to be able to present her with this well-deserved award.”
Dr. Pawl will be honored with ZERO TO THREE’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the organization’s annual conference in Ft. Lauderdale, FL on Thursday, Oct. 3. For more information about ZERO TO THREE, please visit zerotothree.org.
About ZERO TO THREE
ZERO TO THREE works to ensure all babies and toddlers benefit from the family and community connections critical to their well-being and development. Since 1977, the organization has advanced the proven power of nurturing relationships by transforming the science of early childhood into helpful resources, practical tools and responsive policies for millions of parents, professionals and policymakers. For more information, and to learn how to become a ZERO TO THREE member, please visit zerotothree.org, facebook.com/zerotothree, or follow @zerotothree on Twitter.
