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2025 Safe Kids Awards For Outstanding Leaders in Child Injury Prevention

Contact: Mary Hickey
[email protected]
973-819-3608

 

Safe Kids Worldwide Announces 2025 Safe Kids Awards For
Outstanding Leaders in Child Injury Prevention

Recipients Honored for Commitment to Protecting Kids from Preventable Injuries,
Number One Cause of Death to Children in the U.S.

 

October 17, 2025 – (National Harbor, MD) – Safe Kids Worldwide announced this year’s recipients of the Safe Kids Awards today for their outstanding commitment to child injury prevention. These individuals and organizations were honored at the Safe Kids Childhood Injury Prevention Convention (PrevCon), a three-day gathering of more than 600 safety professionals working to enhance the safety of America’s children.

“There is nothing more important to a parent than the safety of their children and we’re proud to honor an amazing group of leaders, whose contributions in the field of child injury prevention are truly extraordinary,” said Torine Creppy, president of Safe Kids Worldwide. “Safe Kids is inspired by their passion and we are eager to continue to engage, partner, and support their efforts.”

Safe Kids presented the following awards:

  • C. Everett Koop Medal of Distinction: Joseph L. Wright, MD, MPH, for his dedication, intelligence, vision, and his passion on behalf of children everywhere.
  • Herta Feely Communications and Child Advocate Award: Children’s Health in Dallas, Texas, for its outstanding work in communications, awareness, and advocacy.
  • Dr. Martin R. Eichelberger Community Organization Award: Community Partnership Approaches for Safe Sleep (CPASS Chicago) for its unwavering commitment and dedication to the cause of safe sleep.
  • Safe Kids Pioneer Award: Stephanie Tombrello, a true legend in the field of Child Occupant Protection for more than half a century, for leading the effort to create safer car seat and vehicle regulations, common sense policies, and evidence-based recommendations to improve family safety in and around cars.
  • Martha Collar Partnership Award for exhibiting outstanding leadership and a commitment to collaboration and partnerships:
    • Eastern Carolina Injury Prevention Program at ECU Health Medical Center
    • Jessica Ritter, American Trauma Society, Pennsylvania Division
    • Abby Collier, National Center for Fatality Review and Prevention (NCFRP)
  • Emilie Crown Child Passenger Safety Award for working tirelessly to ensure families, particularly those in need, have the tools to keep their children safe in the car.
    • Lew Moquin, retired, Safe Kids Coordinator in Michigan
    • Britney Lombard, Sr. Safety Program Manager, HopSkipDrive
  • Outstanding Philanthropist Award: Emily Alexander, Safe Kids Board member for her support of child injury prevention and life-saving programs.  
  • Outstanding Community Advocate Award: Kimberly Harris for her exceptional contributions to improving child safety in her community.  
  • Safe Kids Legacy Partnership Awards recognizes a long-standing partner and collaborator for their unwavering support and exceptional commitment, vision, and contributions to the field of child injury prevention:
    • State Farm (25 years)
    • Procter & Gamble (10 years)
  • Exemplary Leadership Award recognizes government leaders who challenge the process, encourage collaboration, and inspire action.
    • Ronda Cerulli, program director at Florida Department of Health, St. Lucie
    • Will Hitchcock, Health Services Consultant at the Washington State Department of Health
  • Safe Kids Champion for Children Award recognizes an individual, business, government agency or official, or organization that has made a significant impact in the field of child injury prevention.
    • Amazon
    • American Cleaning Institute
    • Bailey Boys Car Seats
    • CareFirst
    • Charlie’s Kids
    • Diversity in Aquatics
    • Griffin Hospital
    • Hawai’i Water Safety Coalition
    • Mercedes-Benz USA
    • Safe Routes to School, Atlanta Department of Transportation

About Safe Kids
Safe Kids Worldwide is a nonprofit organization working to reduce unintentional injuries to children ages 0-19 and building sustainable systems that support injury prevention. Safe Kids works with strategic partners and an extensive network of more than 400 coalitions and partners in the U.S. to reduce traffic injuries, drownings, sleep-related deaths, falls, burns, poisonings, and more. Learn more at safekids.org.