| Published by: Calhoun Times 10/31/03 www.calhountimes.com Balliew earns national honor for helping kids Calhoun’s William “Deacon” Balliew has received a major pharmaceutical company’s prestigious Child Health Special Recognition Award in the Individual Recognition category. Balliew accepted the award at Georgia Public Health Association’s 74th Annual Meeting held at the Radisson Riverfront Hotel in Augusta. GlaxoSmithKline, one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and health care companies, chose Balliew from 13 nominees from across the state for his many years of dedication to improving the lives of Georgia’s children. Balliew, better known as “Deacon,” is a man of few words and many actions. He has helped hundreds of children with mental, behavioral, physical, and emotional problems reach their potential. Deacon’s secret is to create a desire in children to succeed by offering them guidance, advice, and true love. He offers them a cause to learn, grow, and succeed. His unique ability to plant seeds of inspiration and desire in children is truly a very rare gift. Deacon has said one of the reasons for his children’s successes, was the emphasis he places on their physical, mental, emotional, and nutritional challenges. Those challenges had to be addressed before any attention would be placed on the behavior, family, social, or school related problems the child was experiencing. Hundreds of psychological and physical examinations by doctors if needed were donated for the children. Deacon also said that having funds donated for needed medicines and food gave his children the needed chance to succeed. Feeling well physically and mentally is the most important ingredient in developing self-confidence, self-esteem, self-control, and success. Marilyn Foote-Hudson, executive director of Glaxo-SmithKline Foundation when presenting the award and congratulating Deacon, said, “Your efforts to improve the lives of Georgia children and their families were an inspiration to us and many across the state of Georgia. “Gov. Sonny Perdue, Rosalynn Carter, and my colleague, Christopher Vienbacker (president of U.S. Pharmaceuticals), all graciously signed your certificate to serve as a reminder of the extraordinary work that you have accomplished for the children of Georgia. Each person that has learned of your accomplishments thanks you for the years of dedication to improve the lives of Georgia’s children and best wishes for continued successes,” Foote-Hudson said. After accepting the award, Deacon said, “Thanks to the Foundation for this award especially at this time. “This recognition is very encouraging. Just to be included with this group of nominees is very rewarding in itself. They are all extremely dedicated professionals. “I feel I haven’t really done that much,” he said. “The children and their families are the one who struggled so hard. “All I did was love each one of them and always tried to be there at the time when they were having problems and needed encouragement. “I can truthfully say I wanted every child to know I love them and that we both knew they were almost perfect. “It’s hard to get a troubled child to understand all they had to do is just be themselves. They are the ones I am definitely going to share this recognition with. “Without the Lord’s help and guidance I know what has happened around me would not have been possible.” Copyright: 2003 Deacon Balliew background music "His Eye on The Sparrow" by Harry Todd | ||
