Balliew to Receive National Lewis Hines Award
A local man will receive a prestigious award next month for his long-time volunteer efforts in Gordon County.
Deacon Balliew, who founded the Winner’s Club with the help of his wife Inez in 1968, will be one of five volunteer recipients from across the nation of the National Child Labor Committee Lewis Hine Awards for 1990.
Balliew will receive his award during a ceremony in New York on Jan. 17.
The annual awards recognize 10 individuals-five professionals and five volunteers-who have dedicated themselves to young people in the United States.
Two of the 10 will receive cash awards of $2,500, while the remaining eight will receive $1,000 each.
Inaugurated in 1985, the awards memorialize the early 20th century photographers of children laboring in mines, in the fields, and in sweatshops moved the conscience of a nation, said Richard Munro, co-CEO of Time Warner Inc. and chairman of the 1990 Hine Awards.
Laws banning child labor and providing for compulsory education were a result of Hine’s work, giving thousands of children the chance for improved lives.
The National Child Labor Committee commissioned Hine’s work at the turn of the century, but he was unheralded in his lifetime. “Nevertheless, Hine symbolizes the commitment of Americans society to bettering the lives of new generations,” Munro said.
Past Hine Award recipients have been nominated by leaders from all 50 states for representing the best traditions of dedications and commitment to our nation’s youth, Munro said. Rebecca Owens of the local United Way nominated Balliew.
A distinguished panel of public and private sector experts on youth issues selected the winners, Munro added.
Hine Award recipients have received national media coverage from ABC-TV, CBS-TV, and CNN as well as major newspapers across the country, he said.
Balliew organized the Winner’s Club nearly 22 years ago as a Boy Scout Troop for handicapped and disadvantaged boys.
Believing strongly that there were no limits on what could be accomplished with the help of others, Balliew and his dedicated volunteers developed the Winner’s Club, expanding the program to include girls and adults. Over the years, professionals in many fields throughout the community have devoted their time and resources to help.
Today, the Winner’s Club has members from the age 4 up to 55 and has earned international recognition for its efforts in showing that everyone can be a winner.
The Hine Awards recognize those individuals who have devoted their time to America’s young people in the following areas:
Child abuse and prevention and treatment, recreation centers and sport leagues, missing child awareness and support for families with lost children;
Education, career counseling and training; childhood diseases, research, treatment, and prevention; juvenile crime prevention; foster parent service;
Boys and Girls Clubs, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, YMCAs; drug abuse counseling; quality child care for working mothers; runaway teen centers;
Big Brother/Big Sister; incarcerated youth programs; employment programs for disadvantage; and family counseling and meditation.