Erminie Cohen, founder of the New Brunswick Adoption Foundation, died in 2019. (photo courtesy of the NBAF)
Nominations are needed to find the inaugural recipient of the Erminie Cohen Compassion Award.
It’s namesake was the founder of the New Brunswick Adoption Foundation.
Through Cohen’s leadership, the foundation increased the number of kids adopted out of the provincial care system by 100 per cent.
Suzanne Kingston, executive director of the New Brunswick Adoption Foundation, said they are seeking nominees who work to improve the lives of vulnerable children and youth like Erminie did.
“What she really did is she engaged other people in doing a whole bunch of things. So that idea of a person who inspires others, or creates a catalyst or who mentors people,” Kingston said, “when you think of kids that are in need of adoptive homes. There really is a spirit of compassion that their needs are something that we as a community need to respond to”.
Erminie Cohen passed away in February 2019 and Kingston said soon after her death, discussions began about honouring her legacy with an award.
Plans for to launch the Erminie Cohen Compassion Award at a luncheon this past March were foiled by the pandemic.
Kingston said they know there are people out there deserving of this award who make a difference by helping vulnerable children and youth in New Brunswick.
“At some point, we’ll do some kind of event in whatever form. We want the idea of recognizing people who’ve had an impact on children and youth in New Brunswick to be recognized.
We’re at the point now where we are calling for nominations,” Kingston said.
An awards selection committee will determine the winner of the first Erminie Cohen Compassion Award.
Nominations are being accepted until the end of January.
Do you know someone who has made an outstanding contribution to the welfare and well-being of children, youth and families in NB?
The NB Adoption Foundation is calling for nominations for the Erminie Cohen Compassion Award
Find out more: https://t.co/H47aoAruAC pic.twitter.com/Ow8md4MCku— New Brunswick Adoption Foundation (@NBAdoptionFnd) October 22, 2020
Follow
