President & CEO Rhonda H. Lauer honored as “Champion of Children”

Photo: Jodi Samsel/Courier-Post

Foundations staff at the June 7 Champions of Children Award Ceremony at the Camden Children's Garden. Left to right: Harry Owens, Rhe McLaughlin, Martha Cook Davidson, Rhonda H. Lauer, John Henderson, Julie Stapleton Carroll, Emilio Matticoli

The Camden City Garden Club honored Foundations, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Rhonda H. Lauer as a 2012 Champions of Children award recipient. The award was presented to Ms. Lauer at the Seventh Annual Garden Party and Champions of Children Award Ceremony at the Camden Children's Garden on June 7, 2012.

The Champions of Children award was instituted to honor notable individuals and organizations who work tirelessly on behalf of children. The Camden City Garden Club helps the children of Camden in many education programs. They depend on individuals and leaders to support their efforts and find it fitting to honor those, such as Ms. Lauer, who have chosen to make helping children their priority. This award is timely in light of Foundations' leadership with the new City Invincible Charter School opening in September 2012 to serve Camden's elementary-age school children. Foundations has worked in the city with other schools to provide programs and technical assistance in support of academics and operations.

During her early career as an educator and administrator, Rhonda H. Lauer experienced firsthand what is needed to enhance the lives of America's most vulnerable children and youth. Since 1997, she has guided Foundations' rapid growth from a regional program provider to an organization nationally recognized for transforming the worlds of teaching and learning across the entire day.