Shreveporter among 2020 honorees
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation, in partnership with Louisiana Public Broadcasting (LPB), presents The Angel Award®, a one-hour special, airing on LPB October 19 at 8 p.m. The program will also livestream online at www.lpb.org, on the LPB App, and on the Facebook pages of both LPB and the Foundation.
The Foundation normally hosts the honorees at a live gala event, but decided in favor of a broadcast program this year in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Angel Award® recognizes nine everyday Louisianans who are working to make life better for the state’s children. The program will feature segments on each of the honorees that showcase their work, and allow viewers to see first-hand the impact that work has on children. For more on The Angel Award® and this year’s honorees, go to www.bcbslafoundation.org. LPB has also created a page dedicated to the special at www.lpb.org/angelaward.
“Since 1995, the Foundation has recognized more than 200 Angels across the state. This program has been a springboard for many nonprofits to reach new heights. We are so pleased and grateful to LPB for working with us to honor these exceptional individuals,” said Michael Tipton, president of the Blue Cross Foundation.
“LPB has served the children of Louisiana for over 45 years and has become a trusted source for educational and entertaining programs,” said Beth Courtney, President and CEO of Louisiana Public Broadcasting. “These nine honorees hail from parishes all across Louisiana so we are proud to broadcast this special, highlighting their extraordinary work and the difference they are making in the lives of children in our state.”
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Program airs Oct. 19 at 8pm
- Watch live on LPB-HD
- Livestream at www.lpb.org, with the LPB App, or on the LPB Facebook page
- Livestream on the BCBSLA Foundation’s Facebook page
This year’s honorees are:
- Ben Bowie of Lafayette, a volunteer with the Children’s Museum of Acadiana
- Sarah Broome of Baton Rouge, the founder and executive director of Thrive Academy
- Dr. Marybeth Lima of Baton Rouge, a professor of biological & agricultural engineering at Louisiana State University and founder of the LSU Community Playground Project
- Dr. Calvin Mackie of New Orleans, the founder and CEO of STEM NOLA
- Lucinda Miles of Shreveport, crisis program coordinator with Volunteers for Youth Justice has pioneered new methods of trauma-informed care for foster children
- Johnny Robinson of Monroe, Pro Football Hall-of-Famer and founder of Johnny Robinson’s Boys Home
- Levar Robinson of Baton Rouge, the founder of Fathers on a Mission, a network of fathers who support each other and provide mentoring for young people without fathers
- Syrita Steib of New Orleans, the founder of Operation Restoration, a rapidly-growing organization that supports currently and formerly incarcerated women and girls through vital services
- David Longstreet of Baton Rouge, a volunteer with Bikers Against Child Abuse and this year’s Blue Angel — a Blue Cross employee recognized for going above and beyond for kids