World of Children, the only global recognition and funding nonprofit that recognizes people who are changing the lives of children around the world, has honored Dr. Edward Zigler with the 2008 Humanitarian Award. The prestigious award, hailed as the Nobel Prize for Children, was presented to Dr. Zigler during the 11th annual World of Children awards ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 13, at the UNICEF House in New York City.
After revolutionizing the field in 1965 by helping to found Project Head Start, Dr. Zigler has continued to shape early childhood initiatives throughout his lifetime. Most recently, Dr.
Zigler was instrumental in developing Parents as Teachers, a parent education and early childhood program that has served more than 2 million children in the United States and nine other
countries.
Dr. Zigler is a pioneer and true champion for children, said Susan Stepleton, president and CEO of Parents as Teachers National Center, the resource base and backbone of Parents as
Teachers. It is an honor to serve alongside him and experience his passion for the welfare of our children.
Among his many accomplishments, Dr. Zigler serves as Sterling Professor of Psychology Emeritus; Director Emeritus of the Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy; and
Joint Appointment (Emeritus) of the School of Medicine, Psychology and Child Study Center at Yale University. He is also a life member of the board of directors for Parents as Teachers.
As part of the World of Children award, Dr. Zigler will receive a cash grant to help fund the work of Parents as Teachers National Center. World of Children recognized a total of eight
honorees who are committed to improving the lives of children around the world. Since 1998, World of Children has awarded more than $2 million in cash grants to 70 child advocates working
in more than 35 countries.
About World of Children
World of Children (www.worldofchildren.org) is the only global recognition and funding program for people specifically and exclusively serving
the needs of children. Now an 11-year-old philanthropy dedicated to identifying and leveraging the efforts of those working on the ground to improve children'ss lives, World of Children
has recognized some of the most promising change-makers for children worldwide and provided funding and visibility for their efforts.
About Parents as Teachers National Center
Based in St. Louis, Parents as Teachers National Center is the resource base and backbone of Parents as Teachers, a parent education and early childhood development program serving
parents throughout pregnancy until their child enters kindergarten, usually age 5. The nonprofit National Center certifies more than 3,000 programs offering Parents as Teachers services
nationwide as well as in several other countries. For more information about Parents as Teachers, visit www.parentsasteachers.org.