Since May 2009, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with affiliated Family Justice Center agencies, has provided a broad range of lifesaving and essential services to over 9,000 persons subjected to domestic violence. “But none of that would have happened without the guidance and leadership of County Executive, Ike Leggett, who brought everyone involved together, and said “Let’s leave our egos at the door.”

The resulting success of the Family Justice Center has been stunning and when the success of the Center dictated that more space would be needed because of expanding need and new on-site partners, Ike made sure it happened. Ike has supported the Foundation through Executive Grants and made it possible for the Foundation to grow and prosper. This May 2018, the FJC will celebrate its 9th anniversary – and again, none of it would have happened without Ike.

Catherine Leggett has been an amazing partner in the effort to create a true community presence as Chair – in fact, the only Chair the MCFJC Foundation ever had – Of our Annual Benefit. For the each of the 7 years we hosted a Benefit Catherine has offered her time, her talent, and her suggestions on how best to create our wonderful annual benefit and encourages friends and colleagues to support her efforts.

For those reasons, and more, we are delighted to present Ike and Catherine Leggett with the Marilyn J. Praisner Founders Award.

Forerunner Award

Ambassador Connie Morella

Ambassador Connie Morella is one of the true architects of legislation to address the multiple issues surrounding domestic violence. In 1992 she sponsored a Battered Women’s Testimony Act that provided funds for indigent women to hire experts in abuse cases.

During her tenure in Congress, she was active in human rights, women’s health and domestic violence. In 1994 she led the effort, along with Vice President Joe Biden, to write the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and also played a significant role in its re-authorization in 2002.

As a Professor at American University, Ambassador Morella, continues her work in Domestic Violence through the classes she teaches. We are indeed lucky to have her as an active and participatory member of our Foundation’s Advisory Board.

For all those reasons and more, we are honored that Ambassador Morella has accepted our Foundation’s Forerunner Award.

This is a joint award for Dr. Edelstein and the Universities of Shady Grove, for their intern program that continues to provide – free of charge – graduate level interns to work with our youth groups, Club P.R.O.V.I.D.E. The Universities produce a stunning flyer to advertise the position, post the intern request on all school media, work with both the potential interns and the Foundation to get the best possible match for this critical position.

The intern serves in the critical position of liaison between the youth group and the Foundation, helps the students with their fundraisers including engaging in local restaurants in giving a % back to the Foundation, as well as their teddy bear and toy drives for the Foundation, participation in Choose Respect, volunteering at the Benefit, and initiating toy and teddy bear drives for the Foundation.

Margo Hopkins – is the health and gym teacher as well as the teacher assigned to the Churchill H.S. Club P.R.O.V.I.D.E.  She came to the Clubs first and second event, invited Sheriff Popkin to speak to her health class, attended a Foundation Board meeting when the girls got a certificate of appreciation for their work, has invited our Board Member, Joel Cundick to present our Financial Literacy program to the P.R.O.V.I.D.E Club girls. Margo has accepted this role for almost three years and even joined the girls at a Foundation evening meeting when we gave Certificates of Appreciation to the girls.

For all these reasons and more, we are thrilled to recognize the Universities at Shady Grove, Margo Hopkins of Churchill H.S., and representatives of Club P.R.O.V .I.D.E.

Inspiring Leader Award

Marilyn Bagel

“Inspiring” is the word most apt to describe Marilyn. She is the author of three best seller books, three plays, and numerous featured articles in national publications, creator and writer of dozens of scripts for major corporations, non-profit organizations and public figures and events throughout the country for the past 30 years. She has written for notables such as James Earl Jones, Kathleen Turner, Richard Roundtree and David Hyde Pierce.

Marilyn has brought all that talent, style, creativity and critical thinking to her role as a founding MCFJC Foundation Board Member. With her inspirational thinking Marilyn has led the creative process for each of our Foundation Benefits. Each year she brings her energy and creative leadership to our Benefit Committee and introduces new themes and ideas that that advance our mission in dozens of new and creative ways.

For all those reasons and more, we are thrilled to recognize Marilyn as this year’s Inspiring Leader.