CAMCAC presents Superhero Award
Despite having to cancel its annual Hot Springs Rally and Luncheon for the first time in 12 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cooper-Anthony Mercy Child Advocacy Center persisted in hosting a small, socially distant, award ceremony for 2020 Patrick McCruden Superhero Award recipient Carol Levi on Friday.
“I’m just awe-struck, it’s the most worthy, honorable award I’ve ever gotten,” Levi said.
After working at the center from 2005 to 2015, Levi now volunteers to help with food and fundraising needs.
“We came over here when this first opened and the hospital, Mercy at that time, invited us, and we heard a story about an abused little child and I started home and I told (my husband) Larry, I said ‘I wish I could help somehow,’” she said. “So I went to the person at the hospital in charge of volunteerism and asked and I asked them if I could help out over there, and it’s been very near and dear to us ever since.”
Tracey Childress, the center’s director, presented Levi with the award.
“As the team came together this year to determine who was going to be this year’s recipient of our annual Superhero Award it was a landslide when the person was selected,” Childress said during her presentation speech. “… This year’s honoree is being selected for the dedication that has been reflected for the many years of service she has provided to the children and families of Garland County.”
Childress said Levi’s partnership with the center and her “heart’s work” in which she has dedicated herself to serve is why she is the recipient of the award.
“Having come to the center in 2005 the team found that she would assist wherever she was needed,” Childress continued in her speech. “… Having served 10 years in the CAMCAC office as our much-needed receptionist, office coordinator, child advocate, etc. the most valued role she provided was one of a friend.”
Holly Heer, the center’s development coordinator, said they are “very glad” to have Levi as part of the organization.
“The volunteers are a very key part of what we do and we couldn’t do it without them and we’re very glad to have her,” she said.
Although a reschedule date for the luncheon hasn’t yet been determined, Heer said they wanted to continue with the Superhero award presentation because April is Child
Abuse Awareness Month.
“We didn’t want April to go by without our superheroes being acknowledged,” she said. “We’ll do it again at the event, but we did want them to be aware.”
Precautions taken at the event included masks being worn, a limited amount of people being invited and everyone standing at least 6 feet apart.