APRIL 1, 1999
THEVISTA
PAGE 7
UCO Alumna receives award for helping children By Stacy Brasher Staff&Viler
I
t shouldn't hurt to be a child. However, in 1998, Oklahoma's child abuse rate increased by 23 percent. As a result, 45 innocent children died. Such tragic statistics are released each year by the Department of Human Services (DHS), but they often go unnoticed. However, UCO alumna Rose Harper took notice, and because of her heart-felt action, she has been chosen as the recipient of the 1999 Lifetime Achievement Award given by the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy. "I'm so very honored," she said. "Even though I don't like being singled out often, I'm extremely pleased." Harper, along with her late husband George, first became foster parents in 1973. Over several years, they welcomed a total of twenty-four foster children into their home, along with their four children and two adopted children.
As a couple, they sympathized with the abused and neglected youth, and as Christians who believed in service and sacrifice for others, they felt a need to help. The Harpers, with their pastor Joel Baker, formed the Edmond-based, nonprofit organization Citizens Concerned for Children in 1984 with the financial support of First Presbyterian Church of Edmond.. Now called Citizens Caring for Children (CCC), the group strives to break the cycle of abuse and neglect among Oklahoma's foster children. From the humble beginnings in the Harper's home, CCC has grown to annually serve over 2,500 foster children throughout the state each year. Their major services focus on independent living, mentoring and career and educational expenses. CCC also distributes free clothing, toys, bicycles, books, school supplies and other items to local foster children at their volunteer-run Resource Center in Oklahoma City. Although 15 years since its inception, Harper still maintains a high profile in the organization.
She serves on CCC's Board of the kids that you're never too old to get an Directors, and also works at their Edmond education," she said. office. The Lifetime Achievement Award will As an Independent Living Specialist, be presented to Harper at an awards Harper enjoys speaking to the youth banquet on April 27. about what's going on in their "We're glad to see she's being lives. recognized for -all the years she's "I think the relationships that given to children," said CCC's I'm able to have with the teens Executive Director Patty Pace. is a privilege, and to see them "She's truly made a difference in succeed is wonderful to me," many children's lives." she said. Since 1984, CCC has made While encouraging the astounding progress, Harper youth to pursue their said. own educational and Without abuse and career goals, Harper neglect in the world, recently decided to CCC services would not do the same, and in be needed. Harper 1996, she earned a hopes they can be put BA in History from out of business. UCO. Although it seems "Since I did not to be an impossible get an education goal...it is the when I was ultimate ending to younger, it was their operation, and good for me to be the ultimate dream for able to set an Harper. example and show Rose Harper
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