Suzanne L. Keeley Community Service Award
The “Suzanne L. Keeley, Ph.D., Community Service Award” is an honor presented by The Melissa Institute for Violence Prevention and Treatment (TMI). Named after Dr. Suzanne L. Keeley, a co-founder of TMI and a dedicated advocate for community service and violence prevention, the award recognizes individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to their communities in the field of violence prevention and treatment.
Recipients of the Suzanne L. Keeley Community Service Award demonstrate a commitment to promoting safety, resilience, and well-being through their efforts to address and prevent violence in various forms, including gun violence, interpersonal violence, community violence, and self-directed violence. These contributions may encompass direct program development, service provision, advocacy, research, education, policy development, or community mobilization efforts aimed at reducing the incidence and impact of violence.
The award serves to honor the legacy of Suzanne L. Keeley and to inspire others to continue her work in promoting peace, safety, and healing within communities. It highlights the importance of community service and recognizes those who have made exceptional contributions to creating safer and healthier environments for individuals and families affected by violence.
Community Service Award
Jacqueline Gonzalez, J.D., Executive Director, Children’s Home Society of Florida
Trudy Novicki, J.D., Executive Director, Kristi House
Educator Recognition Award
Norma Bossard Award
This award was named in memory of Norma Bossard, who supervised language arts and reading programs for Miami-Dade County Public Schools for many years. The award is given to a reading professional for outstanding efforts to promote student and family literacy in Miami-Dade County.
The Norma Bossard Award includes $500 from The Melissa Institute and $500 in books provided by a publisher for the recipient’s school. A plaque is presented in recognition of the individual’s commitment to children, dedication to literacy and actions that support the motto, “A book in every child’s hands.” The selection is made by the M-DCPS Language Arts Department.
Special Award
The Institute’s Board of Directors may, at their sole discretion, bestow awards on individuals or organizations who have made a significant impact on the Institute and/or the community. These awards are meritorious, and are not given every year.
In 2004, The Institute honored R. Kirk Landon, President of the Kirk Foundation, with the Special Angel Award. Mr. Landon was recognized for “his commitment to children, his philanthropy in support of many worthwhile human endeavors, and his unwavering support for The Melissa Institute for Violence Prevention and Treatment.”