Nancy Olson was named Child Advocate of the Year for 2022 at Child Advocates of Fort Bend’s Annual Volunteer Celebration held Feb. 23 at Sugar Creek Country Club. The event was attended by more than 200 volunteers, community partners and staff.

“Nancy embodies the mission and passion for the work that we do. She has gone ‘above and beyond’ and her actions will have long-lasting impact for the children we serve,” Ruthanne Mefford, Child Advocates of Fort Bend check executive officer, said. “Nancy is a true ‘servant leader’ who effortlessly blends her natural talents in leadership with her passion for serving her community, her family and her friends to make hers a purposeful life. In addition to serving on our board of directors, she volunteers in our Children’s Advocacy Center playroom once a week.”

Mefford said Olson volunteers for our Christmas Home Tour every year, has been a member of our Voices for Children leadership team, has served on the committee for scholarships for local high school seniors and donated her home for numerous events. She is always thinking of new, creative ways of engaging the community, introducing new donors to CAFB or meeting with elected officials locally to advocate for more resources to help the thousands of children who have been abused.

Jim McClellan was named Unsung Hero for his two decades of service to the agency and unsurpassed generosity in supporting programming services and capital expansion over the years. Charles McGuire was named Blue Ribbon Volunteer and Kathy Eyring was the recipient of the Mariel Barrera Champion for Children. Barrera, a longtime employee of Child Advocates of Fort Bend died in early 2017.

Other honorees at the volunteer celebration included Deidre Lyons-Lewis (CASA Volunteer of the Year), Mike Meador (Children’s Advocacy Center Volunteer of the Year), Nancy Dale (Development Volunteer of the Year), Shannan Stavinoha (Community Engagement Volunteer of the Year), Jeff Shank (Outreach Volunteer of the Year) and WA Parish (Community Volunteer of the Year).

For more information, visit the website at cafb.org.