LANSING – Orchards Children's Services today named State Representative Dudley Spade (D-Tipton) their 2008 Champion for Children Award winner. Representative Spade, who chairs the House Appropriations Subcommittee for the Department of Human Services and has spent his career as a children's and families' advocate, will be honored this Wednesday, April 9, 2008, at Orchards' annual Let the Children Be Heard event at the Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit.
"I promised when I came to Lansing that I would fight for children in our State," Spade said. "While none of us do this job for recognition, it is wonderful to be honored and this award is special to me. It reminds me that I am keeping the promise I made to myself, my constituents, and the children of Michigan. Every child belongs to all of us. They are not born conservative or liberal. They are just born kids . . . our kids and I am proud to be able to serve them."
The Champion for Children Award is Rep. Spade's second award for children's advocacy in 2008. Last month he was recognized by Wolverine Human Services with their 2008 Achievement Award for his work on behalf of children and families in Michigan. Before coming to the legislature, Spade spent over 25 years working as a child and family advocate, first as the Controller at Boysville of Michigan (now Holy Cross Children's Services) and later at Starr Commonwealth. Now in his second term in the legislature, Representative Spade also carries his role as a child advocate on the School Aid Fund and Department of Education Appropriations Subcommittee and previously served on the Family and Children Services Committee.