Don Stedman, Co-Founder of New Voices Foundation, has presented UNC’s Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG) with the first donation designated to celebrate FPG’s 50th Anniversary in 2016. 

“FPG is a world class child development organization,” said Stedman, former Dean of UNC’s School of Education and former Associate Director of FPG. “A half century of work has helped transform both how and when children need educational support to make their lives better and richer.”

Stedman (right, with FPG director Samuel L. Odom) presented the $5000 gift at the annual meeting of FPG’s Executive Leadership Board, on which Stedman has served for several years. Celebratory plans include a two-day symposium in May 2016 to discuss state-of-the-art research and practice, as well as new directions for FPG and the fields of child development and education.

According to Stedman, the event will include opportunities to look at what FPG and its many researchers, past and present, have done to enrich the lives of children.

“But, best of all, it will examine what the futures of children need to be and how research can make that happen,” he said. “New Voices Foundation is proud to play even a small part in helping to launch the planning and development of this historic event.”

Under Stedman’s leadership, New Voices Foundation has worked with public schools to improve educational opportunities for children with severe communication and mobility disabilities. The foundation supports teachers and future teachers, as well as other professionals, by enhancing their abilities to serve children.

In addition to his integral roles with FPG, New Voices, and UNC’s School of Education, Stedman has served on many boards and advisory groups for organizations that address children’s issues. During his career he also has held faculty posts at Duke University and at Vanderbilt University, where he directed the JFK Center at Vanderbilt-Peabody, and he also served the UNC System for nearly 15 years as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Interim Vice President for Research and Public Service Programs.

Stedman will remain an active leader on FPG’s planning team. He said the anniversary celebration will include a documentary about how FPG grew to become one of the world’s most prominent institutes on child development.

Make a gift to FPG’s 50^th Anniversary Celebration.

Follow @FPGInstitute #FPG50.

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FPG grants permission to publish this story in part or in its entirety, as well as to use the above photo in conjunction with this story.
Photo caption/credits: Courtesy of UNC’s Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute.

DS