The Rev. William Bryce Wasson received a $100,000 global child advocacy award today for his lifelong dedication to getting orphans and abandoned children off the streets in Mexico, Haiti and Latin America. Wasson, who will celebrate his 77th birthday later this month, founded Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH), a home for orphaned and abandoned children. Started by Wasson in 1954, NPH operates homes in six countries, including Mexico, Honduras, Haiti, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador, and has provided a safe haven to more than 25,000 children.

Wasson received the third annual Kellogg's Hannah Neil World of Children Award, an international Award established in 1998 to raise up the voices of children by recognizing the ordinary individuals who dedicate their lives to serving them.

"In our high-tech, new-economy world, with the promise of a longer and better quality of life before us, we are sobered by the fact that vast numbers of children around the globe are still disadvantaged, still suffering and still dying much too young," said Carlos Gutierrez, chairman and CEO of Kellogg Company. "Fortunately, there are some extraordinary people who are changing the world in ways that create opportunity and fulfill the potential of children. Through the Kellogg's Hannah Neil World of Children Award we honor these heroes."

With one-sixth of the world's population unable to read and write, Wasson's organization provides all NPH residents with an education to help break the cycle of poverty. Residents learn a skill, life trade or are provided the means to attend college.

NPH also improves the social environment in impoverished communities. For example, in the garbage dumps of Miacatlán, Mexico, children and their families live in shanties and spend their day as "combers" rummaging in the garbage dumps for food. NPH representatives, most of whom were prior orphans, arrive on school days and take more than 80 of these children to the orphanage to be educated, fed, bathed and clothed.

In Honduras, NPH representatives bring mothers dying of AIDS and their children into the NPH home. And, the organization operates medical clinics for the residents, children and families in surrounding communities.

"Father Wasson demonstrates a lasting commitment to the world's most needy children," said Dale Hollandsworth, president of World of Children, Inc. "He is most deserving of this Award - our 'Nobel' for child advocates."

"It's surprising what you can do in a lifetime if you do it just a little at a time," said Wasson, who plans to use the $100,000 Award money to start a vocational school in Nicaragua for blind children.

Wasson was chosen by a 20-member Selection Committee comprised of internationally recognized leaders in fields such as education, science, medicine, philosophy and the arts. Three-time heavyweight boxing champion and longtime "champion of children" Muhammad Ali is part of that committee.

"Congratulations Father Wasson," said Ali, who is also the Award Honorary Chair. "You're doing a great job with kids."

Ali Steps Back Into Arena for Children
In addition to his role as Award honorary chair, Ali has joined with Kellogg Company to further the cause of lifting up the World's children. A special Award limited edition Kellogg's™ Corn Flakes cereal box signed by Ali will be sold at a live auction hosted by Guernsey's of New York early next year. The cereal box will be part of an auction that includes a private collection of sports collectibles, including Ali memorabilia. Guernsey's was the auction house that sold Mark McGuire's baseball for $3 million. Proceeds of the cereal box will benefit children through the Award. The special edition box will not be sold in stores. For auction details visit www.worldofchildren.org.

"I remember when I was a kid and how I looked up to superstars, like they were a dream," Ali said. "They encouraged me to do good things and help people. I never forgot that. Now, I hope to inspire young people to do those same things today."

Award History
The Award's inaugural recipient, William Sergeant, of Oak Ridge, Tenn., has spent his life working to rid the world of polio, a crippling disease that still threatens millions of children in impoverished nations. The 1999 Award honoree, Kathleen Magee, of Norfolk, Va., helps to provide free, reconstructive surgery to thousands of children with facial deformities all over the world. Magee is co-founder of Operation Smile.

The Award concept was developed by the Hannah Neil Center Foundation Board. That board governs and supports the Hannah Neil Center for Children in Columbus, Ohio, a non-profit organization that serves children who suffer from severe behavioral and emotional difficulties, oftentimes resulting from issues of child abuse. The Award is managed by World of Children Inc., a 501-(C)(3) corporation.

Major sponsors of this Award include Kellogg's Corporate Citizenship Fund, Lord, Sullivan & Yoder, Inc., The Kroger Co., Mills James Productions, Partners In Marketing, Bob Evans Farms, HER Realtors and America West. For more information, visit www.worldofchildren.org.

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