Eling’s
work with Celebration of Dreams, which recognizes foster children who graduate
from high school, was part of the reason he was honored with the award.
ProKids honors Children's Services supervisor
Nov. 5, 2008 -- Mark Eling doesn’t think he deserves an award, but ProKids thought differently. Eling, the UMUR supervisor in Children’s Services Care Management at the Hamilton County Department of Job and Family Services, was recently recognized by the organization with its “Step Up For Children Award.” The award recognizes individuals who have significantly improved the lives of Hamilton County children who have been abused and neglected; the individual is someone who has gone above and beyond what would be expected of them to care for or support the care of children.
Eling’s
work with Celebration of Dreams, which recognizes foster children who graduate
from high school, was part of the reason he was honored with the award.
“The biggest joy of events like Celebration of Dreams is to see the look on the faces of the children as they walk into the event,” Eling said. “To watch these street-hardened kids’ mouths drop and faces light up is a wonderful feeling. Most have never experienced a sit-down formal dinner and award ceremony. By the end of the evening the graduates are so pumped you can just see their self-esteem growing. It’s a great feeling.”
Eling, who is an adoptive father, was also recognized for his willingness to help the children involved with JFS and ProKids.
“Mark is always available to help, always puts the children first,” said Charlotte Caples, Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program director at ProKids. “Mark doesn’t duck, even when he sees us coming. When we tell him about a child’s needs, he moves an entire bureaucracy to get it done. Mark is one of those amazing people who never forgets that it’s all about the children.”
The Children’s Services supervisor also plays a major role in many of the Foster Child Enrichment Council projects, including the holiday gifts distribution and writing checks for Enrichment Requests for foster children.
“I’m not sure where the passion (for helping children) comes from,” Eling said. “All I know is that it feels good to help children. This past weekend my wife and I watched three children who were 6 and 7 years old. We went on hikes in the creek and walks in the woods. We roasted marshmallows on an open camp fire and just talked; campfires always get kids talking. I can’t think of a better way to spend a Sunday.”