October 9, 2026
New York – On October 8, Children’s Rights’ annual benefit honored individuals and organizations dedicated to supporting the fight to preserve and protect the rights of children – and celebrate them, too.
The event, held at the Mandarin Oriental, kicked off with a medley of New York City songs performed by the Young People’s Chorus of New York. Emcee Aimee Littles, or Ms. Aimee – as she is known to thousands of families who are dedicated fans of her video series helping children learn Spanish – filled the room with her unique brand of sunshine and joy.
“Tonight we honor an organization that never sleeps and celebrate the children they protect every day. It’s up to you and me and every human in this room who has a child they care about to make this moment one we will long remember and cherish.”
Talking About the Work
Executive director Sandy Santana talked about the children the organization serves. Children unnecessarily separated from their families. Children locked in federal immigration detention, where even a few days can do lasting harm. Young people left to languish in dangerous institutions.
“Yet, they share a common dream—to be safe, to be happy, to be loved, to just be a kid. That is our dream, too. But at Children’s Rights, we know that dreams are not enough. Children have rights. And when governments fail to protect those rights—when systems meant to serve children inflict harm—they must be held accountable.”
That is what we do. We go to court. We help change laws. We expose injustice. We stand alongside children, families, and communities. And we stay—sometimes for years—until promises on paper become real change in children’s lives.”
A video featuring Children’s Rights brought these words dramatically to life, telling the story of a family released from a federal immigration detention facility in Dilley, Texas. Chief legal counsel Leecia Welch, who has visited Dilley many times, describes the horrific mistreatment and cruelty children are enduring and the ongoing court battle she and her co-counsel partners are waging to defend their rights.
Visionary for Justice
Global law firm McDermott, Will & Schulte and firm partner Christen Douglas received the Children’s Rights Visionary for Justice award for decade’s long support of Children’s Rights, including providing significant hours of pro bono guidance and support in complex legal cases in California, Tennessee, and Washington, substantial financial support, and help in securing grants to further the work of lived expert partners.
According to Douglas, McDermott’s support for Children’s Rights is a team effort, across offices and practice areas, that reinforces the firm’s dedication to justice and giving back.
“All of us at McDermott are so proud of our partnership with Children’s Rights. And I challenge everyone here to remember that no matter what your individual skills or background may be, we are all part of this fight, and the more people you recruit by spreading the word and sharing what moves you about this work, the more we can accomplish together.”
Children’s Champion
Children’s Rights board member Leigh Ferris presented the Children’s Champion award to Henry Timms, global CEO of Brunswick Group and co-founder of #GivingTuesday. His career has focused on how leaders and institutions can mobilize people, ideas, and technology to create meaningful change.
“Henry has spent his career showing what can happen when people are given a way to participate — and a reason to believe their participation matters.”
Timms spoke about the outsize impact of Children’s Rights’ structural and transformational work on behalf of children.
“Helping an individual child matters enormously. But changing the system that determines the futures of thousands of children can have an extraordinary multiplier effect. That ambition is what makes the work of Children’s Rights so important.”
Paying it Forward
The evening had many special moments, but none more so than Dan Galpern’s tribute to his friend and long-time fellow board member, Alan C. Myers, who died earlier this year. The Children’s Rights Fostering the Future award is now named in his honor.
“Alan knew we don’t do anything meaningful alone. A good portion of our board is made up of talented, caring people who Alan enlisted…strong-armed? It wasn’t easy to say no to Alan. Which brings us to this award that will bear his name. Given each year to a person who has transformed their lived experience into action and impact. It is a fitting match. Alan spent his life doing just that, turning conviction into action for kids, and this award will celebrate people who do the same.”
Alan C. Myers Fostering the Future
Ella Bat-Ami spent time in the Tennessee foster system, and exited with no place to live and no plan for what would come next. But instead of being defeated, her experiences drove her to fight for systemic reform. At the age of 17 she drafted and successfully fought for passage of the Tennessee Foster Youth Bill of Rights. Today she is a sophomore in college in Nashville, and is fighting to break down the barriers to a secondary education in a state where youth aging out of the system are more likely to go to prison than to college. Education is her passion.
The Alan C. Myers Fostering the Future award was presented to her by her friend and mentor, Georgia Sims, an assistant deputy public defender with Nashville Defenders. Georgia remembers Ella, who interned with her one summer, as a tenacious young woman who wasn’t waiting to grow up to start making change happen.
“Ella’s achievements, while impressive, aren’t the thing most worthy of celebrating tonight. She would be the first to tell you that there are thousands of children in Tennessee’s foster system right now who are just as capable of success. What is truly worth celebrating is that Ella continues to open her heart to others and that she dares to hope for a better world.”
Ella saluted Georgia as someone who helped parent a girl who didn’t have parents in the traditional sense, who taught her that kindness and competence are not mutually exclusive, and “loved me before I was anything other than just Ella”.
“In foster care I met my sisters, not by blood, but by everything else that matters. My love for them continues to move me to action. That same love is how I know real change is possible. Foster youth and youth of other marginalized identities have a fierce ally in Children’s Rights, who has fought both for and with us for decades. It is an honor to stand in community with this incredible team tonight.”
For additional information or photos, please visit childrensrights.org/news-voices/2026-childrens-rights-benefit.
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ABOUT CHILDREN’S RIGHTS
Children’s Rights is a national advocacy organization dedicated to improving the lives of children living in or impacted by America’s child welfare, juvenile legal, immigration, education, and healthcare systems. We use civil rights impact litigation, advocacy and policy expertise, and public education to hold governments accountable for keeping kids safe and healthy. Our work centers on creating lasting systemic change that will advance the rights of children for generations. For more information, please visit childrensrights.org.