Seattle's Child

Your guide to a kid-friendly city

Congratulations unsung hero: Connie Todd-Mandler

Seattleā€™s Child recognizes the wonderful, everyday heroes nominated for the Washington Unsung Hero Awards this month.

 

February is Parent Recognition Month. Strengthening Families Washington, of the Department of Early Learning for Washington State, believes there is no better way to recognize a parent, grandparent, foster or adoptive parent than by acknowledging the numerous and impressive things they do to strengthen their family and those around them in their community.

Seattle’s Child is proud to sponsor the Washington Unsung Hero Awards, recognizing our everyday heroes and honoring the important role caregivers play in children’s lives. There are 28 nominees for the 28 days of February, and Seattle’s Child will highlight each and every one.

 

Congratulations to the Unsung Hero for February 21

Connie Todd-Mandler – Lacey

My mother, Connie, is certainly my hero. She currently works for the Auburn school district as a Speech Pathologist. When my sister and I were young, my mother showed tremendous courage and strength helping us all get away from my abusive father. She showed me that strength again after I was the victim of a sexual assault – she was the first person I went to for help.

Every time in my life I have felt scared and hopeless, I have known that my mother is a person who will always be safe, a person who will always be there for me, and a person who I can trust and depend on for good advice.

She has consistently demonstrated all five protective factors. It is hard to be a parent, and even harder to be a single parent. I sincerely feel that my mother has done an admirable job. She is my role model.

Today I work as an advocate, helping survivors of domestic and sexual violence, and will be applying to law school this fall in the hopes that one day I can fight for people who have no one to stand up for them.

If I did not have the mother I do, I would not be the person I am today. I would like to nominate Connie Todd-Mandler for the Unsung Hero Award.

Nominator: Heidi Mandler


Singing the Praises of Our Unsung Heroes

Read about all of the wonderful, everyday heroes who have won Washington Unsung Hero Awards: seattleschild.com/2015-Unsung-Heroes.

About the Author

Taryn Zier