Minalee Saks Named "Champion of Children"

(Eugene, Ore.) – Minalee Saks, executive director of Parenting Now!, formerly Birth To Three, has been named the organization’s 2013 “Champion of Children.” She was honored at the annual auction held at Valley River Inn.

Saks, who co-founded the organization, has been a tireless advocate for children and families in Lane County as well as statewide, nationally and internationally.

For 35 years, Parenting Now! has provided parenting education to about 93,000 Lane County parents and their children. Local curricula is being used nationally and internationally, and Saks has trained parent educators in Romania, Ukraine and India, among other locations.

Previously, she has been honored by, among others, the Oregon Commission for Women as one of four Woman of Achievement honorees (2011); Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce as runner-up for Woman Business Leader of the Year (2010); Community Mediation Services as a PeaceBuilder (2009); Lane County Psychological Association for Community Leadership (2000); United Way of Lane County for Professional Leadership (1996); and the Governor of Oregon for work in creating the Oregon Children’s Trust Fund and founding Birth To Three (1987).

The mission of Parenting Now! is that every child will be raised by nurturing, skilled parents. Parenting Now! is a private, non-profit agency.