Issues in the Media

Amy Berg, was honored for her documentary Deliver Us From Evil, which unveils how church superiors covered up Father Oliver O'Grady's crimes and shuffled him from diocese to diocese in northern California, finally placing him in an unsupervised position of authority in a small town, where he sexually assaulted dozens of children.

Also honored was Jan Goodwin for her article “No, Daddy No!” published in the November 2006 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine. Goodwin describes the strange paradox of family court systems that fail to protect children from sexual predators in their own homes.

Abuse survivor and movie producer, Celesta Davis, was honored for her documentary Awful Normal. The movie shows that abuse affects not only the victim but all members of the family. It also shows the central role of betrayal of trust. Celesta maintains a website and has traveled through out the world using her documentary to educate the public about the harm of child sexual abuse and its corrosive effects on families.

2005

Abuse survivor and movie producer Angela Shelton was honored for her documentary Searching for Angela Shelton (2001). In this film Shelton not only breaks the silence around her own abuse, but helps others to do so also. Since her film has come out Angela has traveled all over North America serving as a beacon of hope for survivors. The movie also helps educate nonsurvivors on numerous issues related to abuse.

Also honored was Marilyn Van Derbur, a former Miss America, was honored for her book Miss America by Day (2003), and for her extensive history of speaking out about incest. In her book, Ms. Van Derbur tells the story of how she was sexually violated by her prominent, millionaire father from age 5 to age 18. Using her story as the scaffolding, she shares knowledge and insights she has gained through speaking personally with adult survivors of sexual abuse across the country.

2004

Abuse survivor Alison Arngrim (2004), who played Nellie Oleson on the TV show "Little House on the Prairie", for her candid and informative discussion of her abuse as a child by a relative on CNN's Larry King Live (air date: April 27, 2004)

2003

The film Antwone Fisher for its courage and accuracy in portraying the adverse consequences of child abuse, and the importance of therapeutic intervention and personal resilience in healing. Our special recognition to Todd Black, Producer, Denzel Washington, Director/Producer/Principal Actor, Antwone Fisher, Screenwriter and  Derek Luke, Principal Actor.

Garland Waller for her groundbreaking documentary Small Justice: Little Justice in America's Family Courts. This film exposes the widespread failure of family courts to protect victims of domestic violence and child abuse from their abusers. You can learn more about this important film by going to the Small Justice website.

2002

Investigative reporter Kristen Lombardi and the Boston Phoenix for their series of groundbreaking articles that documented the scope of child sex abuse in the local Catholic Church community, and subsequent efforts in the church hierarchy to cover it up.

The film Close to Home for its sensitivity and clarity in documenting the pain and difficulty that both children and adult survivors of child sex abuse face in disclosing their histories. The film was produced by Vanessa Roth and Alexandra Dickson through the generosity of the Mark McGwire Foundation for Children.

2001

The television show Judging Amy for its realistic and sensitive portrayal of current issues concerning child maltreatment.