COVINGTON – Children’s Advocacy Center – Hope House, an independent nonprofit dedicated to ending the cycle of child abuse on the Northshore, will honor seven local “Champions” at the fifth annual Champions for Children Breakfast. The event will take place on Wednesday, April 22, from 7:30-9:30 a.m. at The Greystone in Mandeville. Nominated by members of the community, these seven award winners are everyday heroes making an impact in the lives of children and families on the Northshore. This year’s Champions for Children award winners include:
- Kristine Bush, F.I.N.S. Caseworker, Youth Service Bureau
- Nicole Cox, Owner of Abba Educational Center
- Marie Jefferson, Child Welfare Supervisor, Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services
- Sunny McDaniel, St. Tammany Health Foundation Board Member, Certified Autism Specialist
- Zachary Popovich, Assistant District Attorney – Special Victim’s Unit, 22nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office
- Katie Ragan, Detective, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office
- Colby Stewart, Ben’s Ford Christian School Student (Youth Champion)
“Every child deserves to grow up safe, supported, and surrounded by people who care about their future,” says Thomas Mitchell, executive director of Hope House. “These Champions represent the very best of our community—individuals who are stepping up in big ways to protect children, support families, and help create a safer Northshore for the next generation.”
The keynote speaker at this year’s breakfast is Northshore native and dedicated child advocate Katie Rose McConnell. Katie Rose is a passionate and steadfast supporter of Hope House and has served on Hope House’s Board of Directors since 2023. She follows in the footsteps of her mother Lisette Norman, who also served on the board in the early 2000s.
In her keynote address, Katie Rose shares the depths of her personal journey to shine a light into the darkest corners of our community. By blending her experience with a passion for advocacy, she inspires a collective sense of responsibility – that all children who suffer abuse deserve a steady and loving hand to hold as they walk their path to healing and justice. Her message is one of hope, healing and ensuring that organizations like Hope House have the support they need to protect and restore our most vulnerable children.
Tickets to the Champions for Children Breakfast are $35/person or $350 for a reserved table of 10, and can be purchased at www.cachopehouse.org/events.