Stewart B. McKinney Award

Sandra Lee

As the multi-Emmy® Award-winning host of Food Network's hit program Sandra's Money-Saving Meals, Sandra Lee has been hailed as the real person's Martha Stewart for her Semi-Homemade method of cooking, which involves using 70 percent store-bought ingredients and 30 percent fresh ones. The veteran of a difficult childhood, Lee has also demonstrated an admirable commitment to collaborating with philanthropic organizations to fight child hunger. Lee works to make nutritious meals available to children and homeless persons through Feeding America® and UNICEF®, and also serves as the national spokesperson for Share our Strength's No Kid Hungry Campaign and the anchor of their largest annual fundraiser, The Great American Bake Sale.

Bruce F. Vento Award

Rhode Island State Senator John Tassoni

John J. Tassoni, Jr. first ran for the Rhode Island Senate in 2000, at the urging of a local woman battling breast cancer that he supported as a Lions Club humanitarian. Now serving his sixth term, Senator Tassoni (D-District 22, North Smithfield, Smithfield) is a longtime advocate for homeless and poor persons. As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Housing and Municipal Government, his leadership led to the reauthorization of the Interagency Council on Homelessness, and earlier this year, Tassoni sponsored historic legislation establishing a homeless bill of rights. The landmark act, signed into law in July, goes further than any other law in the country in preventing discrimination against homeless families and individuals.  Tassoni, whose background is in business, has been recognized in the past with the Senator Jack Reed Advocacy Award from the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless (2012) and the Partners in Housing Public Service Award from Rhode Island Housing (2011). 

Rhode Island Homeless Advocacy Project (RIHAP)

When Rhode Island's historic homeless bill of rights passed the Senate and was signed by the Governor, John Joyce, co-founder of the Rhode Island Homeless Advocacy Project (RIHAP) and co-author of the bill, found it hard to put into words the satisfaction. "Unbelievable," said Joyce. "On the one hand, it is a shame that we need a law like this to stop bigotry and discrimination, but on the other hand, it is wonderful that Rhode Island passed this law and took a stand against such discrimination."

Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless

The Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless works to develop and implement comprehensive solutions to homelessness in Rhode Island through advocacy, education, collaboration, and technical assistance. Led by executive director Jim Ryczek, the Coalition advocated for and helped to draft the Homeless Bill of Rights. The Coalition envisions a State of Rhode Island that refuses to let any man, woman or child be homeless.

Personal Achievement Award 

Danae Vachata

After a difficult childhood in which she was repeatedly abused by family members, Danae Vachata had no choice but to strike out on her own. She spent stretches of high school as an unaccompanied homeless youth before moving to Louisiana and enrolling in a local college to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. While she qualified for financial aid, she still had to work seventy hours a week to keep an apartment. However, one year, Vachata's college suddenly denied that she was an unaccompanied youth and rescinded much of her financial aid. Vachata, who had now become homeless for the second time, contacted the Law Center. Faced with her persistence and the Law Center's advocacy, the college conceded its decision was wrong, and she graduated with honors in the spring of 2011. Vachata dreams of helping children and youth, and after completing her MBA, she will begin medical school to become a pediatrician. Meanwhile, she is the president and co-founder of the Bell Fund, a donor-advised, tax-exempt fund administered by the Community Foundation of Acadania that works to expand access to college for homeless and poor young people in Louisiana. In May 2012, NBC 33 selected Vachata as their "Everything Woman," a monthly honor to a person who has contributed to the community in a special way.

Pro Bono Service Award 

Covington & Burling LLP

Since the Law Center's inception, Covington & Burling LLP has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to pro bono service and admirable leadership in the fight to prevent and end homelessness in America. Working alongside the Law Center, talented Covington lawyers have fought and won many battles on behalf of our nation's most vulnerable citizens. Most recently, Covington's dedicated team has been instrumental through litigation in protecting the rights of homeless service organizations to access surplus property free of charge under Title V of the McKinney-Vento Act.

Pro Bono Assistance Award

Navigant

A global consulting firm with expertise in a wide array of fields, including accounting and technology solutions, Navigant has a strong affinity for pro bono work and community service.  Recently, the firm provided critical support and expert advice to Covington & Burling as it worked with the Law Center on litigation to protect the rights of homeless service organizations under Title V of the McKinney-Vento Act.