Awards, surprises at annual celebration
Published 12:10 am Saturday, March 29, 2025
Karen Kistler
karen.kistler@salisburypost.com
“Stronger Together” was the theme for the 2025 Smart Start Rowan’s Dr. Shirley P. Ritchie Champion for Young Children Celebration held March 25 at The Garrison Venue.
It was an evening of celebration and recognizing many individuals and organizations with approximately 150 in attendance for the special occasion.
Loving children and having served in the educational field for 56 years, Mary Ponds, this year’s Smart Start Rowan’s Dr. Shirley P. Ritchie Champion for Young Children Award recipient said, “I would do it again.”
Karen Campbell, the 2017 award recipient, made the special presentation to Ponds who she said “exemplifies everything this award stands for,” noting that it is reserved for those who have gone above and beyond to strengthen the work of Smart Start Rowan.
She also described Ponds as being passionate, dedicated and loving, and a tireless advocate for children and families.
Before making the announcement of who had won the award, Campbell asked past recipients to stand and be recognized and also pointed to the first recipient, Dr. Shirley P. Ritchie, who brought Smart Start to Rowan County, she said, and who was “a guiding light and remained the fiercest advocate for many many years, nurturing its growth, encouraging its impact and since then we’ve had the privilege of recognizing other Rowan County leaders whose dedication to children and families has left a lasting legacy.”
A graduate of J.C. Price High School in Salisbury and Livingstone College with additional studies at Appalachian State University, Ponds received an honorary doctorate degree from Livingstone College.
A lifetime educator, Ponds taught in Salisbury as well as in Virginia and mentors and supported beginning teachers in Rowan-Salisbury Schools as well.
Campbell shared an extensive list of accomplishments ranging from her educational achievements to state and community boards including Smart Start, having served as board chair for multiple terms.
She said that Ponds’ “thoughtful guidance has always helped steer our work in the right direction.”
Ponds was elected as the first African-American mayor of Granite Quarry serving from 1999-2014, was alderwoman from 2014-2016 and is a recipient of the state’s highest award, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.
She has served in various capacities ranging from choir member to Sunday school teacher and multiple committees at White Rock AME Zion Church, where she has been a lifelong member.
Just before making the formal announcement, Campbell shared a guiding principle that Ponds lives by is ‘“do things right the first time,” which brought some laughter from the crowd. “And those who know her knows she models this in everything she does, with integrity, with purpose and with care,” she concluded.
In telling of Ponds, Campbell said, she “lifts people up, helping them see for themselves the strength and potential that she sees in them. Her impact is far reaching, touching countless lives across every path she crosses.”
When Campbell named Mary Ponds as this year’s recipient, the crowd, which included members of her family and many friends, cheered and applauded and gave her a standing ovation.
Upon receiving the award, Ponds said, “for one time, I’m at a loss for words. But I want to thank all of you for this award because for me to be compared or be put on the same level as Shirley Ritchie means a lot because she was some kind of woman.”
When she said this a shout out from the crowd said, “so you are,” which brought on more cheering and applause and a humble thank you from Ponds.
She took this opportunity to thank her family and friends and said it was “hard to believe that the Lord has allowed me to do all of that” and gave praise to the Lord for allowing her to get up each morning and be able to touch other lives.
She said the day had been overwhelming and her family had surprised her by coming and being a part of this event.
“This has truly been a day that the Lord has made, and I am grateful that I have been part of this day.”
The surprises continued for her as an announcement was made that “in your honor when Smart Start moves to its new office location, they will be naming the onsite early learning playroom the Mary S. Ponds to honor you in this way for all you have done but especially for the children and the families that we serve.”
With much emotion, Ponds gave God all the glory and said, “I would do it all again.”
A second special award was presented, the Greg and Missie Alcorn Building Brighter Futures Award, which was not only named after the couple, but made by them as well.
In making the presentation, Greg Alcorn said that this year’s recipients have a “strong strategic vision that aligns with the vision of Smart Start Rowan, consistent with the wellbeing of children and commitment to community” and announced that it was going to the Kiwanis Club of Salisbury.
This organization has been a key supporter of many projects and most notably he said the infant car seat closet, which provides car seats to Novant Health Rowan Medical Center families for newborns when they go home.
Alcorn also said the club has funded other events, purchased books for events, cooked and served food and reached out and helped those in western North Carolina by providing many car seats to those in need there.
He noted that they are “passionate community leaders with a concern for children.”
Erik Lipscomb, president of the local organization, expressed thanks on behalf of the group, and said, “it means the world to us to serve this community.”
Jeanne LeMaster, Smart Start Rowan board chair, came to the podium to recognize key partners who have been true champions for Smart Start Rowan’s family support, which was the focus of this year’s event.
Amy Brown, executive director of Smart Start Rowan said that each year they reflect one of their four main areas of service and this year’s was “our family support work and we have lots to be proud of,” she said.
Those receiving certificates of appreciation included The Terrie Hess Child Advocacy Center Positive Parenting Program, Rowan Community College in Salisbury, Centergrove Church of Christ in Kannapolis, Second Presbyterian Church in Salisbury, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in China Grove, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, and Parent Advocates, Katherynne Hidalgo and Amanda Hart.
Brown also recognized one of their employees, Laura Villegas, director of programs, who was celebrating her 25th anniversary with Smart Start Rowan.
Brown said she believes that Villegas is a “visionary who has many wonderful ideas for our programs” and that she “wants what’s best for Smart Start Rowan and the children and families we serve” and always strives for excellence while working hard.
Smart Start Rowan Lead Parent Educator Ermalyn Jaeck introduced the special guest speaker, Cynthia Proffitt, Rootle Ambassador program coordinator PBS North Carolina.
Proffitt’s presentation began with a question, one that she sang, “can you tell me how to get…” and the crowd joined in with “how to get to Sesame Street.”
She invited the group to go back in time with her and asked them who was the one adult that taught them their ABCs and 123s.
“Remember them in your head and heart, because as we heard tonight it’s a very important role that they have in our lives,” she said.
She shared a brief history of when PBS began telling that it was President Lyndon Johnson who signed into law the Public Broadcasting Act, which she said, opened up an outlet of education in an innovative way.
“Educators and broadcasters put together this revolutionary content that clearly was not only educational but it was fun and it made all the difference in the world,” said Proffitt.
Not long after that, Fred Rogers started Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood and Sesame Street came along. Now a new generation has Daniel Tiger.
“The content was great,” she said, “but what made it special was you. What made it special was Smart Start because it wasn’t called Mr. Rogers Show, it was neighborhood, it wasn’t Sesame show, but Street because you all are critical in that content coming alive.”
A video of Governor Josh Stein was shown sending greetings and thanks to Smart Start.
Jimmy Greene served as the program emcee and began the event and concluded it with remarks, recognizing elected officials and Smart Start board and staff and sponsors.
Denise Heinke, director of outreach and development, thanked everyone and said it was an honor and privilege for everyone to be there.
She extended her congratulations to the award winners and then announced the Stronger Together video that she said, shows the transforming stories of families and their testimonies of “challenges that were faced, victories won and an ongoing journey to a better future,” she said.
The evening concluded with a surprise presentation from Novant Health as Gary Blabon, Kristen Reavis and Donna Green came forward.
Blabon said that “Reach Out and Read is an evidence based literary program which provides results, provides developmentally appropriate books to physicians in our area that they are able to give to children and caregivers. What it is is a prescription to read. This is laying the foundation for caregivers to read to their children.”
Learning of the need for financial support for the program, he said, they asked “what do we do? We take care of our community. So it is a great honor to present Smart Start Rowan with a check,” after which Kristen Reavis and Donna Greene turned around to reveal a check for $15,000.
On receiving the donation, Lisa Edwards, Reach Out and Read project coordinator, said, “I am so overwhelmed by the generosity of our community and would like to thank Novant Health for believing in us and the work we do to ensure all children have a Smart Start.”
Edwards said she first learned about the program at a Smart Start Conference years ago and took the idea back to Rowan County and they became a pilot county for this program.
Brown also expressed her thanks saying, “we are incredibly grateful for the support and partnership of Gary Blabon and the Novant Health team here in Rowan County. When funding for Reach Out & Read was no longer available, and we wanted to keep this program going, because we believe in it and have achieved so much success with it, Novant Health stepped up in a big way.”
“This year’s event had lots of special surprises, said Heinke, “and we were so happy to honor the recipients who have really been instrumental in the longevity of Smart Start Rowan. Next year will be our 30th anniversary and we cannot wait for what’s in store.”