Dr. Ben Ciuffo, the Assistant Superintendent for Educational Operations and Human Resources of the Jericho Public Schools, was honored as the Margo O'Connor Advocate of the Year Award on Friday, June 6 at the Stand for Children celebration in the Children's Garden in Eisenhower Park. The garden is a visible symbol of Nassau County's commitment to its children; "as the garden blooms and grows, so shall its children."

The Advocate of the Year Award is an honorary award in memory of Margo O'Connor, a child advocate who passed away in September 1997 at 81 years of age. Margaret (Margo) O'Connor was a former elementary school principal in Freeport, active in Nassau County Association for the Education of Young Children, Child Care Council Board Member, coordinator of the 1996 Stand for Children bus trip to Washington, D.C., and a member of the Nassau County Stand for Children Coalition.

Members of the Jericho/Syosset/Woodbury Child Care Partnership nominated Dr. Ciuffo for this award. "Ben has been the driving force behind sustaining our Child Care Partnership, a group of diverse stakeholders from the district, community, business and early care and education professionals and advocates," said Jan Barbieri, Executive Director of the Child Care Council. "The Partnership addresses needs of the early care and education community through identification of issues, what's needed to address those issues and support in implementing them. Ben's "no problem" attitude exemplifies the true spirit of collaboration and support and has enabled the partnership to provide services, supports and programs that would otherwise have been impossible. Ben is a true advocate and a real friend, a living example of Margo's spirit."