Community development leader and Cinnaire CEO wins 2016 Children’s Advocate Award
Award includes specially designed art by Michigan sculptor
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Children’s Trust Fund announced that it is awarding its 2016 Children’s Advocate Award to Mark McDaniel of Kalamazoo, president and CEO of Cinnaire, a community development financial institution in Lansing.
As a six-year member of the Children’s Trust Fund board, McDaniel has been a tireless champion for children’s issues. He advocated for and provided the seed funding to assess the impact of adverse childhood experiences on the adult health and well-being of Michigan residents.
McDaniel has been a clear and strong voice from the business community perspective on how Children’s Trust Fund work is linked to helping children succeed in school and ultimately become productive and engaged adults.
“Mark McDaniel is one of those special individuals who has been tireless in doing everything and anything to help make things a little better for children in our state, especially kids who face challenges such as abuse and neglect,” said Children’s Trust Fund Executive Director Michael Foley. “He has pulled together diverse partners from across Michigan to harness resources to support kids and families facing difficult challenges. Mark’s efforts have been truly superhuman, and for that, we are grateful to honor him with our 2016 Children’s Advocate Award.”
Under McDaniel’s leadership since 2004, Cinnaire has contributed over $390,000 in support of Children’s Trust Fund efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect in Michigan. Cinnaire has headquarters in Michigan and locations in four other states.
“I am honored and humbled to receive an award for something that I strongly believe in, and that’s building a better future for every child in Michigan so they can be safe and live successful lives,” McDaniel said. “Through my work with the Children’s Trust Fund, I have been fortunate to meet so many people from all walks of life who go above and beyond to make things a little bit better for our kids. I’m honored to work with these individuals and organizations, and this award is a tribute to the partnerships that are making a real difference for children and families throughout Michigan.”
The award is now in its fifth year. The physical award is a unique Michigan-made prize aimed at capturing the special essence, wonder and promise of childhood, and features works by Michigan artists. The 2016 Children’s Advocate Award is by Haslett artist Ned Krouse, potter and ceramicist, a graduate of Indiana University in Bloomington and Temple University in Philadelphia. Krouse’s ceramic art can be viewed at the Lansing Art Gallery. A specialist in raku pottery, Krouse’s Children’s Trust Fund award creation reflects the whimsy, wonder and playfulness of childhood.
McDaniel joined the Children’s Trust Fund board in 2011 and has been actively involved in many of its projects and programs related to improving the well-being of children and families facing challenges.
McDaniel received his bachelor’s degree in urban planning from Michigan State University in 1977 and has over 30 years of experience in affordable housing, community development, urban planning and market research. McDaniel also serves on the boards of more than a dozen nonprofits. In 2004, McDaniel was the recipient of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Greater Lansing Business Monthly and in 2008 received the Governor’s Corporate Service Award. In 2011, he was awarded the Michigan Habitat for Humanity’s Bernice Bensen Award, recognizing his long service and commitment to Habitat. He was also the recipient of the 2013 Terry R. Duvernay Award recognizing lifetime achievements of leaders in the affordable housing industry.
Through McDaniel’s leadership, Cinnaire is on the cutting edge of new approaches to low-income housing development, working collaboratively with universities, housing development authorities and the foundation community to blend housing rehabilitation with efforts to provide residents with much-needed child and family services.
Created by the Michigan Legislature in 1982, the Children’s Trust Fund within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is Michigan’s only statewide nonprofit organization solely dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect. It has raised more than $60 million to support programs that have affected more than 6 million children and families.
Mark & Mary McDaniel attending the 2016 Children’s Trust Fund Pam Posthumus Signature Auction Event
The 2016 Children’s Advocate Award by Haslett artist Ned Krouse
