2005 London Award
3rd Annual Award Honors 3 Extraordinary Volunteers June 27,2005
NAAR volunteers and staff recently gathered for the 2005 Annual Leadership Conference in Washington D.C. to discuss and help shape the future of the organization. Among the many highlights from the Annual Awards Dinner, was the presentation of the Third Annual London Award. As NAAR co-founder, Karen London, said it best that evening, “There are so many extraordinary people affiliated with this organization who give so much of their time, talent and heart, that the selection of the London Award recipient is tremendously difficult.” For that reason, THREE WINNERS received the honor.
Congratulations to Laura Kuntz, Marcy Wenning and Lennie Gladstone
Laura Kuntz, a partner in one of New Jersey's top law firms, is the mother of two children, including her son with autism, and served as Chair for the inaugural Walk F.A.R. for NAAR in New Jersey in 2000 and again in 2001. She took a “year off” but couldn't stay away. In 2003, she founded and chaired a new Walk in North/Central New Jersey. Overall, Laura has chaired four Walk F.A.R.
for NAAR events, helping to raise more than $1.3 million for autism research, including more than $125,000 through her own team, Ross's Rangers.
Marcy Wenning started volunteering for NAAR at the inaugural New England area walk in 2001. In 2003, when New England spun off three walks, she co-chaired the Greater Boston walk, while mentoring new chairpersons. She is a passionate member of NAAR's speaker's bureau. She also initiated a radio online auction for NAAR, chairs the
chapter's publicity committee and now is an ad hoc member of the national Board's PR committee. All this, while her family Walk team “Cody's Clan” has raised over $243,000 for autism research.
Lennie Gladstone has been a leader of the National Capital Area Walk F.A.R. for NAAR since its inception in 2001. As co-chair, she helped bring together the autism communities from Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia. The area's inaugural walk took place two weeks after the September 11th tragedy, and under incredibly difficult
circumstances. Miraculously, more than 5,000 walkers raised $645,000 for autism research that day. Lennie has continued to serve as the Sponsorship Chair of the National Capital walk and helped raise over $750,000 from the business community.
About The London Award
The London Award was established in 2002 at the suggestion of NAAR Chair Prisca Chen Marvin and CEO Glenn Tringali. NAAR founders Karen and Eric London received the surprise honor that first year. It is given for outstanding volunteer service to individuals who have demonstrated tremendous contributions and commitment to the organization.
