A toddler takes her first-ever bite of food, marking a glimmer of hope that intravenous feeding may one day be unnecessary. A three-year old boy takes his first steps with the aid of a walker. A young girl with severe autism utters her first multiple-word phrase.

For the past 22 years, Mimi Siegel has rejoiced in the hope that achieving these developmental milestones has brought to the lives of these children with special needs and their families. During that time Siegel has served as executive director of the Kindering Center, a Bellevue non-profit organization that provides crucial therapies and services to disabled children and their families. On her watch, she has seen thousands of young children matriculate through Kindering Center's specialized programs, emerging with a renewed sense of possibility for what life has in store for them.

In recognition of her unwavering devotion to the needs of these young people, Siegel will be honored by Children's Hospital of Seattle with the Duncan Award on April 27. Bestowed to individuals who have had exemplary careers in improving the lives of people with disabilities, especially cerebral palsy, the Duncan Award celebrates the tireless dedication of its recipients and acknowledges their innovative approaches to overcoming the unique challenges faced by children with disabilities and their families.

"The tremendous success of the programs at Kindering Center would not have been possible without Mimi's commitment," says John F. McLaughlin, M.D., chairman of the Duncan Award selection committee.

"This is an extraordinary honor," explains Siegel. "It represents a high point in my career. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of so many amazing families. I have also been blessed with an incredibly talented staff of therapists who, as the lifeblood of Kindering Center's mission-critical services, are the true heroes."

About Kindering Center

Kindering Center is a non-profit neurodevelopmental center that provides therapies and services for infants and children who are disabled, medically fragile or vulnerable because of abuse and neglect. Kindering Center helps more than 1,000 children and their families each year with a nationally acclaimed curriculum designed to help its special toddlers reach their maximum potential, providing nurturing and hope to their families and building community understanding of their plight. Kindering Center?s individualized programs include physical and speech therapy, special education, family counseling, a nutrition and feeding team, parenting support and training, and specialized foster care.

Kindering Center continues to grow and expand to meet the needs of extraordinary growth on the Eastside. In the fall of 2002, Kindering Center will complete work on the expansion of its current facility, more than doubling its capacity to 21,000 square feet. With the new space, the center will be able to extend its therapy programs to children well beyond the age of three, as well as work with the increasing numbers of autistic children and infants who survive extremely premature births.