LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville nonprofit is celebrating children making an impact in the community.
Christopher 2X Game Changers started a new annual honor, the Children's Inspirational Award, which will be given out in December.
According to a news release, recipients are selected from the organization's programs like Future Healers, Future Healers Got Zoo Buddies and Planet Savers. Ocean Robertson, Onyx Sands and Malakai Roberts were selected for reinforcing the energy and positive thoughts that's essential to the organization's mission.
Robertson was just 5 months old in December 2020 when someone opened fire while she was in a car with her mother near the intersection of West Oak and Dr. W. J. Hodge streets in the California neighborhood. Her mother, Fa'Quansa Ancrum, 30, died in the shooting, but Ocean survived. Since then, Ocean has dealt with numerous medical issues, including severe seizures that have been happening 10-20 times a day.
Sands was shot during a road rage incident that started in the area of Interstate 65 and Outer Loop on July 11. She has been recovering in a wheelchair since being shot days after her sixth birthday. Sands joined the Future Healers program on the same day Vanderbilt University Medical Center and School of Medicine representatives and members of Stronger Than My Father watched the Future Healers Surgery Olympics. Members of the Future Healers program moved to various medical stations to complete a variety of medical tasks.
In December 2020, Roberts, who was five years old, was watching a movie with his mother and brother inside his Lexington home when he was shot in the temple and lost his ability to see. Since recovering from the shooting, Malakai, who is now 8 years old, has been attending school in Lexington and the Kentucky School for the Blind in Louisville.Â
Roberts, co-authored a book "Adventures with Malakai: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work" with entertainment mogul Percy "Master P" Miller, joined the Future Healers program in 2021.
2023 - 07 - Future Healers from WNM on Vimeo.
"The true hope and intent of The Children’s Inspirational Award is to remind us all that even during the good and challenging times," 2X said in a news release. "Children are the most amazing motivators that we witness in our daily lives. The award recipients we chose exemplify utilizing this hope to impact others."
The Distinguished Service Award is being given to Stephanie Upton, Trauma Institute Program Coordinator for UofL Hospital. Upton has volunteered with the Future Healers program.
To learn more about Christopher 2X Game Changers, click here.
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