The Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick Leadership Award in Early Care & Education
About The Award
Every year, the Grasmick Award is given to a champion for children who, through their outstanding record of accomplishments, exemplifies the commitment to young children, their families, their teachers, and child care providers that Dr. Grasmick embodied throughout her career.
This Year's Recipient
MFN is honored to present Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03) with the 2026 Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick Leadership Award in Early Care and Education. Congresswoman Elfreth has worked to expand access to affordable, high-quality child care, strengthen early care and education, and protect the programs families rely on.
Past Recipients
2025: Maryland State Sen. Guy Guzzone
As Chair of the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, Senator Guy Guzzone has been a steadfast champion for Maryland’s young children, families, and child care providers. His leadership has helped sustain investments in the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future and strengthen Maryland’s commitment to the Child Care Scholarship Program, advancing priorities that MFN and its partners have worked toward for decades. Even in difficult fiscal years, Senator Guzzone has kept the needs of children and working families at the center of Maryland’s budget decisions.
2024: Governor Wes Moore
In November, Maryland Family Network presented Governor Wes Moore with the Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick Leadership Award in Early Care & Education.
Through his historic investment in the Child Care Scholarship Program, his passionate pursuit of an end to childhood poverty, and the many other ways in which he serves as a champion for young children and their families, Governor Moore has played a preeminent role in advancing quality child care and early learning in Maryland.
“One of the best ways you get people back into the workforce, if you look at the data, is doing things like making historic investments in child care,” Governor Moore told the audience at the Governor Calvert House in Annapolis this morning. “If we want to invest in the future of our state, we invest in our children.”
Check out photos from the event on the Governor’s website.
2023: Congressman Kweisi Mfume
In June, MFN presented Congressman Kweisi Mfume with the Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick Leadership Award in Early Care and Education. Through his work, Congressman Mfume has played a leading role in advancing quality child care and early learning in Maryland.
2022: Maryland State Senate President Bill Ferguson
2021: Congressman Anthony Brown
Maryland Family Network has chosen Congressman Anthony Brown to receive the 2021 Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick Leadership Award in Early Care and Education. Through his work in Annapolis and in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Brown has played a leading role in advancing quality child care and early learning in Maryland.