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. 

The Grasmick Award is given annually 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. 

Past recipients have included:

• Congressmen Anthony Brown and Steny Hoyer

• Senator Barbara Mikulski

• Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson and Maryland Speaker of the House Adrienne Jones

• State Delegates Sheila Hixson and Maggie McIntosh

• State Senators Nancy King and Richard Madaleno

• Maryland Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education chair Dr. William E. “Brit” Kirwan, and

• Dep. Asst. Sec. for Early Childhood Development, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Linda Smith. 

Photo above: (L to R) Kesha-Simone Jones, MFN Board Chair, Laura Weeldreyer, MFN  Executive Director, Rep. Kweisi Mfume, & Dr. Nancy Grasmick.