The Children's Institute Receives 2026 Benjamin Rush Community Organization Award

A celebration of service, collaboration, innovation, and the people who make a difference every day.

We are honored to share that The Children's Institute has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Benjamin Rush Community Organization Award, presented by the Allegheny County Medical Society (ACMS).

This distinguished recognition celebrates organizations that are addressing important community needs and making meaningful contributions to the health and well-being of individuals and families throughout our region. As part of the ACMS Distinguished Awards program, the Benjamin Rush Community Organization Award recognizes organizations whose work reflects service, innovation, collaboration, and community impact.

For The Children's Institute, this honor represents something much bigger than an award. It is a reflection of the thousands of children and families we have the privilege of serving and the extraordinary people who come together every day to help children learn, grow, heal, and thrive.

A Mission Built Around Children and Families

For more than a century, The Children's Institute has been committed to helping children with complex needs reach their fullest potential.

Today, that commitment comes to life through an integrated continuum of educational, behavioral health, pediatric, therapeutic, and community-based services. Our work extends beyond any single program or setting. We partner with families, schools, healthcare providers, community organizations, and other leaders throughout Western Pennsylvania to help create stronger pathways for children and their families.

Our goal is simple but deeply meaningful: to help children thrive at home, at school, and within their communities.

The Benjamin Rush Community Organization Award recognizes the impact of that work, and the important role The Children's Institute plays as a trusted partner across healthcare, education, behavioral health, and human services.

A Recognition of Our People

While the award recognizes The Children's Institute as an organization, we believe it belongs to our people.

Our employees bring compassion, expertise, creativity, and determination to their work every day. They meet children and families where they are, see possibilities where others may see barriers, and continually look for new ways to improve the lives of those we serve.

Dr. Johanna Vidal-Phelan, President and CEO of The Children's Institute, reflected on what the recognition means:

"This recognition is a tremendous honor for The Children's Institute and, most importantly, for the extraordinary employees who bring our mission to life every day. As both a pediatrician and a member of the Allegheny County Medical Society, this award is especially meaningful to me. It affirms the power of collaboration across healthcare, education, behavioral health, and community services, and the impact those partnerships can have on the lives of children, youth, and families."

She continued:

"Every day, our employees demonstrate exceptional compassion, expertise, and commitment, and this recognition belongs to them. It also reflects the support of our Board of Directors, community partners, and families, whose trust and collaboration make our work possible. Together, we are creating stronger outcomes and brighter futures for the children, youth, and families we serve."

The Power of Partnership

The challenges facing children and families are complex, and no single organization can address them alone.

Meaningful progress happens when healthcare, education, behavioral health, human services, philanthropy, community organizations, and families come together around a shared purpose.

That spirit of collaboration is central to The Children's Institute.

The Benjamin Rush Community Organization Award is a meaningful acknowledgment of the relationships that make our work possible. From the families who place their trust in us, to the schools and healthcare organizations that partner with us, to the community leaders and organizations who share our commitment to children, we are stronger because we work together.

Continuing to Reimagine What's Possible

As we prepare to celebrate our 125th anniversary in 2027, we are looking ahead with the same spirit of innovation and possibility that has shaped our organization throughout its history.

We are continually asking:

• What could be possible for a child if we looked at a challenge differently?
• What could be possible if healthcare, education, behavioral health, and community services worked even more closely together?
• What could be possible if every child had the opportunity to discover their strengths and reach their fullest potential?

Those questions continue to guide us.

The Benjamin Rush Community Organization Award is both a celebration of where we have been and an affirmation of where we are going.

On November 12, 2026, we will have the privilege of accepting this award at the ACMS Distinguished Awards Celebration at the UPMC Club at Acrisure Stadium.

We will accept it on behalf of every child, youth, and family we serve, every team member who advances our mission, every volunteer and board member who supports our work, and every community partner who believes in what is possible.

Together, we will continue redefining what's possible for children, youth, and families.