Elizabeth “Libby” Nicholson receiving 13th Annual Brother Raymond L. Fitz Award

A passion for protecting children led Libby Nicholson to establish CARE House, an advocacy center for child victims of abuse and neglect, to reduce trauma for children and increase collaboration in investigations.

On Friday, February 15, 2013, Elizabeth “Libby” Nicholson will be honored by the Montgomery County Family and Children First Council at the 13th Annual Brother Raymond L. Fitz Award Luncheon.  This special event will be held from 11:45 am to 1:00 pm at Sinclair Community College Ponitz Center in downtown Dayton. 

The Brother Raymond L. Fitz Award honors someone who exemplifies Brother Ray’s dedication to nurturing and protecting children and families by his or her daily efforts in the community. 

Throughout her career, Libby has worked to protect the community’s children. Her experience at Montgomery County Children Services and at the Emergency Department at The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton showed her the need for a coordinated response to child abuse. Through her participation on the Child Protection Task Force, she learned of child advocacy centers. CARE House opened in 1999 with Libby as director. Since then, over 7,000 children have received services.

According to her coworker, Angela Butler, “Libby truly embodies the word advocate, day after day she stands ready to counsel parents who come to her seeking guidance and help for their children.  She is patient, caring and lends a compassionate ear to those in need.  She spends hours on the phone and in person working with various partner agencies, advocating for services to be given to children who need them.  She will go above and beyond to make sure each child is receiving the services that they need.  While she is an administrator by title, she is a true social worker at heart and remains available/accessible for parents to call, or come into her office when they are here at CARE House.”

The Montgomery County Family and Children First Council coordinates human services programs across the county.  The Council established the award to honor Raymond L. Fitz, former president of the University of Dayton, for his years of leadership and service to the community.

For more information, contact: 
Grace Rodney 
Marketing Communications Specialist 
Phone: 937-641-3666 
marketing@childrensdayton.org