Lucy Fowlkes Breed
Award
Congratulations to Sylvia Pelletier,
the 2025 Lucy Fowlkes Breed Award Recipient!
Congratulations to Sylvia Pelletier, the 2025 Lucy Fowlkes Breed Award recipient!
Sylvia has been supporting New Hampshire families coping with childhood cancer for over 20 years as a volunteer and founding member of the Childhood Cancer Lifeline of New Hampshire. As a parent of children who were diagnosed with pediatric cancer, Sylvia leveraged her lived experience to create an organization that would help to address the practical and emotional support needs of other families.
In addition to her volunteer work, Sylvia serves professionally as the Director of NH Family Voices where she has been a steadfast advocate for families of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. Sylvia’s compassion, leadership, and dedication embody the very spirit of the Lucy Fowlkes Breed Award.
The Lucy Fowlkes Breed Award celebrates individuals who embody the spirit of service, compassion, and unwavering commitment to children and families. Sylvia’s tireless efforts through both her volunteer and professional roles perfectly exemplify these qualities. Her work reminds us that true change often begins with one person’s willingness to step forward, to care deeply, and to dedicate themselves to the well-being of others.
We celebrate Sylvia not only for her years of leadership, but also for her heart—for seeing families in their most vulnerable moments and walking beside them with empathy, strength, and love. Her legacy of service continues to inspire all of us to build stronger, more connected communities.
Lucy Fowlkes Breed
New Hampshire Children’s Trust awards the Lucy Fowlkes Breed Award to an exceptional individual who has dedicated their time and efforts to strengthening families and communities across New Hampshire through volunteer work. Candidates will have volunteered in direct service to families at a New Hampshire organization that serves children or families. Volunteer work must have been done within the past two years. The award is presented annually at the Strengthening Families Summit.
Lucy Fowlkes Breed served as a founding trustee on the Board of NH Children's Trust, dedicating fourteen years as a board member, eight of those years as board chair. Knowing there was a need in the community, Lucy also founded and was the volunteer facilitator of the “New Moms” group at the Children’s Place and Parent Education Center—a Family Resource Center in Concord.
Lucy Fowlkes Breed Awardees
2025: Sylvia Pelletier, Childhood Cancer Lifeline
2024: Dr. Leo Sandy, Family Connections Center at the NH Department of Corrections
2023: Cindy Brenner, Foster and Adoptive Resource and Exchange
2022: Miranda Terry, Brookline School District PTO
2021: Terri Clyde, Nashua Adult Learning Center
2020: Jocelynn Drew, Avenue A Teen & Community Center
2019: Millie LaFontaine, Friends Youth Mentoring Program
2018: Heidi Matthews Cantin, YWCA NH
2016: Joy Moody, Greater Tilton Family Resource Center
2014: Roger Kosits, Autism Center at Lakes Region Community Services
2012: Josephine Bailey, Easter Seals
2010: Tia Parr, Children's Place and Parent Education Center