The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) is preparing for its annual Heroes Ball, with this year’s event set to take place on 25 July at Oklahoma City’s Farmers Public Market as the organisation seeks to recognise individuals and groups making significant contributions to the welfare of children across the state.
The gala, regarded as OICA’s largest annual fundraiser, will combine celebrations marking America’s 250th birthday with tributes to community advocates, public servants and historic civil rights figures whose work has influenced generations of young Oklahomans.
Joe Dorman, chief executive of OICA, said the event is designed to spotlight those working to improve opportunities and protections for children.
“There are so many Oklahomans who work and struggle every day to improve the lives of Oklahoma’s children,” he said. “The Heroes Ball honors these champions who, in some cases, literally change the world.”
Among the evening’s highest-profile recognitions will be the presentation of the Kate Barnard Lifetime Achievement Award to civil rights activist Clara Luper, posthumously, alongside the youth participants involved in the historic Katz Drug Store sit-in.
The protest, which took place in August 1958, saw a group of Black students led by Luper stage peaceful sit-ins at the segregated Oklahoma City drug store. The action became a catalyst for a wider movement of non-violent demonstrations that continued over several years and contributed to the desegregation of Oklahoma City.
Several individuals who took part in the demonstrations as teenagers are expected to attend the Heroes Ball and participate in a keynote panel discussion reflecting on the movement’s legacy and its continuing relevance to youth advocacy and civil rights.
The lifetime achievement award is named after Kate Barnard, Oklahoma’s first female statewide elected official. Barnard served as Commissioner of Charities and Corrections and became known for campaigning against abuses affecting vulnerable children and disadvantaged communities during the early twentieth century.
Awards to Recognise Advocacy, Public Service and Youth Support Initiatives
This year’s ceremony will also honour a number of contemporary leaders and organisations involved in child welfare, social services and public policy.
Carmelita Skeeter, chief executive of the Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa, will receive the Jay Scott Brown Individual Advocate Award. The accolade commemorates former OICA Board Chairman Jay Scott Brown, who died in 2022 after decades of involvement in youth-focused initiatives, including work with the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth.
The Organisation Advocate Award will be presented to Pivot, A Turning Point for Youth, in recognition of its work supporting homeless, disconnected and at-risk young people throughout Oklahoma.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma Labor Commissioner Leslie Osborn is set to receive the Henry Bellmon Public Servant Award. Osborn previously served for a decade in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, where she chaired the influential Appropriations and Budget Committee before moving into her current statewide role.
According to OICA, Osborn has been recognised for efforts to strengthen child labour protections and highlight social issues affecting younger generations.
The Laura Boyd Public Servant Award will be awarded posthumously to former US Senator Fred Harris, who died in 2024. Harris served in both the Oklahoma State Senate and the US Senate, and also mounted presidential campaigns in 1972 and 1976.
During his political career, Harris publicly supported civil rights reforms, including school desegregation efforts and advocacy for Indigenous communities, notably the residents of Taos Pueblo and the Comanche Nation. He also remained active in child advocacy work later in life through his involvement with New Mexico Voices for Children, an organisation aligned with OICA’s mission.
Public Voting and Fundraising Efforts Continue Ahead of Event
In addition to the headline honours, OICA will present two Anne Roberts People’s Choice Awards for Child Advocacy, recognising one individual and one organisation selected through public nomination and voting.
The awards are named after Anne Roberts, the organisation’s longest-serving chief executive, and are intended to acknowledge outstanding service to children across Oklahoma communities.
Nominations remain open until 15 May.
Alongside ticket sales and sponsorship packages, OICA is also seeking donations for silent auction items to support fundraising efforts connected to the event.
Dorman said preparations are already well underway, with staff, board members and volunteers working to ensure a successful evening for supporters and community leaders alike.
“We encourage everyone to get their tickets early and when you join us, you are welcome to dress as your favorite superhero,” Dorman said. “The night is great fun for a great cause, and we cannot wait to see you there!”
Sponsorships, tickets and table packages for the Heroes Ball are currently available through OICA.
