Named for the acclaimed photographer who documented early twentieth century exploitation of child labor, the Lewis Hine Awards for Service to Children and Youth are bestowed annually to ten relatively unknown men and women for their efforts on behalf of the health, education, and welfare of children and youth, particularly those at risk. The Lewis Hine Awards are given to unheralded professionals and volunteers who devote extraordinary time and energy to helping children and youth. The recipients, who come from many walks of life and from across the United States, are selected by a panel of distinguished judges from nominations submitted by elected officials and community leaders. Mr. Dukes is one of ten award Honorees who will receive $1,000 and a trip to the awards ceremony in New York City accompanied by a guest.

Ronald E. Dukes, Team Leader of a national educational robot-building competition called FIRST: For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology, is being honored for his twenty years of volunteerism in the Rochester City School District. Currently, Mr. Dukes is a Project Manager for Software Development at Xerox and gives over 20 hours a week of his "spare" time to FIRST. Mr. Dukes, an African American originally from a poor section of Buffalo was inspired by his father, a steelworker, to love fixing cars and other things. Desiring to become an engineer, he got his bachelor's degree at night while working at Xerox Corp. in Rochester during the day. Recognizing how the love of science and technology gave him a future, Mr. Dukes endeavored to give knowledge, encouragement, and direction to children growing up poor like he did. In 1987, Mr. Dukes began volunteering as a science consultant with Xerox's Science Consultant Program. This program, partnering Xerox scientists and engineers with school teachers, taught children in grades 3 to 6 the subjects of biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics. The goal was to teach the children science while emphasizing the importance of teamwork. In the early 1990s, Mr. Dukes began working with inner-city high school students on the FIRST project. The motto of FIRST, according to its web site, is "to create a world where science and technology are celebrated… where young people dream of becoming science and technology heroes." While teaming together to build robots, Mr. Dukes is helping to fulfill another purpose of FIRST-"to build self-confidence, impart knowledge, and teach life skills."

"Despite over 100 years of work by organizations like the NCLC and the individuals we honor with these awards, too many young people still do not have the access to education, quality health care, and the economic opportunities they deserve," said John W. Lee II, the 2008 Awards Chairman. "These awards offer us an opportunity to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of people doing extraordinary things on behalf of young people. We applaud and elevate their work and dedication in the hope that they are an example for the rest of us to be agents of change in our society."

About Lewis Wickes Hine
Lewis Wickes Hine is known for his work photographing child labor practices. Beginning in 1908, Hine became a staff photographer for the NCLC with a difficult and unusual assignment. Often hiding his camera and tricking his way past bosses, Hine even learned to write with his hand inside his pocket in order to get accurate captions without giving himself away. His work--famously never touched up for effect--depicting children laboring in sweatshops, coal mines, textile mills, and on farms outraged the public and shamed the government into acting. His photographs provided the NCLC with the leverage it needed to advance the enactment of state and federal laws to protect the rights of children in the workplace, including the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, which was the first major Federal child labor law ever enacted.

About the National Child Labor Committee (NCLC)
The National Child Labor Committee is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to the well-being of children and youth in the fields of work and education. Founded in 1904 and incorporated by an Act of Congress in 1907, the mission of NCLC is to promote the rights, dignity, well-being, and education of children and youth as they relate to work and the workplace. In its eleventh decade, the NCLC continues the work of its founding visionaries as a leading force in ensuring child labor law compliance, transforming the workplace into a learning environment, improving employment and training opportunities for older youth, and securing youth occupational safety and health. Additional information about the organization and its programs can be found at www.nationalchildlabor.org.

About the Ready To Learn Partnership
The Ready To Learn Partnership (RTLP) is a unique, forward-thinking coalition of private and public sector professionals committed to helping develop young children's emergent literacy and reading skills--with a special emphasis on the needs of children from low income families. It leverages federal funds with for-profit and not-for-profit resources to create highly engaging, educational children's media products and outreach services. Additional information about the RTLP, its mission, and its programs can be found at www.rtlp.org.