Woods Bennett, a guiding light and visionary leader, is the recipient of the Robert M. Clyatt Distinguished Service Award. Named for Kids’ Chance founder Bob Clyatt, the award embodies his passion for helping children impacted by a parent’s workers’ compensation injury or death to obtain the funds to advance their education.

This award, presented annually, recognizes a member of the Kids’ Chance of America community who has gone above and beyond in the service of what’s most important: the kids.

“Woods is truly deserving of this recognition. His leadership at a local, state and national level has resulted in state chapter growth and a significant increase in scholarship awards,” said John Goldwater, immediate past-president of Kids’ Chance of America. “His selfless service epitomizes Bob Clyatt’s vision and approach - placing ‘our kids’ at the forefront of every conversation.”

Kevin A. Turner, the current Kids’ Chance president, says Bennett’s leadership helped to grow Kids’ Chance to a national organization with the capacity to help many more children.

“During his tenure as president of Kids’ Chance of America, he shepherded the organization through a pivotal era, supporting investments in both infrastructure and professional resources,” he says. “It was a tipping-point, putting Bob Clyatt’s vision of a time when all children affected by a parent’s work-related injury or death can pursue their educational dreams without financial burden, within reach.”

As an attorney, Bennett has represented employers and insurers in the defense of Maryland workers’ compensation matters for more than 40 years. In 1998, he was appointed as one of the original directors of Kids’ Chance of Maryland and served as an officer and director until his retirement from the board in 2018.  He attended his first national Kids’ Chance meeting in 2006, in New Orleans.

That meeting proved to be instrumental in the formation of Kids’ Chance of America, which now supports 43 state level organizations across the country. He served as the secretary for the interim board and was elected to that position when Kids’ Chance of America was formally created in 2007 and became president of KCOA in 2010.

During his term, the first executive director of the organization was retained, several new state organizations were added, the transition from the founding Georgia Kids’ Chance organization to the national umbrella organization Kids’ Chance of America was initiated, and, most importantly, the development of the first significant national sponsorship by Paradigm Outcomes occurred, a partnership that has fostered opportunities for additional national sponsors and scholarship programs.

“For the past 20 years, Woods Bennett has been an exceptional leader, both at the state and national levels, committed to helping children affected by a parent's work-related injury or death secure needed financial assistance to advance their educations,” says Rona Finkelstein, KCOA board member. “He richly deserves this award.”

‍The award will be presented at the Kids’ Chance National Conference on May 2-4, 2019. The conference will be hosted by Kids’ Chance of Florida in Sarasota, Florida.