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2024 Awards for San Diego Family Magazine

San Diego Family Magazine and the Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego scored BIG at the 51st Annual San Diego Press Club "Excellence in Journalism" Awards this year! We received 12 awards in all, including four first place, four second place and four third place. Find winning entries below (including links to each article); scroll further down to see winners from previous years.

San Diego Family is on a mission to support the parenting adventure (and instill joy along the way) and to provide San Diego County parents with all the information and resources needed at every age and stage.

Our staff and team of writers have been working their magic and we couldn't be more thrilled with the results. So, here's to the fabulous parents of San Diego County for inspiring us to bring excellence to your family's world.

Jody Cates won first place in the Column—Serious Subject category for her “Parenting with Purpose" column, featuring the following articles: 

• Teaching Kids to Care (part one): The unexpected power of essential life skills, Oct. 2023
• Teaching Kids to Care (part two): Discover the joy of caring for community, Nov. 2023
• Setting Boundaries with Gift-Giving Relatives, Dec. 2023

Lisa Gipson won first place in the Online: Domestic Travel category for her article “Visit Dana Point: A Fun Family Getaway from San Diego.” Feb. 2024

Lisa Gipson won first place in the Series category for her article “10 Ways to Have an Epic Summer” (parts one & two). July & Aug. 2023

Anne Malinoski won first place in the Public Service/Consumer Advocacy category for her article “The 411 on IEP Meetings: How to prepare more and stress less.” Flourishing Families 2024

Linda St. Angelo Burritt won second place in the Sports category for her article “Sports Are for Everyone: From inclusive to special programs, San Diego has it all.” Flourishing Families 2024

San Diego Family Magazine won second place for Front Page Cover Design of the October 2023 publication. 

Audrey Mendivil won third place in the Education category for her article “Play Math: Fun ways to support your kids (even if math isn’t your favorite subject).” Sept. 2023

Megan Woolsey won second place in the Education category for her article “The 411 on Prop 28: How Will Your School Use its New Arts Funding?” Oct. 2023

Janeen Lewis won second place in the Visual/Fine Arts category for her article “Maker-Minded: Raising DIY Kids.” Oct. 2023

Sandi Schwartz won third place in the Science/Technology category for her article “How to Raise Scientifically Literate Kids.” March 2024

Jody Cates won third place in the Feature–Serious Subject category for her article” Parenting with Purpose: Make Time to power down to strengthen family bonds.” Jan. 2024

Wendy Smith won third place in the Public Service/Consumer Advocacy category for her article “Building a Bridge: The when and how of life planning.” Flourishing Families 2024

– San Diego Family's Awards in 2023 –

Jody Cates won SECOND place in the Column—Serious subject category for her “Parenting with Purpose" column, featuring the following articles: 

• PwP: Solving the Meltdown Mystery, Jody Cates, Nov 2022
• PwP: Simplify Your Life to Help Your Family Thrive, Jody Cates, March 2023
• PwP: Not a Perfect Parent? Not a Problem: How to raise emotionally healthy kids, Jody Cates, June 2023

Lisa Gipson won THIRD place in the Education category for her article, “18 Learning Adventures: Fun, educational activities that keep kids engaged.” Aug 2022

Jennifer Burman won THIRD place in the Public Service/Consumer Advocacy for her article, “Give to the Causes You Love: Supporting local nonprofits.” Dec 2022

Lisa Gipson won THIRD place in the Series category for her article, “Best of San Diego Summer.” July 2022 & Aug 2022

Lisa Gipson won FOURTH place in the online Travel - Domestic category for her article, "Visiting the Mendocino Coast with Kids.” 

Once again, our annual publication, Flourishing Families, received a 2023 award in the Special Interest/One-Time Publications category.

Anne Malinoski won FIRST and SECOND place in the Public Service/Consumer Advocacy category for her articles, “Time to Get Social: How and where to build community” and “Self-Determination in Three Easy Steps.”

Emily Dolton won SECOND place in the Education category for her article, “Not Your Grandma's ASL: New signs emerge from the next generation.” 

Melanie Milicevic won FOURTH place in the Essay/Commentary/Opinion category for her article, “The Most Important Siblings in the World."

Emily Dolton won a FOURTH place in the Health & Medicine category for her article, “Hospital Help.”

– San Diego Family's Awards in 2022 –

Lisa Gipson won FIRST Place in the Business & Financial category for her article “Teach Kids About Money: When, Why & How.” (Family Magazine, Jan 2022)

Anne Malinoski won FIRST Place in the Education category for her article “Your Baby’s Brain on Books: Why it’s critical to reduce screen time for little ones” in Flourishing Families 2022.

Lisa Gipson won SECOND Place in the Multicultural category for her article “How to Observe Black History Month at Home.” (Family Magazine, Feb 2022)

Lisa Pawlak won SECOND Place in the Health and Medicine category for her article “Check Your Family’s Mental Health.” (Family Magazine, Jan 2022)

Anne Malinoski won SECOND Place in the Military category for her article “Spotlight on Navy Families.” (Family Magazine, Nov 2021)

Emily Dolton won SECOND Place in the Education category for her article “Tell Me More: How to support alternative communicators” in Flourishing Families 2022.

Jody Lee Cates won THIRD Place in the Feature – Light Subject category for her article “Healthy Risk-Taking Helps Kids Thrive.” (Family Magazine, Sept 2021)

Lisa Gipson won THIRD Place in the Education category for her article “Raising Avid Readers.” (Family Magazine, March 2022)

Emily Dolton won THIRD Place in the Science/Technology/Biotech category for her article “Balancing the Brain and Body: Support total child health using Polyvagal Theory” in Flourishing Families 2022.

Art teacher Alyssa Navapanich was awarded an HONORABLE MENTION in the Column – Light Subject category for her Family Magazine column “Art with Alyssa.”

– San Diego Family's Awards in 2021 –

Managing Editor, Lisa Gipson won First Place in the Multicultural category for her article, 15 Ways to Celebrate Black History Month (Feb. 2021).

Jody Lee Cates brought home a First Place award in the Column: Serious Subject category with her series, Parenting with Purpose (Sept. 2020, Nov. 2020, April 2021). She took home a Second Place award in the Feature: Serious Subject category for her article, Turn Words Into Action: Create a Family Action Plan for Change (Aug. 2020). She also took home a Second Place award in the Health & Medicine category with her article, Parenting in a Pandemic: Keeping Tabs on Stress and Anxiety (Jan. 2021).

Anne Malinoski won Second Place in the Profile category with her article Advocacy, Passion, Positivity, Hope: Tools for fighting childhood leukemia (April 2021).

Cherie Gough received a Second Place award in the Education category for her article, Survival Tips for Distance Learning (Sept. 2020).

Dr. Jenny Pieratt was awarded an Honorable Mention in the Series category for her articles, Your child’s education: Steps to Meaningful Engagement (Aug. 2020) and Your child’s education: Steps to Meaningful Engagement (part two) (Sept. 2020).

Awards for the Special Needs Resource Foundation!

Our annual publication, Flourishing Families, received Second Place in the Special Interest/One-Time Publications category. The Flourishing Families cover won an Honorable Mention and our Rebuilding Trust After Big Blunders article by Jody Lee Cates received a First Place award in the Public Service/Consumer Advocacy category. A big win for the special needs communities of San Diego and Imperial Counties!

– San Diego Family's Awards in 2020 –

Flourishing Families 2020, our annual publication for families with special needs, received Third Place in the Special Interest/One-Time Publications category. 

The February 2020 cover of San Diego Family Magazine received an Honorable Mention in the Front Page Design category.

A big shout-out and congratulations to our award-winning contributing writers:

Jody Lee Cates
First Place (Column: Serious Subject): Parenting with Purpose (three examples):

• Help for Class of 2020 Parents, May 2020
• Your Child’s Brain on Hugs: The power of unconditional love, Feb. 2020
• How to Resist Overparenting and Set Kids Up for Success, Oct. 2019

Honorable Mention (Feature: Serious Subject): How to Raise Kids to Be Allies, June 2020

Kristen Castillo
First Place (Education): 5 Classic Life Skills that Foster Independence, Oct. 2019

Anne Malinoski
Second Place (Multicultural): Take a DIY Bakery Tour: Get a Taste of Culture at Local Bakeries, Nov. 2019

Third Place (Profile): San Diego Teens Making a Difference in the World, Nov. 2019

Lisa Pawlak
Second Place (Education): What’s Your Child’s Learning Style? Aug. 2019

Emily Dolton
Second Place (Health & Medicine): Tooth Smarts--Early Preventative Care Improves Smiles for Kids with Disabilities, FF 2020

Seth Schwartz
Second Place (Public Service/Consumer Advocacy): IEP Self-Advocacy, FF 2020

– San Diego Family's Awards in 2019 –

Our publication received THIRD place in the Special Interest/One-Time Publications category.

Cherie Gough won FIRST place in the Education category with the article, Why to Develop a Growth Mindset in Kids (Oct. 2018).

Anne Malinoski took home SECOND place in the Feature: Serious Subject category with her article, Cannabis Update: How Changing Attitudes Impact Local Youth (Jan. 2019). She also won SECOND place in the Military category for her article, What Military Kids Want Us to Know (Nov. 2018). 

Emily Dolton won SECOND place in the Health & Medicine category with her article, I Think My Child is Different: Early Childhood Red Flags That Need Attention (Aug. 2018). Jody Lee Cates brought home a THIRD place award in the Column: Light Subject with her series, Parenting with Purpose (Sept. 2018, Feb. 2019, May 2019).

Lisa Pawlak won THIRD place in the Public Service/Consumer Advocacy category for her article, Camp Kesem: Plus 7 Other Camps for Kids Facing Adversity (April 2019).

–San Diego Family's Awards in 2018 –

Anne Malinoski
FIRST place in Profile - Finding the Good: Navy Chief helps foster kids in late wife’s honor (Nov. ’17)
FIRST place in Essay/Commentary - Confessions of a Weekday Vegan (Jan. ’18)
SECOND place in Military - How to Help Children Cope When a Parent is Away (Dec. ’17

Emily Dolton
FIRST place in Education: Zero to 6: Critical Windows that Impact Healthy Child Development (Flourishing Families 2018)

Lisa Pawlak
SECOND place in Feature (Serious Subject) - Dos and Don’ts of Supporting Kids When a Parent Has Cancer (Jan. ’18)

Kristen Castillo
SECOND place in Multicultural - Feliz Navidad: Celebrate Mexican Holiday Traditions (Dec. ’17)
THIRD place in Education - School Transitions: How to prepare for the next level (Aug. ’17)
THIRD place in Entertainment Reporting – Meet “This Is Us” Star Mackenzie Hancsicsak (Jan. ’18)

Lisa Gipson
THIRD place in Travel (Domestic) - Road Trip: 6 family-friendly stops along the Central Coast (July ’17)

Our annual publication, Flourishing Families, received SECOND place in Special Interest/One-Time Publications. A big win for the special needs communities of San Diego and Imperial Counties!

San Diego Family Magazine continues its award-winning streak, bringing home four awards from the three-day Parenting Publications of America (PPA) Editorial and Design Competition and convention in Charlotte, NC.

Sharon Bay, publisher and editor in chief, Kirsten Flournoy, editor and Michele Hancock, Diector of Marketing and Communications, attended the annual event recognizing excellence in journalism and online media.

 PPA Executive Director C. James Dowden says, “The purpose of the PPA awards competition is to encourage a high level of journalistic performance and service to communities by recognizing editorial excellence and outstanding visual presentation in parenting publications.”

Gold: Website Design for SanDiegoFamily.com 
By Michele Hancock

Judges’ comments, “This is a pleasing home page with a clean and uncluttered look that seems like old school Web design: content ahead of gimmicks. The clean design features a dominant lead story element of four rotating stories backed up with good content and resource links. Rotating articles provide multiple features … Lots of reader contests highlighted. The site uses video, asks for reader-submitted content and uses social media.”

Silver: “Tony Hawk: San Diego’s Coolest Dad Talks about Babies and ‘Boarding”
By Kirsten Flournoy, editor  (June 2009)


Judges’ comments: “Man, is Tony Hawk cool! This peek into the life of a skateboarding superstar reveals Hawk as a simple man who—despite his fame, fortune and phenomenal talent—remains rooted in family values.”

Bronze: “Mommy Diary: Confessions of a Welfare Mom”
By “Rebecca” (June 2009)

Judges’ comments: “In crisp prose, a mother tells her secret with specificity and clarity. She outlines the financial collapse of her suburban life by using the standards tools available to any writer: narrative, voice, and compelling details.”

Bronze: “Schools of Thought: Math Enrichment/Math Education: Making a Difference”
By Cynthia Jenson-Elliot
February 2009
March 2009

Judges Comments: “Because so many parents and children are math phobic, avoiding the topic in a magazine could be seen as the norm. A series on math enrichment, therefore, might be seen as risky. In this instance, the coverage is clear and of great service to readers.”

Yea! San Diego Family!

Watch the video from Readers on why they LOVE San Diego Family!

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Some words from our fans!

"I just wanted to thank everyone who helps make this magazine.  I enjoy reading the articles and looking at the ad's for new things that the family can do.  Continue to keep up the great work that you do!" - Yenny

"Thank you for providing events and this wonderful magazine to the public.  I have accomplished many events with my family and they have all been joyous experiences.  Your support and dedication to the community has been shown to me in many ways.  The family can't wait for more activities in the future.  Also, the opportunities to win freebies for the family is awesome and always exciting.  Thank you again."  -Dee

Come here to read articles about San Diego Family Magazine that have appeared in other publications in our community.

Family Magazine once again joins the ranks of award-winning parent publications throughout the nation after being honored with four prestigious awards at the recently concluded Editorial and Design Competition by the Parenting Publications of America (PPA) in New Orleans, Louisiana. This annual competition recognizes excellence in journalism, photography and design. A panel of judges reviewed 1,020 entries to choose the winners in each category.

The Refrigerator Door, our reader’s page designed by Art Director Susan Bergeson, was honored in the Briefs/Short Stuff: Design category with no less than a Gold Award. The judges claimed that “this section is a great example of how to bring aspects of social networking and citizen journalism to print. The scrapbook design is perfect for the content without going overboard.”

Eileen Cornish garnered a Bronze Award for her column, Off the Shelf. “Sensitive commentary about major life issues give this book review column its credibility and utility for parents.”  Click here to read a current book review column by Eileen Cornish!

Family Album by Steven Meineke continues its award-winning streak. It was awarded the Bronze Award in the Column: Child Development and Parenting Issues – Editorial category. “The columns take a vexing issue, such as “morning mystery illness, closely describes it and presents a thoughtful method of managing it in a shrewd but compassionate way.”

What’s Cooking by Janet Little was also honored with a Bronze Award after impressing judges with “columns packed with important, timely information about the things parents need to know. Written in an easily accessible way that draws the reader in to the subject.”

For a complete list of  winners, visit www.parentingpublications.org.

February 2009

San Diego Family Segments on San Diego Living Channel 6

How to Choose an After-School Program for your Child (September)

Read the article this segment was based on San Diego Family's After-School Activities Guide.
Click Image Below to Watch the Segment and See Aviara Golf Academy, San Diego Surf School and Girls on the Run in action!

San Diego Family Media has been San Diego County's best parenting resource since 1982. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life for San Diego County families by providing information and resources that support the importance and pleasure of parenting. Our readers are parents and caregivers of children ages 0–18.

San Diego Family Magazine is a free publication reaching 175,000 parents each month. It is distributed at Albertsons Supermarkets.

It's never been easier to access your favorite family magazine! Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and through a weekly Things To Do eNewsletter. The monthly digital editions of the magazine are available at SanDiegoFamily.com. Additional magazines produced by San Diego Family include, Out & About with Kids for local and visiting families, providing tons of fun things to do all year and Flourishing Families: the Parent Resource Guide for Children with Special Needs, which contains 1050 resources for families with special needs. The Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego is our nonprofit charity under Section 501(c)3 corporation established in 2014.  To access resources and events for families with special needs and to make donations, visit SpecialNeedsResourceFoundationofSanDiego.org.

San Diego Family Media

1475 6th Ave., 5th Floor
San Diego, CA 92101
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619-685-6970

Anchor Mom Segments on Fox 5 Inspired by Articles from San Diego Family!

Watch the Fox 5 Anchor Mom segment: Hot Toys for the Holidays!
Read the article this segment was based on the November Holiday Toy Review.
Special thanks to Kathryn Cloward author of the "Kathryn the Grape" book series.

Watch the Fox 5 Anchor Mom segment: Adoption
Read the article this segment was based on Welcome Home Mia! An international story with Jeff from the Jeff & Jer Showgram

Watch the segment: Making Time for Nature: The Great Outdoors
Read the article this segment was based on Canyon Classroom - Using Nature as an Educational Resource.

Watch the segment: Bringing Back the Passion Back After Pregnancy - Feb 2011
Read the article this segment was based on Finding Romance

Watch the Segment: Running More than Just Errands - Jan 27, 2011
Read the article this segment was based on Jogging into the New Year.

Watch the Segment: Social Networking Parents - Oct 14, 2010
Read this article this segment was based on It Takes One to Know One.

Watch the segment: Independent Kids- July 8, 2010
Read the article this segment was based on Is Your Teen Ready For More Independence? 

Watch the segment: Choosing a Summer Camp for Your Child- April 8, 2010
This segment was based on San Diego Family's Camp Issue.

History of San Diego Family

Even from San Diego Family's humble beginnings and original design as a black and white tabloid-style newspaper, the goal has always been to provide educational articles, resources and information with a focus on family issues. Every article and advertisement is designed to benefit parents and children in some way.

In 1985, Sharon and Larry Bay took over the three-year-old magazine from founders Linda Pederson, Robbie Elliott, Stephanie MacDiarmid and Lynn Cook.



For Sharon, a busy mom of two kids, managing the small but growing publication seemed like the perfect part-time job. “They told me it was a job that took about 15 hours per week, but they forgot to say that each of the owners put in 15 hours!” she says.



Formerly a teacher, the first year was a learning process for her. From the start, she looked at what readers liked about the magazine and how it could become even more useful to them.

"

San Diego Family is a community resource for both advertisers and local families. We specialize in connecting the two," Sharon says. Over the years, the content has changed to reflect contemporary concerns and trends.



“Life as a parent now is much harder, there’s so much more going on than there was in the 90’s and before,” Sharon says. “My goal is to always to be THE resource for San Diego County families.”