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!