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Not all heroes wear costumes, but many did at the OICA Heroes Ball
Opinions
August 2, 2023
Not all heroes wear costumes, but many did at the OICA Heroes Ball
By Joe Dorman CEO ? OICA,

OKLAHOMA CITY – With the conclusion of the annual Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) Heroes Ball, we know it is time to trade our costumes for our secret identity normal clothes, but I need to share with you the final winners of the year.

The Heroes Ball is a superhero-themed costume party and gala that helps raise funds for our organization while at the same time bringing recognition to some of Oklahoma’s outstanding champions for children.

This year, we honored the Cherokee Nation, the Potts Family and the Potts Family Foundation, Jabee Williams, and former Oklahoma First Ladies Donna Nigh and Cathy Keating. We also announced our People’s Choice Award winners based on nominations by Oklahomans and then selected by votes of child advocates for Oklahoma-based hero organizations and/ or individuals.

Our board of directors narrowed the nominees down to the top finalists, with the winners being chosen by online voters and those in attendance at the Heroes Ball. Alethea Satterwhite from ReMerge Oklahoma was the in-dividual advocate selected, and Sara’s Project was the top vote-getter to win the organizational advocate for children award.

The individual who nominated Alethea noted how she has dedicated her life and career to meeting the needs of Oklahoma children and their families. For 14 years, Alethea served at Oklahoma Human Services as a child welfare worker and later, on the post-adoption team to provide resources to foster families and children who previously experienced significant trauma or neglect.

Following her time at Human Services, Alethea joined ReMerge of Oklahoma County. There, she currently leads the “Strengthening Families” team and ensures that mothers and their children are reunified and receiving the services they need to thrive as a healthy, happy family.

Alethea has not only served Oklahoma children at work, but she has also opened her heart and made a home for foster children in need of a safe, welcoming environment to grow. Alethea is currently fostering her 26th child. She is a fierce advocate for families who uses her trauma-informed expertise to build strong alliances with those she serves and make them feel valued, seen, and heard.

Alethea embodies the quote by Nelson Mandela, which reads: “Let us reach out to the children. Let us do whatever we can to support their fight to rise above their pain and suffering.” Alethea Satterwhite is a champion for children and an everyday hero who is making a difference in individual lives and in our community.

In the nomination for Sara’s Project, we were reminded that this organization has dedicated staff members with the mission of helping children. They are always engaged and seeking solutions for problems and keep Oklahomans very informed about what is happening not only at the local office but also on state level. They are constantly involved in improving their facilities and raising funds to provide the best possible outcome for the children that they are tasked with helping.

Their level of engagement with local law enforcement, schools and other agencies is second to none. I am proud to know the staff of Sara’s Project and am thankful to have such a trusted resource in south-central Oklahoma.

Sara’s Project provides so many needed services for children in and around the Ardmore area. They provide everything from crisis management and on-site school crisis assistance to the Child Advocacy Center and Sexual Assault Response Teams serving children and adult victims of sexual abuse/assault. They provide a safe and confidential environment for victims to tell their stories and undergo forensic collections.

While all our nominees were deserving, voters certainly selected two wonderful choices!

Graduates encouraged to be kind, be thankful
A: Main, news
Graduates encouraged to be kind, be thankful
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
May 21, 2025
Ninety Ironheads graduated from Eufaula High School Friday. Hundreds of parents, grandparents, friends and others swarmed Paul Bell Stadium to watch the students end one stage of their lives and begin...
A: Main, news
Tornadoes plague area
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
May 21, 2025
Thunderstorms and a dozen tornadoes ripped through areas around Mc-Intosh County Monday afternoon and evening, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Across Oklahoma, at least 10 homes were ...
DAV to host two military events
A: Main, news
DAV to host two military events
By Veterans Appreciation and Memorial Day Service 
May 21, 2025
The DAV Chapter 3 McIntosh County will be hosting two events this weekend to honor all military veterans. The first event will be to honor local military on Friday, May 23 at 5 p.m. at Vet- erans Park...
Eufaula’s Band Boosters
A: Main, news
Eufaula’s Band Boosters
May 21, 2025
Eufaula’s Band Boosters awarded 11 scholarships to senior band members. The scholarship is called the Byron Kennedy Memorial Scholarship, named after the late Byron Kennedy. Byron loved the band and c...
A: Main, news
Seniors report $10 million in scholarships
May 21, 2025
Julieann Farrow - $500 Nickie Horton – $1,000 Evan Lane – $11,547 Kassidy Greenlee - $16,000 Yvette Sanchez-Vargas – $18,000 Jadda Rodriguez - $22,000 Danielle Rollins - $26,000 Ayson Lanham – $34,917...
Grievances aired out at fire department meeting
A: Main, news
Grievances aired out at fire department meeting
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
May 21, 2025
City officials attended a monthly meeting of the Eufaula Volunteer Fire Department on Tuesday, May 13 to discuss issues that flared up days earlier when it was announced a full-time chief would be hir...
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Bryan Logan wins State Senate Dist. 8 race
May 21, 2025
Republican Bryan Logan of Paden was the overwhelming victor in Tuesday’s State Senate District 8 race to fill the seat vacated last year by the resignation of Roger Thompson, a Republican from Okemah....
Jadence Efurd Valedictorian Class of 2025
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Jadence Efurd Valedictorian Class of 2025
May 21, 2025
Jadence Efurd, daughter of Jared and Tandi Efurd, is the Valedictorian of the Class of 2025. She is the granddaughter of Vicki and Jerry Efurd of Eufaula and Randal and Paula Galbraith of Eufaula. Jad...
Kate Pippenger Valedictorian Class of 2025
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Kate Pippenger Valedictorian Class of 2025
May 21, 2025
Kate is the daughter of Jeff and Andrea Pippenger. She is the granddaughter of Mike and Sue Scifres and John and Cindy Pippenger. She is the proud little sister of three brothers, Jase, Tye and Brett ...
Zayd Taariq Salutatorian Class of 2025
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Zayd Taariq Salutatorian Class of 2025
May 21, 2025
Zayd Taariq is the son of parents Kara Hamilton and Nate Owens, the grandson of Karen and Larry Armstrong and Sharon Hamilton. He is an active student of Eufaula High School, currently serving his sec...
Many moving parts still remain with FY26 state budget
commentary
Many moving parts still remain with FY26 state budget
By JOE DORMAN OICA CEO 
May 21, 2025
OKLAHOMA CITY – Gov. Kevin Stitt and legislative leaders have announced an agreement for the key elements to the Fiscal Year 2026 state budget. The plan for the estimated $12.6 billion budget includes...
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