CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Retired Heart of Iowa Big Brothers Big Sisters Executive Director Lynne Carroll, second from left, was honored with the second annual Jessie Binford Advocate for Youth Award during a dinner and ceremony at the Binford House in Marshalltown on Tuesday night. Pictured alongside her are her husband Chris, left, and their daughters Bridget and Monica.

Throughout her 18-year tenure with Heart of Iowa Big Brothers Big Sisters (HOI BBBS), 14 of those spent as the organization’s executive director, Lynne Carroll of Marshalltown worked closely with local youth to provide positive mentoring experiences in hopes of paving the path for brighter futures. On Tuesday night, the now-retired Carroll was recognized with the second annual Jessie Binford Advocate for Youth Award during a dinner and ceremony at the Binford House.

During an interview with the T-R on Thursday, Carroll said it was a pleasant surprise to be honored and noted that she had nominated other local individuals for the award herself. While she may not have worked with kids as directly as a teacher or school employee, she would often go the extra mile to help children who needed anything from new shoes to blankets to swimming lessons.

“I don’t ever feel like I was a standalone person. I just was the person that did the connecting with the situations and making those situations better,” she said.

In addition to BBBS, Carroll has also been involved with groups like LAST Watch that seek to prevent human trafficking in the community and educate the public on signs it is occurring.

“We, as adults, have to step up and be in (children’s) corner. We have to be their safe place, and I’ve always felt really committed to finding ways to help kids to grow, to succeed and to be safe,” she said.

In retirement, Carroll said she is currently “taking a break” from her usual activities and focusing on spending time with family, but she’ll always hold a special place in her heart for kids and hopes others will now carry that flame.

“Every adult needs to support kids growing up, whether it’s being there when they need a friend, volunteering to be a Big, whether it’s helping in a difficult time or a difficult situation. Kids need to be seen, and we adults need to be better at seeing them,” she said.

Brookelyn Schlawin, who has taken over Carroll’s former role as the executive director of HOI BBBS, praised her predecessor and specifically shouted out the $500 donation the MFWC/Binford House will make to the Marshall County organization of the awardee’s choice — in this case, unsurprisingly, Heart of Iowa Big Brothers Big Sisters — to start a cooking class for Littles.

“We are very eager to offer a summer cooking course for Littles to be self-sufficient, and have the power to choose and cook their own meals. Lynne stressed during our time working together how important it is to always have food for the kids at our events, no matter the time or day,” Schlawin said. “While working with Lynne, it’s evident she’s always known the importance of continuous learning and helping to give a voice to our community’s youngest and most vulnerable. Lynne was positively nicknamed the ‘introducer’ at community events because she wanted to be sure there were no strangers in the room. I think that was something I hold onto today in my position. As the Executive Director for Heart of Iowa Big Brothers Big Sisters, we are storytellers and advocates. Our main goal is to make our community members feel seen, heard, and valued.”

The award is presented by the Marshalltown Federation of Women’s Clubs (MFWC), more commonly known as Binford House, in collaboration with the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce and the Historical Society of Marshall County. The inaugural honor went to Woodbury Elementary School Counselor Heidi Williams last year.

“The purpose of this award is to recognize, celebrate, and encourage people in the Marshall County area who make a significant positive difference in the lives of youth, particularly those in need of an advocate for social justice. Carroll was nominated by multiple individuals in both this and last year’s calls for nominees. Their praise for Carroll’s passion for the welfare of children was unanimous,” a press release reads.

Carroll received several nominations for the award, which were included in the press release. “Lynne has spent her career tirelessly advocating for our youth. At Big Brothers Big Sisters, Lynne, and her team have been hands-on with hundreds of Bigs and Littles matches. She has fought hard to maintain funding, while thinking of more ways to implement the program in schools in and beyond our county,” one read. “Beyond her work as BBBS Executive Director, she has put efforts into creating awareness of the issues of sex trafficking. She has also been active with youth work in her local parish. No matter what Lynne has done, celebrating, elevating, and encouraging youth has been her main focus. I worked for a year with her, and her passion for youth is unmatched.”

Another remembered Carroll’s generous gift of time and talent working with children when her own were still in elementary school, teaching them how to play percussion instrumental accompaniment and sing together. This advocacy was her quiet way of teaching the children confidence along with a new skill.

“She works tirelessly in her role as the executive director of the Heart of Iowa Big Brothers Big Sisters to ensure that the at-risk youth have support and mentoring through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Lynne genuinely cares about the welfare of all youth and the conditions of their daily lives. Her commitment to her work in providing these youth support where they may not normally have it makes her truly special. Just a short conversation with Lynne helps to show her dedication in life and in working to improve the lives of others. I have known Lynne for many years and have experienced evidence of her caring both in her work and in her daily life. She has served on the social justice committee at her church for many years and works diligently to support those in need,” the nominator wrote. “She looks for ways to help others whose paths she crosses in her daily life: a family struggling, a neighbor who is ill or homebound, a church member facing a health crisis. I believe Lynne Carroll is very deserving of this award and is an inspiration to all of us in working to make the lives of all youth better.”

Yet another contributor said, “Lynne has been with Heart of Iowa Big Brothers and Sisters since 2008 and most of those years as the director. This local organization makes over 100 matches each year and makes a difference in hundreds of children’s lives by providing a caring mentor at a time in their life when they need extra support and understanding. She is also great at collaborating with local businesses and organizations in our community to support activities which benefit all children in the community. For example, the Back-to-School event that supports all Marshalltown kids. Hundreds of backpacks and other school supplies are given away, others provide haircuts, vaccines, vision and hearing tests. This event makes sure that these students start the school year with everything they need for success.”

Jessie Binford, who donated her family home, the Binford House, to the MFWC, was born in Marshalltown in 1876, and her lifelong passion was advocating for children. Jessie was active in the organization of the Legal Aid Society in Chicago, which later became the Juvenile Protection Association, and served as its Executive Director for 43 years. Jessie was a longtime associate of Jane Addams, founder of Chicago’s Hull House. She spent 61 years as a social worker and advocate for the poor.

This award aims to honor Jessie’s legacy by recognizing people in the Marshall County area who are continuing this work locally. In addition to providing public recognition of those advocating for youth in Marshall county, this award is intended to elevate the community’s awareness of the accomplishments of Jessie Binford and the causes she championed.

This award will be given annually to a Marshall County resident or to someone who works in or serves Marshall County, who has demonstrated commitment to and effectiveness in advocating for children, regardless of their socioeconomic status and cultural background.

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Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.