logo
Login Subscribe
Google Play App Store
  • News
    • Obituaries
    • Lifestyle
    • Opinions
  • Sports
  • E-edition
  • Calendar
  • Archives
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Advertisers
    • Form Submission
    • About Us
    • News
      • Obituaries
      • Lifestyle
      • Opinions
    • Sports
    • E-edition
    • Calendar
    • Archives
    • Contact
      • Contact Us
      • Advertisers
      • Form Submission
      • About Us
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!

Eufaula Memorial Library
A: Main, news
Eufaula Memorial Library
July 2, 2025
A llama and a youngster got acquainted at a petting zoo at the Eufaula Memorial Library Wednesday, June 25. Dozens of kids and adults enjoyed the llama, goats, donkey and other animals, provided by Ma...
A: Main, news
Eufaula hosting July 4 Celebration
July 2, 2025
Mayor James Hickman and the City of Eufaula are honored to invite residents and visitors to the annual Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration on Friday, July 4. The fireworks will begin shortly after su...
A legacy lives on
A: Main, news
A legacy lives on
By LaDonna Rhodes Staff Writer 
July 2, 2025
Selby Minner’s Celebration of Life on Saturday at the Checotah Performing Arts Center was a beautiful 3-hour-long tribute to an amazing soul who loved the blues and more importantly, loved people. As ...
Lightning strike kills Eufaula woman in cemetery
A: Main, news
Lightning strike kills Eufaula woman in cemetery
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
July 2, 2025
A 57-year-old Eufaula woman was killed by lightning during a routine stroll through a cemetery Friday evening. Joy Ann Rogers was walking through Greenwood cemetery shortly before 7 p.m. when a thunde...
A: Main, news
Native American Arts & Crafts show Saturday
July 2, 2025
Eufaula Indian Community will host an Arts and Crafts show and sale Saturday, July 5 at the IEC Center, 800 Birkes Road, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In addition to this event, a chair volleyball tournament...
Olivia Shackelford honored with 2025 Youth Prevention Award
news
Olivia Shackelford honored with 2025 Youth Prevention Award
July 2, 2025
On June 5, local student Olivia Shackelford of Eufaula was recognized as the recipient of the prestigious 2025 Youth Prevention Award in Oklahoma City at the Heartland Conference. This past week Olivi...
United for Oklahoma
ePaper
google_play
app_store
Editor Picks
Family, friends and fans bid farewell to Blues legend
news
Family, friends and fans bid farewell to Blues legend
By LENORE BECHTEL 
July 2, 2025
Her casket rested below center stage at the Checotah Performing Arts Center, open for friends, fans, and family to view her precious body before her life’s celebration began. No one lingered long. Tha...
Another busy week in the district
commentary
Another busy week in the district
By REP. TIM TURNER 
July 2, 2025
I started last Saturday June 21, bright and early at Stigler Reunion Days. I kicked things off at the Haskell County GOP Tent, answering questions and catching up with friends and supporters. Then I h...
Killing them with kindness
commentary
Killing them with kindness
July 2, 2025
What a month it’s been for me personally and in our close-knit communities. Trying to cope with the loss of loved ones has been extremely difficult and downright demanding. Yet having to come to terms...
‘Big Beautiful Bill’ overhauled in Senate, would cause even more government borrowing
commentary
‘Big Beautiful Bill’ overhauled in Senate, would cause even more government borrowing
By JOE DORMAN OICA CEO 
July 2, 2025
OKLAHOMA CITY – Over the past month, I have highlighted portions of the federal “Big Beautiful Bill” as passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. Currently, the bill is under consideration by the U...
Hays Supports MOHA Executive Order
commentary
Hays Supports MOHA Executive Order
July 2, 2025
OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Neil Hays, R-Muskogee, today expressed strong support for Gov. Kevin Stitt’s new “Make Oklahoma Healthy Again” (MOHA) executive order, which targets artificial food additives and ...
Facebook

THE EUFAULA INDIAN JOURNAL
100 N. 2nd Street
Eufaula, OK 74432

(918) 689-2191

This site complies with ADA requirements

© 2023 THE EUFAULA INDIAN JOURNAL

  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility Policy