Today, A Better Balance Co-Founders and Co-Presidents Dina Bakst and Sherry Leiwant were awarded the Heinz Award for the Economy—one of the world’s largest and most prestigious individual achievement awards—for ABB’s outstanding policy and advocacy impact.
This accolade comes on the heels of our 15th year of fighting to advance justice for workers caring for themselves and their loved ones, and amidst a pandemic that has compounded the urgency of our mission.
“For far too long and for too many working people, the need to maintain a healthy pregnancy or to care for a new baby or a sick family member has meant the loss of employment,” said Teresa Heinz, Chairman of the Heinz Family Foundation. “We honor Dina and Sherry for their dedicated, persistent efforts on behalf of all workers and for demanding policy that is fair to working families.”
Read the full press release from the Heinz Family Foundation.
The announcement recognizes A Better Balance’s success passing supportive workplace policies for women and families in dozens of states and localities, our leading role in ongoing federal campaigns to pass the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and a national paid family and medical leave program, and our critical role empowering workers to exercise their rights during the pandemic.
“We founded A Better Balance with the mission and vision to ensure no worker in this country is forced to choose between having a baby or caring for a seriously ill loved one and maintaining their economic security. That work will continue until we have the systemic solutions in place that truly support this country’s working women and families, especially the most vulnerable among us,” said Bakst.
“It is an honor to work every day to transform our workplaces and build a foundation of policies that will serve every family and ensure the essential work of providing care is valued,” added Leiwant.
Watch Sherry and Dina’s remarks below:
