Horizons for Homeless Children Award

One in every 45 children in the United States is homeless each year. With family homelessness on the rise, there is an ongoing need for organizations and volunteers to help these families. Horizons for Homeless Children’s Playspace Program ensures that children living in family homeless shelters in Massachusetts have the opportunity for developmentally appropriate play. Playspaces are educational spaces in shelters stocked with books, toys, and art supplies. Horizons’ depends on its more than 1,500 trained Playspace Activity Leaders (PAL), and other dedicated volunteers such as Lisa Hughes, of Wellesley.

Many may know Hughes as the WBZ-TV anchor on weekday newscasts at 6:00pm with Jack Williams and11:00pm with Jonathan Elias.  Before moving to Boston, Hughes worked at the CBS News bureau in Washington, DC for the affiliate news service, Newsparth. Since moving to Boston in 2000, Hughes has covered every major news story. She has had the pleasure of interviewing many of the region’s newsmakers and even won an Edward R. Murrow Award for her at-home interview with the candidates running for governor in 2007. Hughes has also won several Emmy Awards for live coverage and reporting. 

Aside from her impressive resume, Hughes remains heavily involved in a number of community organizations and charities. She serves on the Board of Directors for Big Sister of Greater Boston and First Literacy, ran the Boston Marathon, and participates in the Pan-Mass Challenge. Hughes and her husband, Mike Casey, are also proud parents of their daughter, Riley and son, Dylan. For years, Hughes and her family have been valued partners of Horizons. Hughes has generously given her time and enthusiasm as a member of their annual Spring Event since 2006, the host of their Women’s Breakfast, and a fundraising advocate for their community programs. At this year’s Homeless Children’s Annual Recognition and Awards Dinner, Horizons was proud to honor Hughes for her outstanding commitment to homeless children and their families.

As Horizons’ Playspace Program continues to grow, the organization is always looking for fun-loving, dependable people to interact and play with children living in family homeless shelters and domestic violence shelters across Massachusetts. Trainings are ongoing and volunteers are able to choose the session that is most convenient for them to attend. Please visit our website for upcoming trainings.