| The March of Dimes Hawaii Chapter today announced that John Henry Felix, Ph.D., chair emeritus of the executive committee of the Hawaii Chapter, has been awarded the March of Dimes National Presidential Award for Volunteer Leadership. The tribute recognizes Dr. Felix’s lifelong work for the March of Dimes and its mission to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, prematurity and infant mortality. Dr. Jennifer Howse, president of the March of Dimes, honored Dr. Felix today in Washington, D.C. at the National March of Dimes Volunteer Leadership Conference. Upon receiving the award, Dr. Felix quoted Albert Switzer . . . “There is no higher religion than human service. To work for the common good is the highest.”
“Over the past 40 years, John Henry Felix has devoted himself to the March of Dimes here in Hawaii and nationally, and has steadfastly worked to improve the health and welfare of our keiki,” said Carmella Hernandez, state director, March of Dimes Hawaii Chapter. “Dr. Felix, whom we lovingly refer to as the ‘father’ of our Hawaii chapter, has played an instrumental role in guiding and growing our programs and in particular, has played a key role in fundraising for March of Dimes research and community programs. Most notably, Dr. Felix led the initiative to re-establish our Governors’ Ball as an annual tradition, which since 1996 has raised more than $2.25 million for local programs and initiatives.”
The concept of the Governors’ Ball is based on the President’s Birthday Ball events, coordinated by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt from the 1930s and these events continued until the mid-1950s, to raise money for research into the fight against polio. Governors and business leaders throughout the nation were asked to join President Roosevelt and fundraising balls in their respective communities. More than 6,000 fundraising balls were held across the country during that period including those held in Honolulu and were supported by Hawaii’s territorial governors.
In 1996, Dr. Felix secured the support of Governor Cayetano to re-establish this historical event as the Governors’ Ball. He served as chairman of the 1996 Governors’ Ball, raising more than $126,000 in the event’s first year. The 2003 Governors’ Ball will honor Kitty Lagareta, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Communications Pacific, with the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Award for Distinguished Community Service, on October 25th at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom.
Dr. Felix is recognized as the founder and chair emeritus of the March of Dimes National Office of Volunteers, which brought volunteerism to a new level of recognition and importance in the organization. He continues to serve as a member of the Executive Committee of the Hawaii Chapter, the Prematurity Campaign Chair and the Nominating Committee Chair. Dr. Felix is also chairman emeritus of the Board of Trustees and former chair of the International Council of The Salk Institute for Biological Studies.
Dr. Felix received the March of Dimes Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995.
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