2008 Honorary Ageless Hero

Sara O'Meara
Co-founder, Chairman and CEO
Childhelp, Inc.

Honorary Ageless Hero:
A distinguished Arizona community leader who embodies the spirit of the Ageless Heroes Program. Past recipients have included Rose Mofford, the late Polly Rosenbaum, Pat McMahon, Joe Garagiola, Bill Shover, Herman Chanen, Jean Williams and Hugh and Ruth Downs.

Since Childhelp's inception in 1959, Sara O'Meara has been a leader in humanitarian service to children throughout the world. As Childhelp co-founder, chairman and CEO, Sara is responsible for overseeing and developing this national nonprofit organization that is dedicated to helping victims of child abuse and neglect, and other at-risk children through advocacy, prevention, treatment and community outreach.

Throughout the course of her philanthropic work, Sara has received more than 100 awards for her service to children. Most recently, she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize along with Childhelp co-founder Yvonne Fedderson, their third time receiving the high honor.

Sara has also been recognized by the Arizona Foundation for Women with the Sandra Day O'Connor Award in 2004; honored by the Queen of England for international collaboration to prevent child abuse; acknowledged by President Ronald Reagan with a U.S. Department of Justice award; and presented with the Kiwanis World Service Medal. She is also a member of Charter 100 and the Angels of the Arizona Foundation for Women.

In addition to her work with Childhelp, Sara has served on many boards dedicated to the health and well-being of children, including representing America with the International Union for Child Welfare and the International Alliance on Child Abuse and Neglect.