2010 Lifetime Achievement Award Winners

Darell Hammond . – Darell Hammond is the CEO and Co-Founder of KaBOOM!, a national non-profit dedicated to saving play and creating play spaces for America’s children. Darell learned about the importance of volunteerism and giving back to the community through his upbringing at Mooseheart: The Child City and School, a group home outside of Chicago. Darell co-founded KaBOOM! in 1996 and in the past 14 years the organization has directly led the building of more than 1,900 playgrounds, skate parks, ice rinks and sports fields which serve more than 1 million children across our nation every year. KaBOOM! has raised more than $170 million to support the cause of play among children. For his tireless efforts to promote play for our nation’s youth, Darell has received the President’s Volunteer Service Award, the Jefferson Award for Greatest Public Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged, the NARSAD Children’s Mental Health Award and the NYU Stern’s Satter Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Barbara Jones “BJ” Slater . – As an athlete and educator, Barbara Jones Slater has spent her life promoting physical activity and fitness. At the age of 15, Barbara became the youngest athlete to participate in the track and field events at the XVth Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland. As a member of the legendary Tennessee State Tigerbelles and the United States Olympic Team, Barbara captured a gold medal and broke the world record in the 4 x 100-meter relay with her teammates. She also earned gold medals in 1955 at the Pan American Games and at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, Italy. Additionally, Barbara was a teacher for over 47 years and retired from the DeKalb Alternative School in Stone Mountain, Georgia in 2009.

2009 Lifetime Achievement Award Winners

Asahel "Ash" E. Hayes, Ed.D. – In a career spanning more than six decades, Dr. Ash Hayes has worked tirelessly to promote physical activity, fitness, sports and the importance of leading an active lifestyle. As a former executive director of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition during the Reagan administration, Dr. Hayes worked at the national level to further the programs, initiatives and messages of the PCFSN. Additionally, Dr. Hayes has worked with the San Diego Unified School District, as well as at the university level, to teach physical education and as a coach and athletic director. Dr. Hayes continues to work to encourage healthy lifestyles through his work as a physical education, fitness and sports consultant.

George P. Nissen – As an athlete, businessman and inventor, George Nissen has spent his life promoting physical activity and fitness. Nissen invented the trampoline at the age of 17, and has promoted his invention and life's passion by bringing the device to college and national competitions and making the trampoline a worldwide sport. During his college years Nissen was a competitive gymnast and diver at the University of Iowa. In 2000, Mr. Nissen's life-long dream became a reality when trampoline became a discipline of gymnastics, debuting at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. At 94 years old George Nissen continues his life's work of inventing innovative sports and fitness equipment designed to make being active fun for individuals of all ages. He is still active, with a daily exercise regimen that includes swimming, table tennis, and of course bouncing on a trampoline.

Betty Perkins-Carpenter, Ph.D. – Dr. Betty Perkins-Carpenter, founder and president of Senior Fitness Productions, Inc., has used her auspicious career to teach people of all ages to swim and dive. Dr. Perkins-Carpenter was a diving coach for the 1976 Olympics and has also coached men’s and women’s diving at both the high school and college levels. She started Senior Fitness, Inc., Perkins Swim Club, Inc., and the internationally known Fit-by Five, Inc., a fitness program for pre-school aged children. Perkins-Carpenter has authored many books and articles, including How To Prevent Falls: Better Balance, Independence and Energy in 6 Simple Steps, an innovative system to help seniors reduce injuries and the fears associated with falling. Dr. Perkins-Carpenter continues her work as a consultant, lecturer, teacher and advocate on issues related to fitness and safety for senior citizens.