Dr. Karyn B. Purvis, renowned children’s advocate and director of the Institute of Child Development at TCU, received the James Hammerstein Award from Only Make Believe Monday, Nov. 14 at the organization’s gala in New York City. Only Make Believe is a non-profit organization that creates and performs interactive theater for children in hospitals and care facilities.

 

The James Hammerstein Award is given annually to honor someone who has displayed outstanding dedication to children in need. This is the 12th year the award has been presented. Dena Hammerstein founded Only Make Believe in honor of her late husband, James Hammerstein, successful theater director and producer, and son of the late Oscar Hammerstein.

 

Acclaimed actors Deborra-Lee Furness and her husband, Hugh Jackman, brought Dr. Purvis and her work to the attention of Only Make Believe. “We came across Karyn’s work during the Intercountry Adoption Summit in New York and through our advocacy for kids, and we wanted to share her magic with the world,” Furness said. Maricha Miles, managing director of OMB added, “As soon as we watched the videos of Dr. Purvis we were all so moved by the work she is doing and the effect it is having on them [the children.]”

 

Previous recipients of The James Hammerstein Award include Laura Armitage, Dr. Cecilia McCarton and Karen LeFrak. Recipients were chosen because they are inspirational to the work of Only Make Believe and help children in need everywhere.

 

Dr. Purvis is the director of the Institute of Child Development at TCU. She developed the Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) model with Dr. David Cross, and co-authored The Connected Child: Bringing Hope and Healing to your Adoptive Family, a bestseller in adoption books. Dr. Purvis is an expert witness in court cases of child abuse, testifies for state and national legislation and writes for scientific journals and parent magazines. She has conducted training across the United States and in England, Iceland, Scotland, Romania, Ethiopia and Rwanda.

 

Dr. Purvis is a past recipient of the T. Berry Brazelton, M.D.Infant Mental Health Advocacy Award, a statewide award for child advocacy. The National Council for Adoption honored her with the title of Distinguished Fellow in Adoption and Child Development. Governor Rick Perry appointed Dr. Purvis as Presiding Officer of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Committee on Licensing Standards, charged with addressing safety and welfare of vulnerable children in foster care.