Houston ISD Superintendent Terry Grier has been named a “Champion of Children” by the Children’s Defense Fund and will be honored at the organization’s Beat the Odds Awards Luncheon in Houston on May 21.

Grier and Dr. Charles D. Fraser, Jr., pediatric surgeon-in-chief at Texas Children’s Hospital, will be honored for their “outstanding leadership and service to children and families in our community” by CDF and its Texas Advisory Board.

“We would like to thank you for recognizing the strong connection between healthcare and education, and for being such a strong advocate for connecting kids to coverage,” said Patrick Bresette, CDF’s Texas executive director, in a letter notifying Grier of the honor. “We are so grateful for your leadership and all you have done for Houston children and families and moving education forward.”

Grier expressed admiration for CDF. “It’s especially meaningful for me to be honored by this group, which has long been a powerful voice for our nation’s youngsters to help close gaps in education, healthcare, and other fundamental needs and which works with us so closely,” he said. “CDF originated the ‘Leave No Child Behind’ concept in its motto, and that is our daily mission in HISD.”

CDF is a nonprofit national child advocacy organization, founded in 1973 by Marian Wright Edelman, to promote equity for youngsters through research, lobbying, and direct programs that fight poverty, abuse and neglect, and support a moral and spiritual foundation.

Edelman will be a special guest at the luncheon, which will also honor Houston-area students who overcame adversity to excel in school, and who will awarded Beat the Odds scholarships.