Impact Update
Celebrating Resilient Parents: 2025 Rock Star Parent Awards
Every year, Parenting Matters has the honor of recognizing extraordinary parents who demonstrate resilience, love, and unwavering dedication to their children. Thanks to the generous support of long-standing donors Dr. Ron Lennon and Dr. Randy Rentfro, three families were awarded the 2025 Rock Star Parent Award. Each of these parents has navigated incredibly challenging paths, facing loss, adversity, and hardship—yet through it all, they have remained steadfast in their commitment to their families.
This year’s honorees include a devoted grandfather who stepped up to raise his granddaughter after adopting her at a young age. His retirement plans took a backseat as he embraced full-time parenting, ensuring she had every opportunity to thrive—homeschooling her, enrolling her in extracurricular classes, and meeting regularly with a Parenting Educator to learn trauma-informed parenting strategies. Along the way, he endured deep personal loss and unexpected reunifications. Despite it all, his faith and resilience remain unwavering. His strength, love, and selflessness define what it means to be a Rock Star Parent.
Another honoree is a courageous mother who has overcome immense personal challenges.
Having endured emotional and physical trauma throughout her life, she initially struggled with self-doubt and uncertainty in her parenting role. Fearful of making mistakes, she hesitated to set boundaries, unsure of how to provide the structure her children needed. Determined to break the cycle of hardship, she sought therapy, engaged in parenting programs, and slowly built the confidence to trust her instincts. She learned to establish authority in her home, creating an environment where her children felt secure, loved, and guided. As she grew stronger, so did her children. Today, she shares her journey with other mothers, offering them hope and encouragement. She has broken free from the past and is creating a future filled with stability, love, and empowerment.
The final honorees are dedicated parents who have faced significant hardships, including language barriers, economic struggles, and the complexities of raising two children. When their teenage son struggled with peer pressure and made choices that led him down a difficult path, they took immediate action—seeking professional help, providing guidance, and ensuring he had the support he needed to turn his life around. Their daughter faced her own challenges, enduring severe bullying that left her withdrawn and fearful. Refusing to let her suffer in silence, her parents made sacrifices to ensure her emotional well-being, advocating for her needs and finding a school environment where she could thrive. With both children now in a stable and healthy place, these parents feel a renewed sense of peace and use their experiences to support other families facing similar challenges. Their story is a powerful reminder that with resilience, love, and commitment, families can overcome even the most daunting obstacles.
These three families embody the true spirit of the Rock Star Parent Award—demonstrating perseverance, love, and an unwavering dedication to their children’s well-being. Their stories inspire us all, reminding us that even in the face of hardship, parents have the power to create lasting, positive change for their families.
We extend our deepest gratitude to Dr. Ron Lennon and Dr. Randy Rentfro for making this recognition possible year after year. Their generosity allows us to celebrate these incredible parents and their remarkable journeys. To all the parents out there facing challenges with strength and love—you are the true rock stars.