Marlee Matlin
Children’s Miracle Achievement Award

When she received the Academy Award for Best Actress and became the youngest person ever to receive that honor, Marlee Matlin accomplished what many would see as her greatest achievement. Yet this highly acclaimed actress is so much more than an Oscar winner—she is an activist who believes in taking a stand and getting personally involved with the causes she cares about. What Matlin cares about most is making children’s lives better.

And she has worked long and hard to do just that. Her work with the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation has helped provide care, support and hope to thousands of children across the U.S. To improve the lives of deaf and hearing impaired children, she has been instrumental in getting Congress to pass closed captioning legislation and encouraging legislators to support advances in assistive technology. Matlin constantly gets involved with many other children’s causes as well, whether it’s helping babies through the Center for the Education of the Infant Deaf, cheering up seriously ill children through the Starlight Foundation, or reaching out to kids with disabilities through VSA Arts, Easter Seals or Best Buddies.

Over the years, Matlin’s volunteering spirit and activism on behalf of children have earned her recognition as a presidential appointee to the Corporation for National Service board. Ever focused on kids, she has also written a children’s book entitled “Deaf Child Crossing,” starred in children’s programming, and is raising four children of her own. Year after year, Matlin’s continuing impact on the lives of children is evident.

Marlee Matlin has received a Best Actress Oscar, a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama, and multiple Emmy Award nominations. She currently stars in NBC’s award-winning “The West Wing.”