On Tuesday, May 19, 2009 State Champion Awards were presented as part of the opening session of the Region VII Head Start Association Leadership Conference.  The award recognizes leadership on issues that positively impact young children.  The state of Kansas chose to recognize Barry Downing, Wichita, as their Champion.  Glenda Wilcox, executive director of Child Start, Inc. in Wichita, introduced Mr. Downing and presented the award.

Raised in a poor neighborhood in south Wichita, Downing was reminded by his mother that he could be and do anything he wanted to, and thus focused on improving his lot in life.  Over a 40 plus year career in business, he has demonstrated his dedication, creativity, and industry to start and build several companies in various fields.  Downing now applies this same vision, entrepreneurial principles and determination in charitable endeavors.  This includes the development of The Opportunity Project (TOP), designed to make a difference in the lives of Wichita children in poverty as well as to change the way people think about early at-risk education and to improve at-risk early education environments in Kansas and across the nation.