Risa was honored with the Silver Award from Parenting Publications of America* for Investigative Reporting (Circulation of 55,000 or more) on March 5, 2011 for “Hidden Danger in the Suburbs,” which appeared in Brooklyn Family, Queens Family, Bronx/Riverdale Family, Staten Island Family and Long Island Family, in September, 2010.
The judges, from the University of Missouri School of Journalism, commented as follows: “This article examines the tragedy of driveway backover deaths of children. Using local cases, the writer goes into depth and explains how government and parent activists are trying to prevent future deaths.”
Her “Around Town” section articles entitled “Nursery School Naturalists” (June, 2011) and “Discover Wave Hill” (July, 2011) in Bronx/Riverdale Family were recognized as finalists at the March 3, 2012 Parenting Media Association (“PMA”) Awards in the “Column: Family Fun” category for periodicals with a circulation of 30,001-54,999. The “finalist” designation was created in place of the Silver and Bronze awards, as the PMA restructured their award categories, according to Susan Weiss, PMA Vice-President.
The University of Missouri judges commented as follows: “These columns solve the age-old riddle of family fun that doesn’t break the bank, and do so in an active, fun voice. The reader has everything they need to plan the next outing.”
Risa was also the recipient of a United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism award for “excellence in year-round programming” for a curriculum she created, working with five, six and seven year-olds.
*Now known as Parenting Media Association (“PMA”).