Founding Director of Sophia Academy named
Georgia Mother of the Year 2010
Marie Corrigan, Founding Director of Sophia Academy and Brookhaven resident, was named Georgia Mother of the Year on Saturday, February 20th. The award, given by American Mothers, Inc. honors “a devoted mother who is strengthening her family, home and community.” Mrs. Corrigan will now serve this organization throughout the coming year as role model and spokesperson for motherhood.
Mrs. Corrigan confronted many obstacles as a young mother. Most difficult was giving birth to an extremely premature, low birth weight child, Caroline, whom most doctors speculated had little chance of recovery and would not learn to walk, talk or be able to gain normal cognitive skills. Corrigan spent the next 6 ½ years caring for her child while she was on oxygen, and would spend several years trying to ensure that her daughter’s learning disability and educational needs were met. While this may seem an insurmountable burden to others, Mrs. Corrigan embraced the challenge and used the opportunity to better her community as a whole. Finding no school that offered a rigorous curriculum, athletics and fine arts for students with learning differences, she established her own, Sophia Academy.
There are few one-pound babies who have accomplished as much as Caroline has in 21 years- physically, mentally, emotionally and socially. Her accomplishments include graduating from high school, being awarded a $2,500.00 scholarship from the Roswell Woman’s Club, receiving a drama scholarship and a HOPE merit scholarship and becoming an active member of a college sorority.
State Representative Edward Lindsey, House Majority Whip for the state of Georgia, recommended Mrs. Corrigan for Georgia Mother of the Year, stating “Ms. Corrigan is a strong and courageous mother, a leader in her community and a catalyst for legislative change. The state of Georgia owes a great deal to her for her efforts and I can think of no greater honor than for her to receive the Georgia Mother of the Year award.” Lindsey goes on to talk about the work Mrs. Corrigan and he did in the Georgia General Assembly in 2007 and 2008. During that time, they worked closely together on the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Act. The act enables public school children with learning disabilities to be eligible for vouchers so that they may attend another public or private school in order to better address their educational needs.
Other nominators who wrote on behalf of Mrs. Corrigan included the Sophia Academy Board of Trustees., Father Frank McNamee, pastor of Christ the King Catholic church and John L. O’Connor, Executive Director of the Department of Special Services for the DeKalb County School System. Craig Mullins, Chairman of the Board of Trustees writes “Thanks to Marie’s efforts, many families now have the opportunity for their children with learning differences to be educated in a Christian School that provides a specialized academic environment suited to their needs, and a full school experience that includes art, music, drama and physical education.”
Mrs. Corrigan is married to Victor Corrigan, M.D. and they reside in Brookhaven with their four children, Caroline, Louise, Mellie and Victor. Parenting four children with very different gifts and interests, Marie has successfully guided and encouraged each of her children. As Founding Director of Sophia Academy, she does the same thing for every child who attends the school. Although it has been many years since Caroline graduated from Sophia Academy, Marie continues to work tirelessly on behalf of the students.
In April Mrs. Corrigan will travel to New York for the American Mothers, Inc. 75th National Convention where state Mothers of the Year will share their wisdom of motherhood and the National Mother of the Year will be announced.
The ideals of American Mothers, Inc. began in the heart and mind of Anna Reeves Jarvis as she sought to heal the damage done to families caught in the conflict of the Civil War. By organizing a day of love and friendship across battle lines, this simple observance grew into the national holiday known as Mother's Day for which American Mothers is the official sponsor. American Mothers, Inc. was officially organized in 1950 as a division of the Golden Rule Foundation and was incorporated under the laws of New York. It became an independent, non-profit organization in 1954. However, the first National Mother of the Year was presented by Honorary Chairman, Sarah Delano Roosevelt in 1935 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. Every year since then, American Mothers has named a remarkable mother from nominees among the 50 states, District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for this important honor. Many outstanding individuals throughout America have served as officers, leaders, members and supporters of this organization such as Sarah Delano Roosevelt, J.C. Penny, Mamie Eisenhower, Phyllis Marriott and Hillary Rodham Clinton. American Mothers is an inter-faith, non-political, non-profit organization that continues to recognize the invaluable contribution mothers make to the future success and happiness of children and society. The national headquarters is located in the Washington D.C. area.
