Social-Service Group Leader Honored for Advocacy on Behalf of Needy Children

The award: Peter B. Goldberg Aramark Building Community Executive Leadership Award

What it recognizes: Chief executives of organizations that are members of the Alliance for Children and Families or the United Neighborhood Centers of America

Who the award is named after: Peter B. Goldberg, who headed Families International, the parent organization of the alliance and neighborhood groups, until he died in August

The winner: Randal Rucker, chief executive of Family Service of Greater Boston

Why he won: “Randal, just like Peter, truly understands that as human-services professionals, we are advocates first and service providers second,” says Susan Dreyfus, chief executive of Families International. “Boston’s most at-risk children and families have benefited from Randal’s commitment to collaboration, as he has brought together his team, public officials, the corporate world, and the private sector to work together to strengthen the entire community.”

Future plans: Mr. Rucker plans to use the $40,000 grant to expand Strong Start, a collaborative program led by Family Service of Greater Boston that places mental-health therapists at urban early-childhood development centers to help children from low-income families as well as their teachers and parents.