Jill Birnbaum, senior vice president of Field Advocacy Operations, American Heart Association, was among the champions of children’s health who took top honors at the 2018 National Forum Public Policy Awards presentation in Washington, D.C., this week.

Jill received the Forum’s individual honor for strategic leadership of Voices for Healthy Kids and American Heart Association state policy efforts. Voices for Healthy Kids has landed 134 policy wins in under five years, ensuring better health for about 170 million people nationwide.

The Horizon Foundation and Sugar Free Kids Maryland received the Forum’s organizational honor for working to reduce health risks associated with sugary drink consumption statewide and advocating for passage of the Healthy Kids’ Meal Bill in Baltimore, which makes water, milk and 100 percent fruit juice the default drink options for all restaurant kids’ meals.