Pennsylvania Parents of the Year 2006
E. D. Hill, Fox News channel host and author congratulates Oscar and Sharon Rossum as Pennsylvania parents of the year
OSCAR AND SHARON ROSSUM of York, Pennsylvania are the parents of six beautiful children ranging in age from 12 to 20 and have been married for 28 years. Oscar is the senior pastor and founder of Mt. Zion Community Fellowship Church and the President of Pennsylvania’s first public school to be converted into a Charter School- with over 700 students and 100 staff. But these are voluntary positions-he has worked with Tyco Electronics for 22 years to earn the support of his large family!
Daughter Carissa, 18, just graduated from high school with honors and a 4.2 grade-point average. The oldest daughter, Ciara, was President of her graduating class two years ago, and also was a star athlete. The children have all received honors for academics, sports and/or music. They are involved in many extracurricular activities including PSI (Postponing Sexual Involvement), Future Leaders of York, National Honor Society, Student Council, Black and Latino Male Task Force, etc. In March, 2004, the five oldest, having formed a singing quintet, won first place at the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem, NY. This was after winning first place in the Apollo on Tour Contest at the Strand Capital Theatre in York City, PA in February, 2004.
The Rossums are known for making their home available to youth of all ages at all hours. They also took in Jylieq, a youth who had lost his biological father in a tragic situation, as a member of their family. It is little wonder that the Rossums have been honored by the city of York, given keys to the city, among a number of other awards.
Lourdes Swarts
President, Pennsylvania Family Coalition
Pennsylvania Parents of the Year 2005
Douglas and Fidelia Friedman of Harrisburg, PA have been married for 17 years and have 3 children-Samuel, 16, Eric, 13 and Rebecca, 10 yrs old. They met in Mexico City , where both at the time were journalists. Their home is one where tolerance and love for differences in people is the norm. He is white, was born Jewish and speaks with a northern East Coast accent. She is dark-skinned, from a Catholic family, and speaks with a strong Mexican accent. Their children have grown up knowing to love and respect others no matter their race or religion. Both are now teachers; she to kindergarten, he to university students at Pennsylvania State University – Harrisburg
While both are very active in community efforts, the Friedmans’ story is one also of heroic efforts to provide a loving and stable home for their children, in spite of desperate battles with life-threatening personal illness and a wide range of medical problems that their children have and are enduring. Douglas has coached soccer for youth teams for 13 years, serves a number of community organizations by providing free marketing consultation, etc. Fidelia serves as Treasurer for Mosaico, the Latino student group, and is a Board Member of Estamos Unidos, a Latino community group, and also is Editor of its well-respected newsletter. Both are very active in their synagogue
Their daughter, Becky, was born with many developmental problems. For the first 5 years of her life, she was fed through surgically inserted tubes. Every night, she must receive a growth hormone injection (which her loving brothers often administer). Douglas and Fidelia have battled with her illnesses, uncooperative school administrators, and their own health problems to insure that Becky could receive the best education possible. Their son, Sam, has Tourette’s Syndrome. By the nonstop efforts of his parents, Sam is a happy teenager, a Boy Scout, active athlete and B student. Their other son, Eric is an honor student who has won many academic awards (for example, he reached the regional Spelling Bee finals 3 years in a row.)
Three years ago, Douglas developed cancer. His treatments included over 4 months of chemotherapy, followed by a month of radiation treatment. His oncologist said that Douglas ‘ reaction to the chemotherapy was the most difficult that he had ever seen in a patient. Despite the ravages of chemo, he continued teaching throughout the treatment, missing only one day during the whole time. He and Fidelia also maintained their home as a stable environment for the children, taking turns in driving them to their sports, school events, etc.
Despite all of their challenges, the Friedmans continue to volunteer with community organizations, their children’s schools and their synagogue. Their example of unceasing service to the community in spite of great adversity continually inspires all those who know this special family.
Pennsylvania Parents of the Year 2004
Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell with Pennsylvania Parents of the Year James Robert and Angela Vaughn (right); and their daughter Stephanie (left).
Douglas and Fidelia Friedman of Harrisburg, PA have been married for 17 years and have 3 children-Samuel, 16, Eric, 13 and Rebecca, 10 yrs old. They met in Mexico City , where both at the time were journalists. Their home is one where tolerance and love for differences in people is the norm. He is white, was born Jewish and speaks with a northern East Coast accent. She is dark-skinned, from a Catholic family, and speaks with a strong Mexican accent. Their children have grown up knowing to love and respect others no matter their race or religion. Both are now teachers; she to kindergarten, he to university students at Pennsylvania State University – Harrisburg