MEDIA CONTACT:
Gina Davis, gdavis@zerotothree.org, 202-864-2934
Morgan Brill, mbrill@westendstrategy.com, 845-596-5328
Washington, DC — ZERO TO THREE, the country’s leading nonprofit dedicated to ensuring all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life, is proud to recognize Dr. Joan Lombardi with its 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s LEARN Conference. The award recognizes individuals who have made remarkable contributions to improving the lives of infants, toddlers and their families.
For more than 50 years, Dr. Lombardi has been a trailblazer in child development and social policy. Her vision and leadership have not only shaped the foundation of early childhood programs in the United States but have also inspired change worldwide.
“Dr. Lombardi has spent her career breaking new ground for babies, families and those who care for them,” said Matthew Melmed, executive director of ZERO TO THREE. “She played an important role in the creation of Early Head Start, mentored generations of leaders and has never stopped advocating for what babies and families need to thrive. Her vision has created a lasting legacy of hope and opportunity that will continue to guide us for decades to come.”
Dr. Lombardi’s leadership has been felt at every level. She has held senior roles in two U.S. presidential administrations. She served as the first director of the Child Care Bureau under President Clinton, and was part of the team that created Early Head Start in 1994, which continues to support pregnant women, infants and toddlers from low-income families. She later returned to federal service under President Obama as the first deputy assistant secretary for Early Childhood Development, helping to strengthen and expand supports for young children and families.
“Dr. Lombardi has transformed the way our country and the world think about babies,” said Walter Gilliam, president of ZERO TO THREE’s Board of Directors. “She has shown us that when we put families first, communities flourish. This award isn’t only about her extraordinary past; it’s about the countless children who will grow up stronger and healthier because of the foundation she helped build.”
Dr. Lombardi has collaborated with UNICEF, the World Bank and many other international organizations. She was also a founder of The Birth to Five Policy Alliance (now The Alliance for Early Success) and Global Leaders for Young Children, programs that continue to strengthen and expand the early childhood field.
In recognition of her lifelong dedication, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wrote in a letter of support:
“Dr. Lombardi is a celebrated champion for young children and has spent her entire career successfully advocating for their healthy development and well-being. I can think of no finer candidate to receive your great honor. For over five decades now, our nation’s children and families have benefitted from Dr. Lombardi’s remarkable leadership and policy expertise.”
Today, Dr. Lombardi continues her work as adjunct professor and principal advisor at the Center on Early Childhood at Stanford University, co-founder of the Georgetown Collaborative on Global Children’s Issues and adjunct professor and senior scholar at the Georgetown Thrive Center for Children, Families and Communities.
