Gladys Givens-Barber was sitting at a luncheon table chatting away with peers who work to make the world a better place for children when she was stunned silent.

"They started reading off the history of my employment in the Glades," she said recalling comments from the dais. "And I thought, ‘Did I hear my name?’ I was sort of like glued to the seat because I never expected that."

She heard correctly. Gladys Givens-Barber, Director of NOAH’s Family Services Division, was named the recipient of the Children’s Services Council’s Extra Mile Award which is given annually to an employee of a children's agency in Palm Beach County who excels in job performance and community service. She was given the award April 18 at the council’s 11th annual One Child At A Time Luncheon at the Crown Plaza Hotel in West Palm Beach.

NOAH’s Executive Director, Thomas Roberts, had to go the extra mile to keep the award a secret.

"He told me the agency was receiving an award and said I needed to be there because it was one of my programs that was being awarded," Givens-Barber said. "All the staff knew, too. I saw them all sitting together and I’m thinking he purchased a table for the luncheon, not knowing that they were there for me. "Then, she announced with false indignation, "they didn’t even save me a seat."

The same selflessness that earned her the award also necessitated the secrecy. "She has been working for the betterment of the Glades communities via social services since 1971 or so," Roberts said. "She has labored humbly and virtually unsung for those many years, it was time for her work to receive recognition and CSC recognized her. I worked with them to arrange the surprise, because it was felt she may not have come otherwise."

Even after the shock of her pleasant surprise wore off, it was difficult getting her to reflect on it. As she recollected her thoughts on the luncheon, she was evasive in talking about her own award, but seemed excited to talk about a fellow award winner.

"One of the other good things that happened at the luncheon, is the young man who received the Teacher of the Year Award," Givens-Barber said. "I had a mentoring relationship with him before we knew what mentoring was. I knew him from high school and we had done a lot of things together. So I talked with him afterwards and it was really great."

The young man is Ernest Brown who has been band director at Suncoast High School for nearly two decades. Someone else who Givens-Barber had gone the extra mile for is going the extra mile for others.