Founders Awards
Each year DONA International recognizes doulas and others for their contribution to the field through our Founders Awards. These awards honor the life’s work and legacies of the five founders of DONA International; Annie Kennedy, Dr. John H. Kennell, Dr. Marshall Klaus, Dr. Phyllis Klaus, and Penny Simkin. We are accepting nominations until September 15, 2023, for this year’s award cycle.
The Penny Simkin Award
This Doula Spirit and Mentorship Award honors doulas who show extraordinary doula spirit through their outstanding efforts in promoting and caring for doulas and childbearing people in their communities. (Individual Doula Award)
The Phyllis Klaus Award
This DONA International Award honors doulas who make outstanding efforts to have a positive impact on parent-infant bonding. (Individual Doula Award)
The John Kennell and Marshall Klaus Award
With the goal of improving perinatal-child care, the DONA International Research Award recognizes excellence in conducting, organizing, analyzing, presenting or publishing research as it relates to the effects of doula care during birth and/or postpartum. The recipient has shown a good understanding of what constitutes doula care and has contributed to the evidence-based body of studies, providing direction to doulas and perinatal health care providers. (Individual or Group Research Award)
The Annie Kennedy Award
This DONA International Award recognizes excellence in a doula group. The recipient group has shown the unwavering vision necessary for a group of doulas to become and remain successful, to grow and to serve its membership. This group develops collegial relationships and works as a team to provide services within its community to benefit doulas and families. This group has established a model that can be recreated successfully by other groups. (Doula Group Award)