The Liebers were virtually presented the award in honor of their leadership in the community and dedication to their son Ethan, a recent Clarke Philadelphia graduate. Ethan is one of 500 boys in the United States with Hunter Syndrome, an extremely rare genetic disease caused by a missing or malfunctioning enzyme.
Shortly after Ethan was diagnosed with Hunter Syndrome, at age two, the Liebers expanded their advocacy efforts nationally in partnership with Sock-it 2 Hunter Syndrome Foundation. Their commitment to advocate for life-changing funds and dedication to families on a similar path is inspiring.
“Even in the toughest moments, the Liebers persevere in supporting Ethan so that he can just be a kid,” says Judy Sexton, director of Clarke Philadelphia.
During Ethan’s four years at Clarke, his dad, Steve, was a regular in the classroom. He created “STEM with Steve,” a science-based curriculum that presented an engaging learning experience for Ethan and his friends at Clarke. Today, Ethan is headed to kindergarten at Stratford Friends.
“The Liebers continue to embrace the support of Clarke, the Hunter Syndrome community, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and their Jewish community,” explains Jeana Novak, early intervention coordinator at Clarke Philadelphia. “Through their unending optimism, they have infused each of these groups with the belief that every day brings something to celebrate and something to share.”
