Sen. Andy Hill receives Big Time Daddy award

Published 3:11 pm Wednesday, October 15, 2014

The following is a release from the Sen. Andy Hill campaign:

Sen. Andy Hill received the 2014 Big Time Daddy Award from the Washington State Fathers Network in recognition of his legislative work which supports fathers of children with special needs and their families. Hill introduced the VIP Act (SB 6387) this year to provide needed services to individuals with developmental disabilities. The legislation became law this July.

“Not only is this one of the best-named awards I have received but is one of the most personally rewarding,” Hill said. “I can’t express how powerful it was when one of the fathers came up to me, showed me a picture of his son and said ‘because of you, my son will receive services this year.’”

The VIP Act provided respite care for up to 4,000 families who have been on a waitlist for services, some for years. 1,000 individuals with developmental disabilities will receive employment or employment support also as a result of the VIP Act.

“Receiving this award has been truly humbling, and one of the big reasons why I am working so hard to return to the Senate next year,” Hill said. “This makes all of the hard work and time away from my own family worth it.”

Hill, a PTA dad and soccer coach with deep roots in the community, was first elected in 2010 and is currently Chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and a member of the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee. His leadership increased funding for K-12 education, stopped college tuition increases, and provided services for thousands of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Hill is a former Microsoft manager and Harvard Business School graduate. He lives in Redmond with his wife and three children.