MetLife Foundation and The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging Honor Older Volunteers in Washington, DC.The Older Volunteers Enrich America Awards Program Celebrates and Promotes Volunteering Among Adults Over the Age of 50WASHINGTON, May 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) announced recipients of the 2010 MetLife Foundation Older Volunteers Enrich America Awards. The program, now in its eighth year, honors the exemplary contributions of older volunteers and promotes volunteering among older adults nationwide. The award-winning volunteers, who range in age from 59 to 95 years, were in Washington today to attend a ceremony in their honor. "Every town -- no matter how small or large -- can use the time and talent of volunteers to strengthen communities," said Dennis White, president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. , MetLife Foundation. "We are pleased to join n4a in honoring 26 older volunteers who are making a positive difference in the lives of individuals and families and improving the overall quality of community life. They are an inspiration to people of all ages." The award winners, selected by a blue ribbon panel, are recognized in three categories: Community Champion, which honors those who use their time and talent to make their community a better place to live; Mentor, which recognizes older volunteers who are devoted to working with young people and their families; and Team Spirit, which pays tribute to older volunteers who assist older adults. The top award recipient in each category is recognized as a Gold Honoree: Barbara, 78, and Ira, 79, Smith of Acton, Massachusetts Acton is a suburban town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States about twenty-one miles west-northwest of Boston along Route 2 west of Concord and about eleven miles (18 km) southwest of Lowell. The population was 20,331 at the 2000 census. , earned top recognition in the Community Champion category. Barbara and Ira launched Household Goods Recycling of Massachusetts (HGRM) in their garage in 1990. HGRM is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit organization that accepts donated household goods and distributes them free of charge to individuals and families in need. What started as a plan to help one family has grown to an organization of 300 volunteers that now helps close to 4,000 families a year make a home. The Smiths continue to serve as volunteer co-executive directors of HGRM. In 2009 alone, HGRM collected and distributed more than 31,000 pieces of major furniture, kitchen, medical, bedding and baby care items as well as 11,000 boxes of smaller household goods, free of charge. Because of the Smith's hard work and dedication, HGRM is now the largest provider of direct household assistance in New England New England, name applied to the region comprising six states of the NE United States—Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. The region is thought to have been so named by Capt. . Donald Bend, 60, of Omaha, Nebraska “Omaha” redirects here. For other uses, see Omaha (disambiguation). Omaha is the largest city in the State of Nebraska, United States. It is the county seat of Douglas County.GR6 As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 390,007. earned top recognition in the Mentor category for being a "Big Brother" to a young man who experienced a brain injury at birth and as a result suffers fromdevelopmental delays and multipledisabilities. At the time of their pairing, Donald's "Little Brother" Alex was enrolled entirely in special resource classes because he needed extra time to complete work. Today, Alex is a high school senior who takes regular classes, is a member of the National Honor Society, and maintains a GPA GPA abbr. grade point average Noun 1. GPA - a measure of a student's academic achievement at a college or university; calculated by dividing the total number of grade points received by the total number attempted of 3.6. His mother attributes much of his confidence and success to his relationship with Don, who spent every Saturday of the last five years with Alex. Don's volunteerism helped Big Brothers Big Sisters of Midland raise more than $380,000 when he and Alex shared their story with potential donors in 2009. Jack Scudder, 74, of Newport News, Virginia Newport News is an independent city in Virginia. It is on the southwestern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending to its mouth at Hampton Roads. The origin of the unusual name of "Newport News" is unclear. earned top recognition in the Team Spirit category for volunteering to drive seniors to doctor appointments and medical procedures as part of the Medtran program. Despite his own mobility limitations due to a spinal cord injury Spinal Cord Injury Definition Spinal cord injury is damage to the spinal cord that causes loss of sensation and motor control. Description Approximately 10,000 new spinal cord injuries (SCIs) occur each year in the United States. more than a decade ago, in 2009 alone, Jack donated 540 hours to drive 10,129 miles and completed 135 medical trips without ever asking for money for gasoline. Prior to retirement, Jack served 21 years in the military and completed two tours in Vietnam. He has been recognized by local TV Channel 3 as a Community Star and by the Daily Press newspaper as an outstanding community volunteer. In 2008, he was one of ten receiving the TV Channel 10 "Ten Who Care" awards in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Sandy Markwood, CEO of n4a, added, "Everyone wins through volunteerism - local markets get stronger, older adults remain engaged in their communities, and individuals in need of community support are able to receive help. Valuable programs that benefit our most vulnerable citizens continue to be cut around the country as states and localities are facing difficult budget situations. Fortunately, thousands of volunteers like our 26 honorees here in Washington today are stepping in to enrich the lives of their fellow Americans. We are grateful that MetLife Foundation has made it possible to recognize their inspirational work at a national level." All of the honorees will receive engraved gifts, and the organizations that host the volunteers will receive monetary awards. National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) is the leading voice on aging issues for Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) across the country and a champion for Title VI Native American aging programs. n4a's primary mission is to build the capacity of its members to help older persons and persons with disabilities live with dignity and choices in their homes and communities for as long as possible. (www.n4a.org) MetLife Foundation was established by MetLife in 1976 to carry on its longstanding tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Grants support health, education, civic and cultural programs throughout the United States. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.metlife.org. In addition to the Gold Honorees, 22 individuals were chosen as the Silver Honorees for their outstanding volunteer contributions. 2010 MetLife Foundation Older Volunteers Enrich America Award - Silver Honor Recipients Community Champion Category Charlie Davis, 82, Rebuilding Together Omaha, Inc., Omaha, Nebraska; Edward Ferguson, 76, Collier County Sheriff's Office Volunteer Program, Naples, Florida; Deb Matthews, 59, LSS LSS Lutheran Social Services LSS Logistics Support System LSS Lean Six Sigma LSS Line Sharing Service (telecommunications, Australia) LSS Legal Services Society (Canada) LSS Law Students' Society Senior Nutrition Program/Clearwater & Hubbard Co., Bemidji, Minnesota; Mari Terbrueggen, 71, The Senior Life Foundation, Inc., Jacksonville, Florida; Anna Mae Tomka, 73, United Way of the Midlands, Omaha, Nebraska Mentor Category Raymond Unger, 80, Bayless High School "Meal Runners," Saint Louis, Missouri; Doris Watkins, 90, The Shelter, Omaha, Nebraska Team Spirit Category James W. Ayre, 72, Volunteer Connections to Central Alabama, Inc., Equality, Alabama; Richard Bear, 71, York County Area Agency on Aging Volunteer Programs; Dover, Pennsylvania; Ruth Candeub Avins, 82, Senior Medicare Patrol of New Jersey, Edison, New Jersey Edison Township (usually known as Edison) is a township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township had a total population of 97,687, making it at the time the fifth largest municipality in New Jersey. As of the U.S. ; Marilyn Fantino, 77, JABA Food Bag Program, Charlottesville, Virginia; Mae Giesner, 71, Benefits Assistance Program, Scottsdale, Arizona; Sandra Jackson, 68, Partners In Care-Ride Partners Transportation, Severna Park, Maryland; Virginia Lemire, 73, Minuteman Senior Services Volunteer Program, Lincoln, Massachusetts; Gertrude "Trudi" Myers, 77, Senior Companion Program, Denver, Colorado; Mary Anne Page, 78, Southeast Minneapolis Meals on Wheels n. 1. A program that delivers hot meals to persons, such as the elderly or disabled, who are confined to their homes and unable to cook for themselves; also, the meals thus delivered. Such programs are usually conducted by governmental or charitable organizations. , Minneapolis, Minnesota; Duane Phillips, 62, Senior Legal Hotline Volunteer Program, Sacramento, California; Joze Pihlar, 77, Respite Connection, Papillion, Nebraska; Charles Pollard, 95, Waxter Center Volunteer Program, Baltimore, Maryland; Larry Rivers, 68, Health Insurance Counseling Program with the Senior LinkAge Line, Apple Valley, Minnesota Apple Valley is a city located in northwestern Dakota County in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and a suburb of the Twin Cities. It was incorporated in 1969, and was known before then as Lebanon Township. ; Betty Thacker, 82, Mobile Meals, Knoxville, Tennessee; Hilda Woel, 71, Montgomery County Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, Silver Spring, Maryland Not to be confused with Silver Springs. Silver Spring is an urbanized, unincorporated area in Montgomery County, Maryland, USA. After Baltimore and Columbia, Silver Spring is the third most populous Census Designated Place in Maryland. .
SOURCE MetLife Foundation |
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