Annual Dinner Honored Cornerstone Award Recipients, Volunteers, and DSP of the Year
(October 28, 2010) - During its Annual Dinner on Thursday, October 28, Erie Homes for Children and Adults (EHCA): honored four local organizations with the Cornerstone Award for their financial support; recognized thirty-five (35) volunteers for their service over the past year; and celebrated a direct support professional (DSP) for her accomplishment on being named “DSP of the Year in Pennsylvania.” The event gathered nearly one hundred (100) of the agency’s closest supporters for a social hour, dinner, and program, which also featured guest speaker Brian Baxter, a consultant to EHCA from S. R. Wojdak & Associates.
The Cornerstone Award, given for substantial financial support, was presented to four local organizations: Edith L. Trees Charitable Trust; The Erie Community Foundation; Erie Insurance Group; and March of Dimes.
“Each of these four organizations have shown generous financial support to our programming, keeping the services we offer an important resource for those living in the communities we serve,” says Paul Carpenedo, executive director. “We are truly blessed to have organizations and individuals who are so generous.”
In addition to the award recipients, several volunteers were on hand to accept a gift as a token of the agency’s appreciation.
“Every year, we have a team of dedicated, passionate, and hard-working volunteers who embrace our mission and strive for EHCA to reach the highest in quality in their respective fields and interests,” says Carpenedo. “We lean on not only their extra hands to lighten our load, but also their expertise, determination, and grace. They become our role models and our heroes.”
After the award ceremony, Barb Sanders, a 30-year DSP at EHCA, was presented with a special proclamation from County Executive Barry Grossman’s office. Sanders had been named by ANCOR, a national organization whose acronym stands for American Network for Community Options and Resources, the “DSP of the Year in Pennsylvania,” and traveled to Washington, D. C., in September to accept her award at an ANCOR conference. The proclamation made by Grossman declares that this honor is appreciated by the county where Sanders lives and works.
“We are privileged that Barb has chosen EHCA for her lifelong career, and we are honored to have someone with Barb’s passion be a part of our family,” says Carpenedo.
The event culminated with a speaking presentation by Baxter, who emphasized that advocacy and community efforts can make a difference in government funding.
Carpenedo also shared with the audience a list of highlights and successes the agency has experienced over the past year.