FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 18, 2005 |
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The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging Announces 2005 MetLife Foundation Older Volunteers Enrich America Award Recipients
Washington, D.C. - The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) and MetLife Foundation will honor the recipients of the 2005 MetLife Foundation Older Volunteers Enrich America Awards on April 22, 2005. Now in its third year, the awards honor older volunteers who have made outstanding contributions to communities nationwide.
Award recipients will be honored at a special ceremony on Friday, April 22, 2005, 11:30 am to 1:30 pm, at the Phoenix Park Hotel, Washington, D.C. The event is being held in conjunction with National Volunteer Week, April 17-23, a 32-year tradition that recognizes and celebrates the tremendous efforts of volunteers.
Twenty-six award recipients were selected from more than 200 nominations made by volunteer programs and agencies in 47 states and the District of Columbia. Nominees were required to be at least 50 years of age and to have volunteered with the nominating organization for at least one year. Selections in three categories were made with the assistance of members of the Older Volunteers Enrich America Awards Blue Ribbon Panel and Advisory Board. Team Spirit awards honor older volunteers who help other older adults; Mentor awards recognize older volunteers who work with young people and their families; and Community Champion awards recognize those who use their time and talent to make their community a better place to live. The top award recipient in each category is recognized as a Gold Honoree. This year's Gold Honorees are:- Victoria Thornton-Lucas, age 64, of South Ozone Park, New York, earned top recognition in the Community Champion category for seeing a desperate need in her community and responding through the creation of the Bushwick Community Council Service (BCCS) Soup Kitchen and Pantry in 1996. This program now serves more than 30,000 people each year.
- Edward Jagen, age 55, of Stevensville, MD, earned top recognition in the Mentor category for co-founding The Good Knight Network, a program that empowers children and adults to become active citizens and protectors of others through education using a multi-cultural knighthood theme. Mr. Jagen also created educational kits that allow organizations to replicate this innovative program.
- Lucille Brock-Thomas, age 60, of Screven, Georgia, earned top recognition in the Team Spirit category for improving quality of life for older adults through the Faith in Action - "REACH OUT and TOUCH" Agency. Among her many accomplishments, Ms. Brock-Thomas organized and implemented a service that provides seniors access to free and discounted prescription drugs, enabling them to afford the necessities of life without having to compromise basic health care needs.
"We are pleased to join n4a in honoring these 26 outstanding volunteers," said Sibyl Jacobson, president of MetLife Foundation. "They are transforming communities and redefining the older years."
Sandy Markwood, CEO of n4a, concurred. "Every day, the lives of individual Americans and our nation's communities are enriched by the generosity of older volunteers," she said, adding that "We are grateful that MetLife Foundation has made it possible to recognize these 26 selfless human beings and to share their stories to inspire others."
View Complete List of Winners
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The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) is the leading voice on aging issues for Area Agencies on Aging across the country and a champion for Title VI-Native American aging programs in our nation's capital. For more information about n4a, visit www.n4a.org.
MetLife Foundation, established in 1976 by MetLife, supports health, education, civic and cultural programs throughout the United States. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.metlife.org.
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