The 2020 winners of the Golden Leaf Awards include:
The 2020 DSP Excellence Golden Leaf Award Winner is Teresa Swank. Swank was recognized for going over and above her duties as a DSP by exhibiting selflessness and caring, and she’s been a provider for 14 years, regularuly volunteers time and donates money to improving the lives of the individuals she serves.
The 2020 Donnis Bailey Self-Advocacy Golden Leaf Award Winner is Jeremiah Sherman. Sherman started and hosts a self-advocacy group for young adults, he encouraged an adaptive dance classmate to perform in the annual Nutcracker and represented individuals' point of view to the State during the Clark DD accreditation process.
The Rosemary Paxson Golden Leaf Award Winner is Angela Ward of Beyond the Looking Glass Gallery. Ward has a passion for working with people of all abilities to explore how art can provide a therapeutic outlet and she organized a public art show for several individuals to showcase their work and is mentoring them to help them establish their own business.
The Champion City Employer of the Year Golden Leaf Award Winner is OIC. OIC has employed Jim, a person with disabilities, for 18 years. The staff treats Jim like a member of their family and they recognize the value he brings to the community and the benefits to everyone of inclusion.
The Dr. F.F. Mueller Visionary Golden Leaf Award Winner is Kay Hudson. Hudson worked for Clark DD for 30 years in the transportation and education departments and she was a member of, and participated in, the MRDD Mother’s Club, and organized their card party fundraisers for 25 years. Now, she continues to volunteer for Special Olympics fundraisers like the annual garage sale, as well as coach track and field, and she ran the ARC program for many years.
The winners were recognized during a video presentation on Wednesday on the Clark DD YouTube page, the release stated. Kerry Pedraza, Executive Director of the United Way of Clark, Champaign, and Madison Counties, was the Master of Ceremonies, and the keynote speaker was former NFL player, author, and CEO Shawn Harper.
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