Valley Council for Health & Human Services
Luncheon Speaker, Dr. Anthony Cernera, President of Sacred Heart University, is shown with Marilyn Cormack and Bill Powanda. |
The Valley Council of Health and Human Service Organizations (VCHHSO) presented the Lewis Savitsky Staff Excellence Award and the "VCHHSO Agency of the Year" Award at its annual staff training day, Thursday, April 24, 1997, at Derby High School.
William C. Powanda of Griffin Hospital received the Savitsky Staff Award for "life-time achievement as an employee in the nonprofit community in going above and beyond his/her daily job duties to positively impact the quality of life in the Lower Naugatuck Valley in multiple ways." The award is named in honor of Lewis Savitsky, a long time employee of Valley United Way who was active not only with Valley United Way, but also with multiple groups in the community.
Birmingham Group Health Services, Inc. was awarded the "Agency of the Year" Award as "a nonprofit agency whose employees and volunteers exemplify excellence in the community and whose programs and services made a significant and lasting contribution to the health and well being of the residents of the Lower Naugatuck Valley."
"We're extremely proud that we can honor the hard work and dedication of both Bill and the Birmingham Group," said Jack Walsh, Executive Director of Valley United Way and Chairman of the VCHHSO. "Both have shown a tremendous dedication to making this community a better place to live, work, and play."
Powanda is Vice-President of Support Services for Griffin Hospital. His years of service to the Valley community have included a stint as a State Senator, Chairman of the Coordinating Committee of Healthy Valley 2000, and Chairman of the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, as well a membership on many local Board of Directors. He lives in Seymour with his wife, Glynnis.
The Birmingham Group Health Services, Inc. is the Valley's leading provider of mental health, domestic violence, and substance abuse services. Located in Ansonia, the Group includes the Valley Mental Health Center, The Umbrella Program for victims of domestic violence, and the Valley Substance Abuse Action Council, a substance abuse prevention program. Since being created in 1979, it has grown to a $5 million organization with a staff of 85 employees. In the past several years, it has taken the lead on several key issues in the Valley, including the creation of a community crisis team, a family violence task force, and numerous other projects.
More than 80 employees of the Valley's nonprofit sector attended the 1996 workshop.
The theme of this year's training was "Keeping Your Focus" and the twelve workshops at the conference included sessions on welfare reform, using the Internet, working with the media, and many more topics. The keynote speaker was Nancy Hadley, Executive Director of the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and the lunch speaker was Dr. Anthony Cernera, President of Sacred Heart University.
Back to Valley Council home
page