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2010 Awards Dinner Honorees
Dr. Peggy Russell
The AGE Community Service Award recognizes an individual who has chosen to provide services benefiting older adults.
Working with frail seniors who have complex health and emotional issues is the challenge that brings Dr Russell the most satisfaction.
She has served as medical director at both Seton and St. David's---working to bring a continuum of care for the elderly to the Austin area. Dr. Russell is the president and founder of Austin Geriatric Specialists, and medical director of several of the facilities of Senior Care Centers.
Dr. Russell has been a pioneer in the delivery of in-facility medical care and treatment in Austin. Her passion for frail, geriatric patients has proven to help many local seniors in receiving the help and medical care they need without constant trips to the hospital.
Dr. Russell has been an advocate on behalf of care for the elderly, and central to the move to evidenced based care. Her sensitivity to the needs of the elderly, and the compassion and respect she has for her patients is the hallmark of her work.
In an era where the elderly have difficulty finding a physician, Dr. Russell welcomes them with open arms.
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Patti Clark
The AGE Philanthropy Award honors a person or organization whose extraordinary generosity has supported work on behalf of older adults.
Patti is involved in many areas of care and concern in her community-Dripping Springs. As a child Patti visited her grandparents in different nursing home settings and became motivated to make certain elderly people received good care.
When Patti and her husband moved to Dripping Springs her mother in law moved into Hill Country Care. When she learned of their financial struggles-- a facility giving excellent care yet threatened with closure due to bankruptcy, Patti almost single handedly pulled them out of the situation. Her efforts with The Friends of Hill County Care lead to her creation of The Friends Foundation.
The Friends Foundation began and sustains a hot, delivered meal to elders called "Our Daily Bread". They also provided "The Butterfly Program" ( end of life program ) and a "Request for Assistance" program (funds for low income seniors funds).
Patti's efforts with The Friends Foundation highlights her exceptional ability to engage people, maximize resources, raise funds and increase the awareness of the needs of the elderly in Dripping Springs. Services for elders in rural areas are some of the rarest services to find and hardest to begin and to sustain. But that hasn't stopped Patti.
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Debbie Wilder
The Bert Kruger Smith Vision Award is to recognize a person for foresight and energy in creating and/or implementing programs, services, or legislation which serves older adults.
In 2001, Debbie introduced to the congregation of Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church the concept of free social-model respite care for people with dementia. For the past eight years, Debbie and her team of volunteers at the church have provided four hours of free respite care each week to families affected by dementia. The Gathering has grown into a dynamic social-model program that engages people with dementia in music, exercise, storytelling, games, art, and worship. Mere words cannot capture the love and laughter that radiates from The Gathering each week.
Debbie not only gives of her time, but also networks freely with other people to share information and resources. Debbie's vision has been translated into similar respite and cognitive stimulation programs at 10 churches, synagogues and YMCA's in Austin and the surrounding area. Debbie is active in a collaboration of these programs, providing leadership to assist in all of their success.
In addition to The Gathering concepts being replicated in the community, Debbie recognized the unique needs of people in the very early stages of memory loss. From this vision, New Connections was launched in 2004 and offers free brain fitness programs each week allowing people with memory loss to share their memories, exercise their brains, and express their hopes and fears.
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Louise Froelich
The Willie Kocurek Vital Aging Award recognizes an older adult for accomplishments in the arena of self-determination, self-sufficiency, civic engagement and quality of life.
Louise Froelich has only been an Austin resident since 1990. Yet in these years she has been, and remains an important contributor to the community.
For 19 years she has volunteered at Cunningham Elementary as a reading tutor to first grade students. Louise likes the challenge of teaching the children; continually asking herself "How can I do this better? Are they learning anything new?"
As a volunteer with the Capital Area Food Bank, Louise is a Volunteer Leader. She is known for not only training new volunteers but for befriending them and helping them fit in and enjoy themselves as they volunteer.
Louise is characterized as a dynamic volunteer. Someone who embraces her time volunteering and the people around her as she works. She is known for her genuine love of people, and with that her concern for people in need in the community.
On May 2nd Louise will celebrate her 94th birthday. Being true to her motto "it's better to rust out than to wear out" Louise is a tireless and invaluable contributor to our community.
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Rededication of the AGE Professional Spirit Award in memory of Marty Rose
Marty Rose, long time advocate for seniors in Williamson County, has been honored posthumously as the namesake for the AGE Professional Spirit Award. The Annual AGE Awards celebrate Central Texas leaders who are committed to making our community better for elders and their caregivers. The Professional Service Award "recognizes someone working in the field of aging who fulfills not only a written job description but thrives in the spirit of the work as well". Marty exemplified this attitude throughout her career caring for elders.
Marty Rose is best known as the program director for Williamson's County's only licensed adult day center, first opened by Williamson Burnet County Opportunities in 1992, when they recognized the community's need for more services for the elderly and their caregivers. In June 2008 AGE assumed management of the adult day center, bringing together under AGE the operation of the only licensed adult day centers in Central Texas.
Rose was a passionate advocate for seniors and their caregivers. Joyce Lauck, executive director of AGE explains "Marty's leadership defined great care for elders and caregivers. She dedicated herself to providing amazing care and love for the people she felt it was her privilege to serve."
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