On Thursday, June 18, 2015, SAGE Eldercare presented its community awards at their 61st Annual Meeting, held in Summit. The awards presented included the inaugural Bob Abelson Carry the Torch Award, as well as the Agnes N. Badgley Award, Community Partner Award, Good Neighbor Award, Home Health Aide of the Year Award, Outstanding Youth of the Year Award, and staff service awards. In addition to the award presentations, the nonprofit organization held its annual business meeting and presented the treasurer’s report, as well as highlights of the 2014 calendar year, which celebrated the 60th Anniversary of the agency.
Linda Delma of Summit was the recipient of the Agnes Badgley Award at SAGE’s 61st Annual Meeting on June 18, 2015. The award was created in 1989 to recognize the invaluable contributions of SAGE Eldercare’s many volunteers.
Mary Zimmerman of Summit, left, was presented with the Bob Abelson Carry the Torch Award. Also on hand was Joan Abelson of New Providence, right, who received a plaque in honor of the first annual award, which was dedicated in recognition of her late husband, Bob. The award recognizes an exceptional SAGE volunteer who also continually demonstrates their commitment to the community-at-large.
Raul Cadavid, left, and Pam Ruddy, right, accepted the Community Partner Award on behalf of the Community Health Department at Overlook Medical Center at SAGE’s 61st Annual Meeting on June 18, 2015. The award honors a local individual or business that generously shares their expertise in support of SAGE and older adults in the community.
Fred Jenny, Executive Director of SAGE Eldercare, left, presented the Good Neighbor Award to Summit Area Public Foundation on June 18, 2015. Barbara Bunting, right, a Trustee and Treasurer of the SAPF, accepted the award on behalf of the organization. This award was initiated in 1996 to honor local organizations that generously share their resources in support of SAGE and older adults in the community.
Marie Francois of Elizabeth received the Home Health Aide of the Year Award from SAGE on June 18, 2015. This award is given to the individual who is continually dedicated to providing quality home care service to SAGE’s clients.
Three Millburn High School juniors, left to right, Shantanu Laghate, Alex Ren, and Satyen Gupta, received the Outstanding Youth Award from SAGE on June 18, 2015. This award was created in 2005 to acknowledge ongoing volunteer involvement by local youth who have committed their time and service to SAGE.
Pictured left to right are Comfort Swain of Maplewood (10 years), Rose Rittweger of Springfield (10 years), and Violet Allen of Vauxhall (40 years) who were recognized for their varying years of service as a SAGE staff member. Absent from the Annual Meeting on June 18 were Brenda Lee of Scotch Plains (5 years), Bachani (Betty) Tannis of Newark (5 years), Chundrowtia (CC) Harpal of North Plainfield (10 years), Diana Lara of Union (10 years), and Jeanne Julien of Maplewood (15 years).