In 1986, Center in the Park (CIP) created an Award named for Marguerite L. Riegel, one of CIP's founders. At the same time, the endowed Emergency Cash Fund was named in memory of CIP's other Founder, Laura Drake Nichols. Beginning in 1990, an organization was also selected for the Riegel Award. In 2006, the CIP Board of Directors also established a Distinguished Service Award.

The 2010 Riegel Award Recipients are: Sheila MacMaster, RN, BSN-for her years of dedicated and compassionate service assisting the frail elderly and currently as Supervisor of Catholic Care Options Program for the Elderly of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Sheila MacMaster, RN, BSN

Chestnut Hill College-for commitment to providing opportunities for learning for older adults through continuing education and especially for the Science Department's support for CIP's Senior Environment Corps.

The Distinguished Service Award Recipient is:
Carlotta Fareira - for her years of committed, generous and energetic volunteer service to CIP and the NW Philadelphia community.

Carlotta Fareira

The 2010 CIP Award Recipients will be honored at the Center's Third Annual Music from the Heart Jazz Concert, on Saturday, September 25th at 7:00pm at the Germantown Friends School, Loeb Auditorium at Greene Street and Schoolhouse Lane. Concert information is available at www.centerinthepark.org or by calling Nicole at 215-848-7722. Featured artists include the Georgie Bonds Blues Machine, Abstract Truth, and the Clef Club Youth Jazz Band. Support for the event has been provided by Bravo Health; Philadelphia Corporation for Aging; and, WPVI, Channel 6 and Butler Prestige Photography.

Past recipients of the award: Individuals: Doris Schall, an art teacher and community service activist; Harry Levitan, who started a free law office for seniors at CIP; Virginia Dreby, a CIP Board member, and volunteer with Germantown Settlement and the Women's Y; Clarice Herbert, former Board President of CIP and former Director of the YWCA of Germantown; Frank X. Delany, a community activist and advocate for non-profits; Rennie Cohen, former Executive Director of CIP; Mary Fallon, Outreach Director, Unitarian Universalist House; Nora Dowd Eisenhower, Secretary of the PA Department of Aging; and, C. Richard Cox, Former Vice President, the William Penn Foundation, past CIP Board President; Celeste Zappala, former Director of the Mayor's Commission on Aging.

Organizations: Germantown Hospital and Medical Center; Northwest Victim Services; Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA); Germantown Relief Society; Thomas Jefferson University's Center for Applied Research on Aging & Health (CARAH); the Hannah & George Bricker Memorial Trust, BNY Mellon Corporation; and, the Green Tree Community Health Foundation.

Distinguished Service Award: The first recipient was Artis Ray, the longest serving former President of the Center's Board of Directors; followed by CIP Members, Fred and Carrie Lewis, and Earline Myrick, CIP volunteer and exercise activity leader; Robert Macbeth, former member of the CIP Board of Directors; and, Frances Moss, CIP volunteer and former staff member.

The annual awards recognize persons and organizations that affirm the dignity and potential of older people; encourage older people to make their voices heard and to contribute to their communities; have a record of continuous service to older people; and use creativity in uncovering new solutions to problems involving an aging population.

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