HISTORY/BACKGROUND: In 1986, the Award, named for Marguerite L. Riegel, one of Center in the Park's (CIP) founders, was initiated. 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.

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; and Sheila MacMaster, RN, BSN, Supervisor of Catholic Care Options for the Elderly of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

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

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; and Carlotta Fareira CIP member and volunteer.

RIEGEL AWARD GUIDELINES INCLUDE:
To A Person Who:
• Affirms the dignity and potential of older people
• Fosters respect, independence and personal growth for older people
• Encourages older adults to make their voices heard and to contribute to their communities
• Has a record of continuous service to older people
• Uses creativity in uncovering new solutions to problems involving a growing older population

To An Organization Which:
• Supports issues that have a positive effect on the quality of older peoples’ lives
• Provides a valuable service to older people
• Uses creativity in uncovering new solutions to problems involving an aging population
• Demonstrates the ability to adapt to the changing needs of an aging population

Nomination forms for the Riegel Award will be available at CIP in the Program Office or at the Front Desk. If you would prefer to have a nomination form mailed to you, please call Nicole Bradford, 215-848-7722; nbradford@centerinthepark.org - Nominations will be accepted until May 16, 2011.

Center in the Park is a community center that promotes positive aging and fosters community connections for older adults in Northwest Philadelphia, whose voices are critical instruments in shaping its activities and direction. CIP is accredited by the National Institute of Senior Centers, a unit of the National Council on Aging as a provider of excellent programs, activities and services for its active membership of more than 5,000 and its 1,000 homebound clients.

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