Valley Legacy Awards honor 5 for dedication to senior citizens

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Valley Legacy Award recipients are, from left, in front, Carren Chamberlin of New Waterford, Outstanding Senior; Sandra Campbell of North Jackson, Outstanding Advocate for Seniors; Jeanne Deibel Tyler of Girard, Outstanding Senior; and back row, Gretchen Keefer Reed of Girard, Outstanding Senior; and Carol Hitchcock, Home Instead Senior Care, Outstanding Advocate for Seniors.

CANFIELD

Nearly 250 people attended a ceremony at Avion on the Water on Oct. 19 to recognize 21 nominees for their contributions to the community at the Valley Legacy Awards luncheon. Five of the nominees were presented with Valley Legacy Awards.

The awards recognize the contribution, service and sacrifice performed by or for Mahoning Valley Senior Citizens.

Award recipients follow:

Outstanding Senior

Carren Chamberlin, New Waterford.

Gretchen Keefer Reed, Girard.

Jeanne Deibel Tyler, Girard.

Outstanding Advocate for Seniors

Sandra Campbell, North Jackson.

Carol Hitchcock, Home Instead Senior Care.

This year’s nominees hailed from across the Valley and spanned a variety of interests, occupations and talents. In the past seven years, more than 150 people and organizations were nominated.

The other nominees for Outstanding Senior were: Carol Bovee, Girard; Marjorie Dangaran, Warren; Bill Farragher, Canfield; Pete Gabriel, Boardman; Carol Jean Goddard, West Farmington; Zoa Lykins, Niles; Donna J. Rios, R.N., Poland; Shirley Stryffeler, Columbiana; Mary Theis, Warren; and Richard Thompson, Warren.

The other nominees for Outstanding Advocate for Seniors were: Kathy Gordon, Hospice of the Valley; Leanna Hartsough, Canfield; Sam Kooperman, Jewish Federation of Youngstown; Charles Rupert, Clare Bridge Austintown; Sisters of the Humility of Mary; and Dr. Thomas Timko, Prima Health Care.

Platinum-level sponsors are Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Retirement Services Inc., 21 WFMJ-TV, WBBG, Mix 98.9, Newsradio 570 WBBN, The Review Newspapers, The Senior News, Huntington Bank, Keynote Media Group, RL Smith Graphics and ComDoc. Diamond-level sponsors are First Place Bank and Comfort Keepers/Hospice of the Valley.

Chamberlin has raised more than $80,000 for the American Heart Association through the Heart Walk. She donated proceeds from a cookbook she published to the AHA, allowing the purchase of eight automatic external defibrillators for schools and emergency service providers.

Keefer Reed, a teacher, started a program for schoolchildren in need to help provide clothes, food and books, and got the Liberty community involved. She also teaches Senior Citizen Sunday school.

Deibel Tyler has served on numerous boards, including Paisley House, Stambaugh Auditorium Association, Forum Women’s Health Board, Planned Parenthood and the Visiting Nurse Association. She recently provided the lead gift to the Mahoning Valley Historical Society campaign.

Campbell, a retired oncology nurse, volunteers with oncology patients and at Hospice of the Valley, providing emotional and medical support for patients and families. She makes and donates quilts to the Oncology Fund for Outpatients to raise funds to help cover the extra costs of cancer patients and Quilts of Valor for our combat troops.

Hitchcock is dedicated to senior home care. She wants to make sure that seniors receive good quality, compassionate care and that loneliness issues are addressed. She started Santa for Seniors, which provides Christmas gifts to senior citizens. She also has sponsored food drives and began the “Mission Medicine Cabinet” program, collecting and disposing of old medications.