Friday afternoon, the Center for Human Services recognized several individuals in the community who have made a positive impact this past year in the lives of their clients.
During the CHS Annual Recognition Luncheon hosted at the Sedalia Country Club, Director and CEO Ann Graff announced Betty Hopkins would receive the Volunteer of the Year Award and the Outstanding Generosity Award.
“During our last fiscal year, Betty, who is member of the Children’s Therapy Center board, worked with our development consultant Ed Watkins, and Susan (Mergen), and myself as we launched our Lives Without Limitations campaign,” Graff said. “Betty assisted us as we met with board members and donors. She set a precedent by being the first donor of the campaign.
“Betty also supports our annual ladies auction, and you will see her at many of our CHS functions throughout the year,” Graff added.
Graff read congratulations to Betty from longtime friend and former Sedalia businesswoman Mary “Punky” McLaughlin, now of Chicago, and former State Fair Community College President Dr. Marsha Drenon.
Hopkins spoke to the crowd through tears thanking them for their kindness.
“All I can say is I do love Sedalia,” Hopkins noted. “I thank you … I really do, I love all of you. Everybody here is good, so keep on being good. I really do appreciate Sedalia.”
Also recognized with an Outstanding Generosity Award was Marines Toys for Tots. Accepting the award was Mike Spencer.
Walmart Department Manager Anothy Hubbleston, and Jorge Guevara, owner of Guesa USA LLC, were recognized with the Outstanding Employment Opportunities Award.
CHS Administration and Intake Manager in Employment Services Mark Register recognized Guevara for his many projects in the Sedalia area. Guevara was responsible for building Dairy Queen, Steak ‘n Shake and Maple Square, which houses Sedalia’s new urgent care facility American Family Care.
“Guesa also has three projects in Florida and currently employs more than 250 employees in both states,” Register said. “Thankfully Guesa is also a company that’s developed a very open, and creative spirit, towards and including individuals with varying abilities as part of their workforce ….
“(Jorge) has been very open to hiring individuals in our programs at both DQ and Steak ‘n Shake,” he added. “He has utilized group employment teams to plant shrubs at his offices, he’s hired us to move office furniture.”
Guevara also provided an opportunity for CHS clients to renovate the concessions area underneath the Missouri State Fair Grandstand.
“Something I’ve learned throughout the years, is that we have to learn how to learn,” Guevara said as he thanked the crowd. “A lot of people don’t know how to learn, and to learn you have to understand learning … by giving that opportunity to understand how all their (CHS) folks learn, we can give the opportunity to a lot of people to become somebody. To live a life without limitations. That’s what I love about this program.”
Receiving the CHS Community Involvement Award were Sedalia businesswoman Garnetta Sullivan, owner of Sullivan Creative and Art Impressions Gallery, and Ciara Pennock, RN, BSN, of the Pettis County Health Center.
CHS Employees of the Year Award went to Annette Owens, a human resource generalist in the Administration Department, and Sara Zimmerschied, the developmental disabilities professional in the Community Living Department.
Longtime supporter and volunteer Ray Haley received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
“The purpose of our Lifetime Achievement Award is to recognize outstanding and major contributions of time, talent (and) financial resources from individuals who are associated with the center over a significant period of time,” Graff said. “This year’s recipient Ray Haley certainly exemplifies this honor.”
Haley served the center as a board member from 1992 to 2015. He served as secretary of the Cooperative Workshop Inc. board for five years and has supported the center financially and as a volunteer for 25 years.
Five CHS clients were also recognized with the Outstanding Personal Growth Award. Being recognized were John Boy Gill, with Community Living, Jessica Todd, with Service Coordination, Quinn Cooper, with Employment Services, and 3-year-old Cristian Estrada, with Family and Child Development.
