Celebrating Achievement, Recognizing Excellence at the CARE Awards

The Riverside CARE Awards

On May 22 we shared our appreciation for the people we serve who have worked hard to grow and change, the amazing Riverside employees who have gone the extra mile to make a difference, and friends of the organization who support our mission. Our annual CARE Awards (formerly the Annual Appreciation Evening) was an inspirational night for all.

We renamed the event after 25 years to remind ourselves of what is central about the people who make up Riverside. CARE stands for Celebrating Achievement and Recognizing Excellence.  The people in our community care. They care about respecting those we serve, about making a difference in people’s lives, and about excellence.

When I looked around the room, I noticed the diversity of our community. I recognized people from around the state, from different programs, and from all different walks of life. There were incredible stories shared that evening, stories that really show what makes Riverside, Riverside.

There’s Mary, a Shared Living Provider, who we have called on numerous times, to provide emergency respite services to persons in need. No matter the circumstances, the person or the behaviors, Mary welcomes each person into her home as if they were family. She does this, she says, “From her heart.” We are so lucky to have someone like Mary, who we can count on to provide quality care to those in need.

There were smiles across the room as we recognized a young girl and her family. They had worked so hard together over the past few years to heal their fractured relationships. It was heartwarming to hear their story, see them together, and recognize their accomplishments.

And of course, we recognized so many deserving employees that night. One of them being Paula, a Peer Specialist from our Emergency Services program, who demonstrates the kindness, compassion, and drive that we love to see in our Riverside Staff. Individuals like her are what give this organization a palpable feeling of family and friendship.

It was a wonderful event. In the words of one of our awardees, David, “Riverside is a group of people, making a difference, each and every one of us.”

~Scott M. Bock, Founder and President/CEO