INARF Announces 2020 Annual Award Recipients

The INARF Annual Award Program has been an Association tradition for many years and enables INARF members to recognize the significant contributions and exceptional efforts of individuals and community partners committed to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities. This year the Annual Award Luncheon Program scheduled for March 18 was cancelled due to COVID-19. 

In concert with Disability Awareness Month in Indiana, INARF proceeded in recognizing each of the Award recipients using a Social Media Campaign spread over a week time span.  Awards were mailed to each organization and presented in a small group setting.

Again, congratulations to all the nominees and award recipients. INARF appreciates your commitments to serving Hoosiers with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

This year’s nominations for the James M. Hammond III Executive Leadership Award included four (4) distinguished INARF leaders and are listed below:

• Donna Belusar, Ph.D., ADEC, Inc.
• Patrick Sandy, Easterseals Crossroads
• Pamela Verbarg, The Arc of Greater Boone County
• Allison Wharry, New Hope of Indiana

INARF is proud to recognize Patrick Sandy, President/CEO, Easterseals Crossroads, with the 2020 James M. Hammond III Executive Leadership Award. The James M. Hammond III Executive Leadership Award is presented to an outstanding executive/administrator within the INARF membership.

This year’s nominations for the Keystone Award included twenty-two (22) outstanding direct service professionals employed in the Indiana service delivery system and are listed below:

• Alex Buchman, Easterseals Crossroads
• Destinee Clem, ResCare, Inc.
• Virginia "Ginger" Chiacchira, New Horizons Rehabilitation, Inc.
• Alyssa Fales, Sycamore Services, Inc.
• Sharon Farmer, LEL Home Services, LLC
• Jonel Foreste, New Hope of Indiana
• Ernest Hayes, ResCare, Inc.
• Lavern Howell, LOGAN Community Resources, Inc.
• Leslie Green, Stone Belt Arc, Inc.
• Josh McClure, Wabash Center, Inc.
• Zinna Mensah-Zoe, Tangram, Inc.
• Donna Moore, Paladin, Inc.
• Susan Pizarek, Paladin, Inc.
• Connie Pulley, The Arc of Wabash County
• Wanda Rodriguez, LOGAN Community Resources, Inc.
• Virginia Salo, ResCare, Inc.
• Lindsay Schwartz, Opportunity Enterprises, Inc.
• Spencer Shepard, Developmental Services, Inc.
• Michael & Terri Sommer, Bona Vista Programs, Inc.
• Barbara Sykes, ResCare, Inc.
• Rita VanDuyn, Tangram, Inc.
• Keith Woodley, ResCare, Inc.

INARF is proud to recognize Spencer Shepard, Direct Support Professional at Developmental Services, Inc., with the 2020 Keystone Award, an annual honor given to an outstanding Direct Support Professional employed in the Indiana service delivery system.

This year’s nominations for the Pinnacle Award included thirteen (13) submissions and are listed below:

• Kim Amberger-Fledderman, Developmental Services, Inc.
• Marjorie Duryea, Easterseals Crossroads
• Lynn Feldman, New Hope of Indiana
• Leslie Holleman, LEL Home Services, LLC
• Karol King, The Arc of Greater Boone County
• Marie Kubina, Opportunity Enterprises, Inc.
• Lakeia Love, ResCare, Inc.
• Julius Parker, Tangram, Inc.
• Kathleen Parks Savich, Opportunity Enterprises, Inc.
• Maryl Robinson, Houston Group Homes, Inc.
• Sara Wantuch, ResCare, Inc.
• Stefanie Wilson, ResCare, Inc.
• Daniel Winemiller, Developmental Services, Inc.

INARF is proud to recognize Lynn Feldman, Director, Supported Living at New Hope of Indiana, with the INARF Pinnacle Award, an honor given to an outstanding professional level staff member in the human service industry.

This year’s nominations for the Partnership Award included ten (10) submissions and are listed below along with their nominating organization:

• Caterpillar | Wabash Center, Inc.
• City of Greencastle | Putnam County Comprehensive Services, Inc.
• Cummins, Inc. | Developmental Services, Inc.
• Indiana Legal Services | Tangram, Inc.
• Kroger | Easterseals Crossroads
• Lebanon Kiwanis | The Arc of Greater Boone County
• Second Helpings | Easterseals Crossroads
• Strack & Van Til Food Market | Opportunity Enterprises, Inc.
• Sergeant First Class Tony Johnson | ResCare, Inc.
• John Pearson III | New Hope of Indiana

INARF is proud to recognize the City of Greencastle with the 2020 Partnership Award, an annual honor given to a person or organization that has made significant contributions to improve the lives of people with disabilities and the agencies that serve them.

This year’s nominations for the Justin Dart Personal Achievement Award included fourteen (14) individuals who have participated in services through an INARF member organization and who have maximized their skills and abilities to achieve their chosen goals and are listed below:

• Eli Alexander, Bona Vista Programs, Inc.
• Austin Blackman, Opportunity Enterprises, Inc.
• Scott Clark, IPMG, Inc.
• Amy Foster, ResCare, Inc.
• Bonnie Hasemeyer, New Hope of Indiana
• Janivia Kirkland, Easterseals Crossroads
• Sommer Kits, Bona Vista Programs, Inc.
• William “Bill” Kramer, IPMG, Inc.
• Calub Lemond, Developmental Services, Inc.
• Keith Livengood, Wabash Center, Inc.
• David Nussbaum, IPMG, Inc.
• Liam Price, Tangram, Inc. (Also nominated by IPMG, Inc.)
• Matthew Roberts, Bona Vista Programs, Inc.
• John “Ned” Sullivan, Easterseals Crossroads

INARF is proud to recognize Liam Price, an Individual Waiver Participant at Tangram, Inc. with the Justin Dart Personal Achievement Award.

This year’s applicants for the Ability Indiana Costa N. Miller Scholarship Award included ten (10) outstanding direct service professionals pursuing higher education to further their human service careers and are listed below:

• Jalynn Cheatham, Tangram, Inc.
• Katie Douglas, ResCare, Inc.
• Molly Fisher, Dungarvin, LLC
• Aderonke Kareem, New Hope of Indiana
• Carmen Lopez-Shanefelt, Jay-Randolph Developmental Services, Inc.
• Miriam O'Malley-Long, Bona Vista Programs, Inc.
• Lauren Paxson, Jay-Randolph Developmental Services, Inc.
• Kaylie Savoy, Hillcroft Services, Inc.
• Kimberly Shanklin, Tangram, Inc.
• Cheyanne Shawver, Jay-Randolph Developmental Services, Inc.

​Ability Indiana & INARF are proud to recognize Kaylie Savoy, an Employment Services Coordinator at Hillcroft Services, Inc.; and Kimberly Shanklin, a Program Manager at Tangram, Inc., with the Costa N. Miller Scholarship Award, which is presented to two outstanding Human Service professionals pursuing higher education to further their human service careers.