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The PAHSA board of directors announces that Ron Christensen is the recipient of the 2023 Caritas Award. Ron is a resident and volunteer at Heartwood, a Presbyterian Homes & Services (PHS) community in Crosby, Minnesota. The 2023 recipient was announced at the PAHSA Fall Gathering, November 5, 2023, at the Chicago Firehouse Restaurant in Chicago, Illinois. Because Ron was unable to attend the Fall Gathering, Cindy Ray, executive director of PAHSA, met with him in the Grand Lodge at Heartwood on October 30, 2023. She was joined by Duane Larson, vice president of PHS and Daren Rife, Heartwood campus administrator. They presented a heart-shaped crystal trophy to Ron, engraved with his name and community. Along with the trophy, PAHSA will make a donation to the Presbyterian Homes Foundation in Ron’s honor. Lynn O’Connor, PAHSA board chair, announced Ron as the recipient to PAHSA members and guests who attended the Fall Gathering. She explained, “This award recognizes an individual or group serving among PAHSA’s members who exemplify the Christian virtue to love God and neighbor.” Ron was nominated by Heartwood resident, Dee Davidson, who credits Ron for creating and leading the Safe Check program for independent living residents at Heartwood. Safe Check is a service provided by resident volunteers to check on their neighbors. Dee wrote: “Safe Check is managed and staffed entirely by resident volunteers. Ron’s work and dedication to this program fosters a culture of wellbeing and neighborly care.” At least once daily, Safe Check volunteers go to the apartment doors of independent living residents who have subscribed to the service. The volunteer checks outside the door for an “I’m okay” tag to verify the resident’s wellbeing since the last check. If the tag is not displayed as expected, the volunteer will knock on the door or summon help if the situation warrants. Dee shared that Ron also serves as a Bible study leader. “In this lay ministry, he provides residents with vision, support and direction toward growing their faith in God through reading the Bible daily,” she wrote. Accepting the award, Ron said, “I am so honored to receive this award, but it’s really recognition for all the volunteers of our Safe Check program.” He said that his faith motivated him to develop the program. “For me, loving my neighbor is loving God,” he explained. “Safe Check is a way to love and care for our neighbors—it’s that simple.” The award is supported by the generosity of PAHSA sponsor Hamlin Capital Advisors. Mike Armstrong, principal, and Sharon Ioannidis, managing director of Hamlin were present at the Fall Gathering to represent Hamlin. PAHSA received nine nominations for the 2023 award. Nominations for the 2024 Caritas Award are being received until September 24, 2024. The award will be presented to the recipient at the 2024 Fall Gathering at LeadingAge in Nashville, Tenn. Read more about the Caritas Award.
The PAHSA board of directors announces that Ron Christensen is the recipient of the 2023 Caritas Award. Ron is a resident and volunteer at Heartwood, a Presbyterian Homes & Services (PHS) community in Crosby, Minnesota. The 2023 recipient was announced at the PAHSA Fall Gathering, November 5, 2023, at the Chicago Firehouse Restaurant in Chicago, Illinois.
Because Ron was unable to attend the Fall Gathering, Cindy Ray, executive director of PAHSA, met with him in the Grand Lodge at Heartwood on October 30, 2023. She was joined by Duane Larson, vice president of PHS and Daren Rife, Heartwood campus administrator. They presented a heart-shaped crystal trophy to Ron, engraved with his name and community. Along with the trophy, PAHSA will make a donation to the Presbyterian Homes Foundation in Ron’s honor.
Lynn O’Connor, PAHSA board chair, announced Ron as the recipient to PAHSA members and guests who attended the Fall Gathering. She explained, “This award recognizes an individual or group serving among PAHSA’s members who exemplify the Christian virtue to love God and neighbor.”
Ron was nominated by Heartwood resident, Dee Davidson, who credits Ron for creating and leading the Safe Check program for independent living residents at Heartwood. Safe Check is a service provided by resident volunteers to check on their neighbors. Dee wrote: “Safe Check is managed and staffed entirely by resident volunteers. Ron’s work and dedication to this program fosters a culture of wellbeing and neighborly care.”
At least once daily, Safe Check volunteers go to the apartment doors of independent living residents who have subscribed to the service. The volunteer checks outside the door for an “I’m okay” tag to verify the resident’s wellbeing since the last check. If the tag is not displayed as expected, the volunteer will knock on the door or summon help if the situation warrants.
Dee shared that Ron also serves as a Bible study leader. “In this lay ministry, he provides residents with vision, support and direction toward growing their faith in God through reading the Bible daily,” she wrote.
Accepting the award, Ron said, “I am so honored to receive this award, but it’s really recognition for all the volunteers of our Safe Check program.” He said that his faith motivated him to develop the program. “For me, loving my neighbor is loving God,” he explained. “Safe Check is a way to love and care for our neighbors—it’s that simple.”
The award is supported by the generosity of PAHSA sponsor Hamlin Capital Advisors. Mike Armstrong, principal, and Sharon Ioannidis, managing director of Hamlin were present at the Fall Gathering to represent Hamlin.
PAHSA received nine nominations for the 2023 award. Nominations for the 2024 Caritas Award are being received until September 24, 2024. The award will be presented to the recipient at the 2024 Fall Gathering at LeadingAge in Nashville, Tenn.
Read more about the Caritas Award.