Carey Services honored five people for their service to, and advocacy for, people with disabilities at the agency’s annual “A Night at Carey” dinner on Saturday, according to a news release.
March is National Disability Awareness Month, and Carey Services started the A Night at Carey dinner in 2017 to bring people in the community together in a fun way to raise community engagement for disability-related issues. The dinner has had a specific theme each year; this year’s theme was “The ’20s Roar Again,” a homage to the 100 years since the beginning of the Roaring ’20s. Many attendees took part by dressing in period-appropriate outfits.
“A Night at Carey is a fun event for a serious cause,” said Jim Allbaugh, Carey Services’ president and chief executive officer. “The individuals we serve have abilities and have the desire to be involved in the communities in which they live. The dinner and The Carey Awards we present during the program are ways Carey Services is working to turn abilities into opportunities for those we serve to help promote inclusion in everything we do.”
The agency presents The Carey Awards as part of the evening’s activities.
This year’s winners were:
• Heritage Award (to someone in the agency’s history who has continued to have impact on agency operations) – Jacquie Dodyk, Affordable Housing Corp., and a past agency board member
• Mission Leader Award (to a Carey Services staff member) – Michelle Percy
• Self-Advocate Award (to an individual Carey Services serves) – Erik Smith
• Community Partner Award (to someone in the community who has been a strong advocate for people with disabilities) – Kellie Planck, Marion General Hospital and Tim Gerber, New Market of Gas City (for the first time, two winners were selected)
“The awards are fun, and we are thankful for the award winners,” Allbaugh said, “but are thankful the financial support of our sponsors and those in attendance who contributed to further our mission.”
Carey Services is the premier local provider of employment services and other home and community-based services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Carey Services was established in 1954 and is an internationally accredited community based, not-for-profit agency providing an array of services to people with disabilities and other low-income individuals and families.
Carey Services is the Arc Chapter for Grant and Blackford counties and a United Way organization in Grant County. Supports and services are determined through person-centered planning, where individuals served and their families direct the planning and allocation of resources to meet their personal life goals. Call (765) 668-8961 or visit www.careyservices.com for more information to seek services or employment opportunities, and to donate.
Individuals can also visit the Carey Services Facebook page at www.facebook.com/careyservices
