2010 Winners
The 2010 Awards for Excellence winners include:
2010 Kathleen O. Maul Leadership Award was presented to Ron Cohen, CEO of UCP of Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara Counties, for his leadership and strong commitment to UCP. He has led UCP of Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara Counties to be one of the largest developers of affordable housing for adults with disabilities in California. More recently, he acquired UCP Wheels for Humanity (WFH) and had the WFH logo placed on Glee, one of the hottest TV shows airing today.
2010 Chair Award was presented to Tom O’Donnell, for his continued assistance to the Chair and Board throughout the year. Though Tom is currently Chair of the Nominating Committee, he has also served on the board of trustees for UCP of Greater Kansas, and as Chair of the UCP Board of Trustees. He has been an advocate for people with disabilities for four decades, serving as a staff attorney for the National Center of Law and the Handicapped, and advocating the Education for All Handicapped Children Act.
2010 Ritter Legacy Award, was presented to UCP of Central Florida for their Miracles in Action E-Newsletters and their Broadcast Media Video. Their Miracles in Actions E-newsletters are targeted to meet the needs of specific groups including parents, volunteers, supporters and donors. Each letter included timely information tied to a call-to-action that prompted individuals to become additionally involved. Both media sources use the UCP logo and branding standards in exemplary ways to further their advocacy and fundraising goals.
2010 Nina Eaton Program of the Year Award was presented to UCP Land of Lincoln, for their Employment Services program. Their Employment Services include a variety of programs from transition and job-training, supported employment and two independent business operations. The transition program is a year-round comprehensive program designed to foster employment and post secondary education opportunities for youth with disabilities. The supported employment program assists individuals with disabilities in finding jobs and maintaining successful employment in the community.
2010 Outstanding Youth Award was presented to Katie Lightfoot (nominated by UCP of the North Bay) to recognize her as a youth who has significantly enhanced the lives of people with disabilities through caregiving, volunteerism, advocacy, innovation or fundraising. Katie has volunteered at Boost Camp, a UCP of the North Bay summer program for children with physical disabilities, for seven years. She provides hands on support to children in the program, and has also helped create a positive environment with her cheerful and enthusiastic attitude.
2010 Universal Accessibility Design Award was presented to Morgan’s Wonderland, located in San Antonio, Texas to recognize it as the World’s First Ultra Accessible Family Fun Park designed specifically for children and adults with special needs, their family members, caregivers, friends and the entire community. It is a unique oasis that through the spirit of inclusion, allows people of all abilities to play, learn and share life changing experiences together, in a fun and safe environment. Gordon Hartman, president and CEO of The Gordon Hartman Family Foundation, expressed his appreciation, saying that, “We’re very grateful to UCP for recognizing our team effort in making Morgan’s Wonderland an ultra-accessible park so our guests with special needs can truly have fun with family members, friends and caregivers in a safe, colorful environment.”
2010 Employer of the Year Award was presented to PRIDE Industries (nominated by UCP of Greater Sacramento) for it’s continued service in preparing people with disabilities for employment by providing person-centered training and program supports.
2010 the Public Policy and Advocacy Award was presented to CP of Mobile, for its local advocacy efforts particular to disaster planning and preparation. In light of the way people with disabilities were treated during Hurricane Katrina UCP of Mobile called together representatives from other disability organizations, emergency Management, Public Health, government, Red Cross, local hospitals, and individuals with disabilities to create the Special Needs Shelter Task force to address the lack of safe and accessible emergency shelter choices.
2010 the Ethel Hausman Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to two recipients this year, Jack and Linda Cox Maguire, who both, through volunteering, have made outstanding contributions to UCP. Jack and Linda have been involved with UCP for approximately 20 years through their local affiliate, UCP of MetroBoston, and at the national level. The couple exemplifies the spirit of UCP through their endless philanthropy, relentless advocacy, and time given to support the UCP mission.
2010 Life Without Limits Award was presented to Craig Reinhardt of UCP Arkansas, to recognize an individual with disabilities who has demonstrated leadership and achievement of such a caliber as to be a significant role model to people with and without disabilities. Craig embodies what UCP represents- he has overcome significant physical and speech limitations to become a critical contributor to the work at UCP of Arkansas in his role as Technology Administrator. The things that Craig has done to help UCP of Arkansas meet its mission of advancing the independence, productivity and full citizenship for people with disabilities are way too numerous to list in their entirety, but his ability to be a role model to others with disabilities is immeasurable.
