Charities that inspire our Caring More Award nominees

Crossroads Hospice created the Caring More Award to thank the special social workers who help others, all the time. This year, the Community Favorite Award gives you the chance to vote for your favorite nominee to receive an extra $500 donation to the non-profit that is closest to her heart and help that organization continue to serve others. Read about the inspiration behind these causes and then vote for your favorite.

Lena Booker, Memphis, TN. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

“Little children and babies need all the assistance they can get. That’s why I support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Their mission is to advance cures and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. No child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay. And funding for this care is from donations, so every bit helps.”

Katie Carter, Memphis, TN. Friends of Faith Ministry

“Friends of Faith in Bartlett, Tennessee is a day center that helps special needs adults to reach their greatest level of independence while learning social skills, strong work ethics, and how to use their skills, all while having the best time doing so. Friends of Faith goes above and beyond to provide activities for their clients, and provides services at no charge to the adults that are in financial need. Special need adults have a special place in my heart, and I volunteer in the Special Adult Ministry at my church every week.”

Sarah Griggs, Kansas City, MO: Heart of America Chapter, Alzheimer’s Association

The Heart of America Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association serves 66 counties in Kansas and Missouri and provides information, education, training, and support programs and services to more than 50,000 individuals and nearly 200,000 family members who suffer from the emotional, physical, and financial challenges of Alzheimer’s disease. This chapter has programs with music and art to help individuals with Alzheimer’s, raises a great deal of money for research, and even has a resource library and outreach programs for African Americans and Latinas. “So many of our patients suffer from dementia, and this organization makes a difference.”

Grace Linn, Kansas City, MO: Open Door Ministries

The Open Door Service Center exists to help individuals and families who have “fallen through the cracks” of the system. Open Door provides food, shelter, clothing, utility assistance, transportation, access to medical care, and employment counseling. In their own words, Open Door offers “assistance in any area that will help keep individuals from becoming unemployed, homeless, or losing their dignity.” “I work with Open Door all the time; they are such an asset to me in helping my patients access services they need.”

Ashley Maddox, Memphis, TN: Alzheimer's Association

“The Alzheimer’s Association is a charity that I hold near and dear to my heart. So many people do not understand how the disease process works or how to help residents or family members with Alzheimer's or dementia.  I believe that we need more funding for Alzheimer's research to be able to adequately train healthcare workers, families, friends, and even other elderly populations about the disease and disease process of Alzheimer's.”

Kiwi Popyk, Kansas City, MO: Foundation of Bothwell Regional Health Center

“My patients are my neighbors, and my neighbors rely upon Bothwell for quality healthcare without the burden of travel. The Foundation of Bothwell Regional Health Center is relatively new, and provides resources to keep health care local, state-of-the-art, and close to home. Foundation resources make possible:

• the latest medical equipment and facilities for the best patient diagnosis and treatment.
• disease prevention and health education for community health-care needs.
• recruiting and retaining the best medical staff for this area.
• locally managed and community owned health care.

Just like our Caring More Award social worker nominees, these charitable organizations are working every day to care more for their communities. To learn more about the nominees and vote for your favorite, visit our Voting Panel on Facebook.  

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