Celebrating April 2015 Big Heart Award Winners - Bob Getz, Corrine Gregorsky, and Kim Gooden!

The Glen Oaks Country Club, located in the heart of the Abingtons, served as the perfect backdrop to honor two staff--Mawrie Residence Program Manager, Corrine Gregorsky, and Staff Development Specialist (and former lead staff at Mawrie), Robert (Bob) Getz with Big Heart Awards. They were recognized for acts of heroism and courage in saving the life of program Participant Mike U. who had a serious choking incident.

Equally worthy and also receiving a Big Heart Award, was Family Living Provider, Kim Gooden, whose decision to continue to serve family living client Donna H., and to ask her to remain in her home as a part of her family despite funding being eliminated, touched the hearts and stirred rousing applause from the crowd of people attending the event.    

The event was held as part of Keystone’s HR Ambassador Day. Many of the guests in attendance were Managers, Coordinators, Directors and Senior Directors.

 “Character and choices” was the theme of a speech presented by Participant Safety Sub-Committee Chairman, Dean White.  Corrine and Bob showed their character when they did everything in their power to save Mike’s life.  They acted consistent with their character, and from that character they made the right choices, and gave their all to save a life, a very special and precious life.   Thanks to them, Mike U. is still with us today.

For Kim Gooden, it was a matter of choosing between one state’s funding-driven plan to move Donna H. out of her home, where she had lived for 4 ½ years with a family who cared for and loved her, to a group home, in a different state, and many miles away to reside with people she did not know or to choose for Donna to remain with her family, despite the fact that funding would be stopped. Beyond believing it was “the right thing to do”, Kim knew in her heart and spoke from her conscience that Donna was part of her family and Kim asked that Donna remain regardless of the loss of compensation for her care.  

Corrine and Bob were nominated by Jorja Sukowaski , Director of Keystone’s Nursing and Health Services Department.  Jorja read her nomination to Corrine and Bob. Keystone’s President, Laura Brown-Yadlosky,  and Jorja, then presented Corrine and Bob with their awards. 

John Bershefsky , Family Living Coordinator, nominated Kim Gooden and read his nomination to her at the event.  Laura Brown Yadlosky and John then presented the award to Kim.

In addition to their awards, Bob, Corrine, and Kim, each received a Keystone Community Resources jacket, and each will receive a new badge heralding them as Big Heart Award Winners. Keystone Konfections provided a delicious cake and cookies and everyone celebrated with the honorees.  When you see Kim, Corrine, or Bob in your travels, please thank them for having Big Hearts and for letting their good character shine through with choices that clearly showed how much they care.