COLUMBUS, Ohio – Richland Newhope has been honored by Ohio Public Images (OPI) for its efforts in 2014 to increase awareness about people with developmental disabilities. Also honored were Mansfield Mayor Timothy Theaker and reporters for the Mansfield News Journal and Richland Source.
The agency received two awards during a luncheon on Thursday, March 12, that was held as part of the winter conference of the Ohio Superintendents of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities (OSCBDD) in Columbus.
Richland Newhope received the top honor, an Award of Excellence, for Overall Awareness Efforts. In addition to sponsoring numerous awareness activities and participating in many community events, Richland Newhope also published a monthly newsletter and utilized its website and social media to educate Richland County residents about the agency and the achievements of those it supports.
This was the eighth time in the past nine years Richland Newhope has been honored for its awareness efforts.
“We are so pleased to once again receive statewide recognition for our efforts to educate Richland County residents about Richland Newhope and those we serve,” said Jane Imbody, Director of Community Relations. “It’s Richland Newhope’s mission to support people with developmental disabilities to live, work and participate in the community, and we feel our year-round awareness efforts help us achieve that mission.”
Richland Newhope also received an Award of Excellence for Internal Awareness Efforts. In 2014, Richland Newhope’s Residential Departme ebuted its Person Centered Excellence (PCE) Amazing Awareness Race. The activity was designed as a way to create more opportunities for involvement in the community for individuals who reside at the Raintree, an intermediate care facility operated by Richland Newhope, and to expand staff knowledge about the benefits of person-centered supports.
Mayor Theaker was recognized in the category of Community/Elected Official with the Award of Excellence. Theaker, who was nominated by Richland Newhope, was honored for his efforts to establish the City Garden Café at the Mansfield Municipal Building.
The café is operated by Richland Newhope Industries, Inc. He has also been instrumental in creating employment opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities at the Cyclops Field concession stand.
“I’m honored to see all of the individuals who were honored today and to be one of those individuals is just a humbling experience,” said Theaker. “And I’m honored that Richland Newhope is in this position to win this award.
“I really want to thank Jane Imbody and Amanda South and Liz Prather for their ability to team with the city of Mansfield and partner with us because this was something that we did together with Newhope, working in the café. And if you haven’t been to the café, you need to get to the café.”
Winning an Award of Merit were Mansfield News Journal Reporter Kaitlin Durbin for her August story about local drummer Terrell Diehl and Richland Source Correspondent Angel Ross-Taylor for her story about Richland Newhope’s 2014 Bringing the Elements Together Art and Talent Exhibition.
They were nominated by Richland Newhope Community Relations Director Jane Imbody. The Richland Source award came in the new category of Internet Journalism.
Ross-Taylor attended the lunch and said afterward, “I’m very grateful for this award. It’s the first award that I’ve received as a reporter. I’m honored.” In her story, she interviewed individuals from Newhope who presented art and talent at the 2014 event. Ross-Taylor said, “I always like to talk to the people I’m writing about and get to know them.”
The annual Public Awareness Awards, sponsored by Ohio Public Images, recognizes individuals and organizations throughout Ohio who, through their exceptional efforts, have succeeded in creating a greater understanding of people with developmental disabilities. The awards are judged by impartial professionals in the communications and developmental disabilities fields.
OPI is a non-profit organization that promotes positive perceptions and understanding of people with developmental disabilities.
In 2014, Richland Newhope (Richland County Board of Developmental Disabilities) supported more than 1,800 individuals and their families through Early Intervention, Preschool, Adult, Residential, Therapy, Transportation and other support programs.
