Each year, Direction Home Akron Canton Area Agency on Aging and Direction Home Akron Canton Foundation recognize a handful of outstanding individuals in an Awards Ceremony. 2025 marked yet another year of impressive candidates, this time being recognized in an elevated red carpet setting. Meet our 2025 awardees....
Harvey L. Sterns Lifetime Achievement Award
Congratulations to Kellijo Jeffries of Portage County Department of Job & Family Services for being named the 2025 Harvey L. Sterns Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Dr. Jeffries has a robust background in social services, including at Stark County DJFS and Stark State College. Resident of Stark County, Dr. Jeffries has a bachelor's and master's degree in social work from the University of Akron and a PhD in human services from Capella University.
Volunteer Ombudsman Award of Distinction
Featuring two winners this year, Becky Foster of Area Agency on Aging Region 9 and Cathy Sherman of Area Agency on Aging Region 10B. Becky and Cathy received this year's honors for their volunteer Long-Term Care Ombudsman (LTCOP) work in local nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Becky and Cathy were selected for the tremendous impact they've made on residents' lives, and their contributions to the LTCOP.
(top: Cathy Sherman with Region 10B staff. bottom: Becky Foster with Region 9 staff)
Joseph L. Ruby Student Scholarship
This year's Joseph L. Ruby Student Scholarship recipient is Brooklynn Moore. Brooklynn is a Junior pursuing a degree in Social Work at the University of Akron. Brooklynn is also a volunteer Ombudsman with Direction Home, has excellent academic achievement, and is involved on campus including service in Undergraduate Student Government.
Golden Age Hall of Fame
An old award with a new name, the Golden Age Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding older adults in the community. Praised for their professional, personal, and volunteer achievements in the area over the course of their lives, awardees are chosen based on service, impact, overcoming challenges, and compassion. Dr. Geraldine Hayes Nelson of Portage County, Pastor Marilyn Roman of Stark County, Nora Logsdon of Summit County, and Peg Dawson of Wayne County are the first Golden Age inductees.
(top to bottom: Dr. Nelson, Nora Logsdon, Pastor Marilyn, Peg Dawson)
Home Health Aide Hall of Fame
Also recognized were 4 outstanding Home Health Aides. Tameka Noel (Portage Co.), Virginia Snyder (Stark Co.), Bea Wade (Summit Co.) of Northeast Professional Caregivers and Amanda Martin-Rhea (Wayne Co.) of Freedom Caregivers were awarded at the event. These caregivers were selected based on their service, achievements, character, and perseverance.
(top to bottom: Amanda Martin-Rhea, Bea Wade, Virginia Snyder, Tameka Noel)
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Foundation
The Direction Home Akron Canton Foundation also received praise for rounding out a successful year of fundraising. Earlier in 2025, Direction Home Akron Canton Foundation announced a new direction for older adult support and community investment. With vision of aging optimized through resource creation and innovation, the new Foundation will center around three focuses:
Access to Community Services: focus on improving access to essential community services for underserved populations.
Innovation: funding that fosters partnerships, entrepreneurship and returns on investment while creating innovative solutions that optimize aging.
Investment in the Agency: Investment in Direction Home as a leader for aging network professionals to provide the best quality of care.
"Our mission supports optimized aging for our families and neighbors to enjoy life how they want to experience it. We do this by increasing access to community-based care across all ages and abilities, raising awareness and funds to invest in innovation so that the future is bright across the lifespan."
At the ceremony, raffle winners were drawn and it was announced that the year's Campaign total was over $195,308.
Raffle Winners
Grand- Teresa Atkinson
1st- Chuck Calalesina
2nd- Samuel Edmunds
3rd- Chris Butts
4th & 5th- Barbara VonGunten, Samuel Edmunds
6th, 7th, 8th & 9th- Kim Walko, Tony Italia, Theresa Niewiadomski
Thank you to our 2025 sponsors!
