Senior Heroes Awards
Join us in honoring the people in our community who serve seniors.
Senior Heroes Awards
Senior Heroes Awards
Mission Statement
Recognizing those who share a vision of honoring and celebrating individuals and organizations who serve and champion seniors in the Southwest Washington Community.
Vision Statement
Giving recognition to caregivers, healthcare, and other professionals and organizations in Southwest Washington who go above and beyond to support and care for seniors.
Senior Heroes Awards
What is a Senior Hero?
A senior hero is a person or organization who serves older adults with excellence and compassion.
What are the Senior Heroes Awards?
This prestigious, annual award program brings together national, state, county, city, and civic leaders to honor the people in our communities who serve seniors.
Who can nominate a Senior Hero?
Anyone can nominate a Senior Hero! Just click here if you are in Clark County, Washington or click here if you are in Cowlitz or Wahkiakum Counties, Washington. It's easy. Just tell some stories about why they deserve to be chosen for this prestigious annual award.
How are Senior Heroes chosen?
A panel of judges, usually older adults themselves and leaders in the community, review the nominations without seeing any identifying information and score the nominations to choose the year's award winners.
How are award winners honored?
Every year and county looks different in specific details. However, you'll often see media coverage, newspaper spreads, physical plaques, social media mentions, prize baskets, sometimes cash, and tickets to in-person or virtual events.
Who runs Senior Heroes Awards?
This is a grass-roots community initiative involving everyday citizens, professionals, and civic leaders coming together to honor elders. We often partner with a non-profit in our counties to handle any donations and expenses. But, all decisions are made by a variety of local leaders coming together.
~ Our History ~
Dick Halvorson has had the opportunity to develop, organize and manage a variety of senior services over his 50 year career in gerontology and senior services. A missing link in these services was praise and recognition of the individuals and organizations who served elders and people living with disabilities in the non-profit and for profit sectors.
In 2015, Dick approached Eric Erickson (Executive Director of CDM Caregiving Services) and Dave Kelly (Executive Director of the Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of Southwest Washington) about creating a Clark County awards program that would recognize individuals and organizations who provide exemplary service to elders and people with disabilities.
From those discussions came about the formation of a Planning Committee to organize and administer the first annual Senior Heroes Awards event on May 17, 2017, at Club Green Meadows. A total of 5 awards were presented, and it became an instant success in the community.
The Senior Heroes Awards event was established with area volunteers to operate the event; and local sponsors to underwrite the program. Now, moving towards a decade of celebrations, the Senior Heroes Awards Planning Committee will recognize 10 individuals and organizations each year; provide thousands of dollars in grants and gifts to the community; and involve over 30 local sponsors who support the event.
How can I get involved?
We are always looking for people to nominate their friends and neighbors and colleagues. Every year, we have great sponsorship opportunities for your business or family trust. We need enthusiastic volunteers to help get the word out, manage the award process, or help with upcoming events. See the Contact Us page for the county of your choice to get in touch.
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