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2008 STEPS COMMUNITY HEROES AWARDS PROGRAM
The Steps Community Heroes Award Program is a CDC Steps Program initiative
that honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to improve
the health and well-being of others in their communities. This program was
designed to acknowledge “Steps Heroes” who, without expecting personal
recognition, have unselfishly contributed their time, talents, and expertise
to make significant and often sustainable contributions in their
communities, making them a healthier place to live.
The honored Steps Heroes, representing a cross-section of society, were
selected from 23 nominations made by the 40 CDC-funded Steps communities.
The selection process was not an easy task, as all of the nominees made
excellent contributions to the Steps Program in their community.
Seven Community Heroes were selected and recently honored at the annual
Steps Cooperative Agreement Program Action Institute held in Washington, DC,
on March 20, 2008. The 2008 Steps Community Heroes Award
recipients include a school district food service director, a
community health representative, a teacher and one of her students, a
retired nurse and community advocate, a health educator, and a public health
nutrition graduate student volunteer. They have each volunteered significant
portions of their time to address one or more Steps initiatives. Many of
their efforts have led to a policy, systems, or environmental change in
their community that will sustain efforts to help people maintain a healthy
lifestyle. The Heroes contributions demonstrate a passionate commitment to
the Steps Program and to reducing the burden of chronic diseases.
l to r, top row—Award presenters: Elaine Auld –
Executive Director of the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE),
Dr. Wayne Giles – Director of CDC’s Division of Adult and Community
Health, Dennis Shepard – Project Director of Y-USA’s Steps
Partnership, Jennie Hefelfinger – Project Manager at National
Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD), and Dr. Alyssa Easton
– Director of CDC’s Steps Program Office.
l to r, bottom row—Award winners: Ray Denniston, Patty
Tobal, Peggy Johns, Stephanie Heim, Kelley Brumfield, Dawn Imler, and Woody
Hansen.
The Steps Program extends its sincere appreciation and wishes to acknowledge
Dennis Shepard and staff of the YMCA of the USA (YMCA) and Genie Short with
Partnerships in Prevention for their efforts sponsoring the Steps Community
Heroes Awards Program and Ceremony. The YMCA’s generosity made it possible
for the Heroes to attend this event, all expenses paid, and afforded CDC the
opportunity to present the Heroes with a distinguished award in
commemoration of their involvement with the Steps Programs in their
communities. Genie Short arranged Steps Heroes interviews with the media,
disseminated press releases about the Heroes, and co-sponsored the Heroes
Reception and Breakfast. We would also like to thank Steps to a Healthier
Cleveland for sponsoring the cost of Kelley Brumfield’s award statuette.
Click here to read about last
year’s 2007 inaugural awards.
Page last reviewed: May 2, 2008
Page last modified: June 23, 2008
Content source: Division of Adult and
Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
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