St. Leonard Chosen for
2006 George C. Cooper Diversity Award
The St. Leonard Senior Living Community
has been selected as the second winner of the George C. Cooper Diversity
Award by the Centerville-Washington Diversity Council.
Designed
to honor community members who display leadership and commitment to
diversity, the award will be presented at a Yankee Trace luncheon on
Wednesday, October 4. Set to begin at 11:30 a.m., the luncheon is
open to the general public and costs $20 per person. Reservations may be
made at the Centerville Government Center, 100 West Spring Valley Road,
or by calling 937-433-7151.
St. Leonard is dedicated to providing
services and care to people of diverse socio-economic backgrounds. Most
notably, St. Leonard has made a commitment to support the needs of the
elderly poor.
Not only is assistance provided to
residents who require financial aid in the Assisted Care and St. Joseph
Independent Living settings, but the campus houses the Joseph Bernardin
Residence, comprised of 100 tax-credit independent apartments for
seniors of modest means.
Additionally, St. Leonard has partnered
with Centerville City Schools to provide vocational training to special
needs students in the High School's Transition Program. These
students experience hands-on job training in a variety of departments,
including Laundry, Housekeeping, Dietary and Grounds, under the
direction of supervisors and mentors. Under this program, students
are able to develop skills such as work quality, time management,
dependability and productivity. Such training serves as a strong
foundation for future employment opportunities.
A member of the "Golden Thirteen," the
first 13 African-American officers commissioned by the U.S. Navy during
World War II, George Cooper was a founding member of the
Centerville-Washington Diversity Council and was committed to fostering
an educated and inclusive community. This award, honoring his
commitment to diversity, acknowledges individuals and/or organizations
that embody diversity and promote it within the community.
