It was a very different scene at the LeMont Restaurant this year as the Vincentian Charitable Foundation hosted our annual Heart of Gold Awards Celebration virtually. The event was broadcast live on YouTube and Facebook with viewers as far as California watching. If you missed it, watch the recording on YouTube.
Vincentian caregivers were recognized with the highest honor – the Heart of Gold Award – for their compassion and professionalism during the pandemic. Susan Lewandowski, Administrator at Vincentian Marian Manor, accepted the award on the behalf of employees.
“Our caregivers have been amazing this past year during the pandemic. They have held our residents’ hands and they have been there for not only our residents, but our family members,” Susan said. “We all know what a challenging year this past year has been with the COVID virus. Our staff has been tremendously supportive to all of our residents, all of our family members, and of all of us who are here to serve our residents.”
The other award recipients included:
Sr. Lorraine Marie Ferlin – Heart of Vincentian – for her tireless dedication and fundraising efforts to support Vincentian Home.
The Notre Dame Club of Pittsburgh – Heart of Pittsburgh – for its long-standing support of Vincentian and Vincentian Marian Manor.
Highmark – Heart of Charity – for its long association with Vincentian serving on a volunteer basis on the Vincentian board of directors for two decades and supporting the organization’s fundraising efforts over the past two decades.
The event raised more than $80,000 for Vincentian’s Benevolent Care, which ensures that residents are not asked to leave Vincentian when their funds become exhausted. Despite the pandemic, Vincentian provided nearly $9 million in benevolent care to residents in 2020.
