Each October at our Annual Meeting, the Association presents three awards that were established by the Brain Injury Association of America. These are the James and Sarah Brady Award for Public Service, the Silvio O. Conte Award for Public Awareness and Education, and the Founders Award for Volunteer Service. The Annual Awards are just one way we recognize people for their outstanding contributions to the field of brain injury and to our mission.
James and Sarah Brady Award for Public Service
2007 Recipient – Mary Rider
The Association presented the James and Sarah Brady Award for Public Service to Mary Rider, of Lakehurst, NJ. For many years, Mary has given her time and energy, and sometimes money, to organizing recreational events, including picnics, holiday parties and community outings, for the Monmouth County Brain Injury Support Group. Her most recent picnic was attended by over 60 people. Mary also takes personal responsibility to assure that all the events and activities she coordinates are accessible. Alongside support group leader Peggy DiTommaso, Mary Rider is truly the glue that holds together the Monmouth Group. The support group participants and the community benefit from her generosity.
Past Recipients
2006 – William A.B. Ditto
Silvio O. Conte Award for Public Awareness and Education
2007 Recipients – Annual Seminar Committee
Dr. Joanne Azulay, Dr. Bradford J. Ross, Sam Bayoumy, Steven Benvenisti, Esq., Dr. George Carnevale, Georgianna Dodd, Nina Geier, Sharon Gola, Dianne Simmons-Grab, Roy Lippin, Angel McLaughlin, Gary Mabie, Lois Mishkin, and Rita Yohalem
This year’s recipient of the Silvio O. Conte Award for Public Awareness and Education are the members of the Association’s Seminar Committee. These individuals are responsible for the planning and coordination of the Associations Annual Seminar. The Seminar has been one of the Association’s staple programs for over 25 years, and continues to grow and explore new topics each and every year under the direction of these individuals, some of whom have been on the committee for more than 15 years. They posses an enormous amount of personal, practical and professional experience in brain injury, which they lend the Association with energy and commitment. It is impossible to quantify the number of hours these individuals volunteer on the seminar each year, to increase awareness and education statewide.
Past Recipients
2006 – Concussion in Sports Committee: Robert Baly, Dr. Jill Brooks, Ronald J. Czajkowski, Mike Finkelstein, Nina Geier, Gregg S. Heinzmann, Phil Hossler, Dr. Stephen Rice, and Dr. Ronald C. Savage
Founders Award for Volunteer Service
2007 Recipient - Chris Wade
The Founders Award for Volunteer Service was awarded to Chris Wade, RN, CRRN, for her coordination of volunteer nurses for the Association’s residential camp program, TREK. As Nurse Manager at JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute, Chris was unable to take on one of the full-time nursing staff positions at TREK, but her interest in the program lead her to become involved in a greater way. In addition to volunteering at TREK when she could, Chris organized more than ten other nurses and coordinated their time to volunteer at TREK. Her experience and guidance also helped the TREK staff nursed to make TREK’s coordination and dissemination of camper medications more efficient. Christ Wade’s volunteer assistance directly contributed to the secure, safe and smooth medical environment at this year’s camp. For that, the Association is grateful.
Past Recipients
2006 – Affiliated Support Group Leaders: Dr. Juan Carlos Arango, Dr. Carl Bradford, Virgilio Carabello, Lisa R. Cohen, Betty Collins, Erin Daly, Vince Diorio, David DiPaolo, Peggy DiTammaso, Vicky Hardy, Rachel Jacobowitz, Katie Kelly, Pam Lightfoot, Mary Liz McNamara, Dr. Mark Rader, Nutan Ravani, David Searles, Lisa Umina, Carolyn Weil, Olivia Williams, Dr. Beth Millstein Wish, and Dr. Chris Wolf
2005 – Vince Diorio
Make A Nomination
If you know someone deserving of one of our Annual Awards, please take the time to nominate them. The deadline is September 1 every year.