Beverly Brunke Named 2016 Adult Volunteer of the Year

Sun City Volunteer Earns Statewide Honors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 19, 2016
CONTACT: Kristen Knapp, APR
(850) 701-3530 or kknapp@fhca.org

Tallahassee, FL – The Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) has recognized Beverly “Be.Be.” Brunke, a long-time volunteer with the Palm Garden of Sun City care center, as the Association’s 2016 Volunteer of the Year. The award, which is given annually to an individual who shows outstanding service to seniors residing in Florida’s long term care centers, was presented by FHCA during the Association’s Annual Conference in Orlando on August 7-11.

For the past four years, Be.Be. has volunteered two days a week conducting Bible study, singing, and visiting with residents, all to spread happiness and strength through song and scripture. She developed “Chat with Be.Be.” and “Weekly Bible Study with Be.Be.” programs to engage residents in a fun and exciting way.

“Be.Be. helps our residents reach their greatest potential by challenging their minds,” said Karen Birbeck, Life Enrichment Director of Palm Garden of Sun City. “She encourages our long term and short term residents through her kind words and spiritual insight. Be.Be. is truly a stellar volunteer.”

Added FHCA Executive Director Emmett Reed: “The Association is pleased to honor Be.Be. for her outstanding work and commitment to others. Her enthusiasm and dedication to serving the residents and supporting the staff at Palm Garden is an inspiration to us all.”

Florida Health Care Association’s Long Term Care Excellence Awards are an annual recognition program. They include the Resident of the Year Award, Nursing Home and Assisted Living Facility Administrator of the Year awards, and the Willis J. Gregson Associate Member of the Year Award. The Volunteer of the Year awards recognize an individual and a group for their service to long term care, and a long term care center is annually honored for its community outreach. For more information about FHCA’s Long Term Care Excellence Awards, visit the Quality Improvement section of the FHCA website at [url=http://www.fhca.org]http://www.fhca.org[/url].

ABOUT THE FLORIDA HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION
The Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) is a federation which serves nearly 1,000 members and represents more than 500 long term care facilities that provide skilled nursing, post-acute and sub-acute care, short-term rehab, assisted living, and other services to the elderly and individuals with disabilities in Florida. The mission of FHCA is to advance the quality of services, image, professional development, and financial stability of its members. As Florida's first and largest advocacy organization for long term care providers and the elderly they serve, the Association has worked diligently since 1954 to assist its members with continuously improving quality of care and quality of life for the state’s growing elder care population. For more information about the Florida Health Care Association, visit [url=http://www.fhca.org]http://www.fhca.org[/url].

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