Jacksonville Minister Named FHCA 2015 Adult Volunteer of the Year

Florida Heath Care Association Recognizes Rev. Willie Brown as 2015 Volunteer of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 11, 2015
CONTACT: Kristen Knapp, APR
(850) 701-3530 or kknapp@fhca.org

Tallahassee, FL - Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) has recognized Reverend Willie Brown, a long-time volunteer with the Riverwood Center in Jacksonville, as the Association’s 2015 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 last week in Orlando.
    
For the past 10 years, Reverend Brown has provided monthly spiritual service to Riverwood Center residents, spreading happiness and strength through song and scripture. Residents are encouraged to use their talents and join in by playing a guitar or keyboard, singing a solo or assisting with the services, activities that build up their confidence and improve their quality of life. Reverend Brown also provides services to the Center’s Caring Way memory unit, helping to enrich the lives of residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

“The spiritual programs Reverend Brown has developed connects our residents with music, and his kind smile, encouraging stories and welcoming hugs and handshakes have grown the fellowship of our center’s spiritual programs,” said Jason Kallen, administrator at the 240-bed Riverwood Center.

“FHCA is pleased to honor Reverend Brown with this prestigious award,” said FHCA Executive Director Emmett Reed. “His enthusiasm and dedication to serving the residents and supporting the staff of Riverwood Center 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 and Nursing Home and Assisted Living Facility Administrator of the Year 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 over 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 frail 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].

# # #