OMAHA, Neb. (September 21, 2015) – Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska (LFS) held its annual Faith in Action® event on Sunday, September 13 at Embassy Suites in La Vista, Neb. The event, attended by 230 people and emceed by Jack Swanda, afternoon host for KGBI-FM 100.7 The Fish, celebrated those who generously advance safety, hope and well-being for all people by recognizing community leaders whose actions demonstrate their commitment to faith-based values and humble service.
Among the honorees this year: Dick and Dolores Zolnosky, who received the 2015 Douglas E. Parrott Faith in Action® award for setting a lifetime standard of humble, faith-filled generosity of time, talent and treasure to those in need.
“Dick and Dolores are such a humble couple,” said Ruth Henrichs, president and CEO for LFS. “They expect nothing in return for their personal acts of kindness.”
The event also honored Betsy Timmerman, the Forever Families Guild and People’s Health Center. Timmerman was honored for harnessing “the power of one” and opening her heart and the hearts of others to embrace refugees. Timmerman received the 2015 Volunteer of the Year award for her ongoing mentorship of refugee families over the past 11 years.
“Betsy has opened her heart and her home to welcome refugees seeking safety and freedom,” Ruth Henneman, vice president of development for LFS. “Her only motivation is compassion!”
“It has been a tremendous learning and heartwarming experience for me,” said Timmerman in her acceptance speech. “This honor extends to my friends and family because they have been on this wonderful journey with me.”
The Forever Families Guild was recognized for helping to build and restore safe and healthy childhoods by helping when able, volunteering when inspired and creating stories of hope. The Forever Families Guild received the 2015 Volunteer Group of the Year award for their support of children’s programs managed by LFS.
“For years, the Forever Families Guild has supported the children served by LFS,” said Ruth Henneman, vice president of development for LFS. “They are motivated by the LFS mission, by the LFS staff who serve our community’s children and families, and by their own families who join them in volunteering.”
People’s Health Center was recognized for partnering with LFS to advance the health and well-being of Lincoln, Nebraska’s most vulnerable and received the 2015 Community Partner of the Year award.
“People’s Health Center shares our LFS vision of ‘safety, hope, and well-being for all people’ and they share our courage to be pioneers of innovative human care services,” said Henrichs, “Together with the entire Lincoln community, People’s Health Center and LFS have created Health 360, an Integrated Care Clinic bringing primary health care, behavioral health care and pharmacy together under one roof!”
The clinic opened February 2015 in the LFS office located at 2201 S. 17 Street in Lincoln, Neb. and will move to its permanent location at 23rd and O streets in early 2016.
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View event photos and videos at www.LFSneb.org/Faith-in-Action-2015/
