Woodruff Prize
This video was produced by Second Story Productions to illuminate the Woodruff Foundation's history and interests, and to honor the 2008 Woodruff Prize award winner, EDEN, Inc.
2010 Woodruff Prize
WOODRUFF PRIZE FOR 2010 AWARDED TO:
Vady Vega
CPST Worker and HIV Educator,
Recovery Resources
The Woodruff Foundation, which supports behavioral health treatment, education and research in Cuyahoga County, announces the Woodruff Prize Winner for the year 2010. The Woodruff Prize award will be presented at the Woodruff Forum on November 2, 2010 at Hilton Garden Inn Cleveland Downtown. The event will also feature a keynote address by Linda Rosenberg, President of the National Council of Community Behavioral Health - "Health Reform and How Agencies Can Adapt"
The 2010 Woodruff Prize was reformatted to recognize a direct service staff member at a Cuyahoga County behavioral health agency. The Foundation is pleased to recognize Vady Vega, CPST Worker and HIV Educator with Recovery Resources. Ms. Vega joined the agency as a medical secretary 13 years ago, and quickly recognized a passion for working directly with clients. She works with homeless shelter clients with addictions and provides case management, runs a trauma support group, and offers HIV education. The Woodruff Prize of $12,000 will be granted to Recovery Resources for training and education. Ms. Vega is in nursing school, and Recovery Resources anticipates that these training dollars may allow her to speed up her time in school, which will ultimately benefit Ms. Vega and her family, her clients, and the agency as she takes on new roles as a nurse.
This is the 20th year of the Woodruff Prize program. An 8-member advisory committee, comprised of behavioral health professionals, community leaders and Woodruff Foundation Trustees, selected the winner from among the nominations received from the community. The finalists for this year's award were:
Cathy Alexander, Mental Health Services
Kate Biddle, Beech Brook
Ron Harris, Connections: Health Wellness Advocacy
Alan Hejduk, the Free Clinic
Dennis Koenig, Positive Education Program
Kristine Snell, Achievement Centers for Children
Barbara Wilson, Community Re-Entry.
The Woodruff Foundation will offer its next prize opportunity in early 2012. For more information please call the Foundation office at (216) 566-1853.
