Tickets Available for April 16 Charity Banquet

Cary, N.C. – Earlier this year the SearStone continuing care retirement community partnered with Transitions LifeCare (founded as Hospice of Wake County) to create a new awards program honoring individuals and organizations that provide exemplary service, support and opportunities to Wake County seniors. A specially convened Selection Committee has reviewed all nominations and selected the winners for the 2015 Ageless Hero Awards.

Ageless Hero Student of the Year: Greg Seymour

Seymour performed with his band at local senior communities across the area. He also started a club at Green Hope High School for others to learn and perform songs. His love of music and seniors is credited to his grandparents.

Ageless Hero Business of the Year: Guiding Lights

The Guiding Lights Caregiver Support Center has been designed solely with caregivers in mind. The organization’s goal is to have the very best resources and means of support for all local family and professional caregivers, so they can diminish the fear, doubt and overwhelming stress that accompany this very important aspect of family life.

Ageless Hero Person of the Year: Mary Toland

Toland has volunteered more than 100 hours at the Raleigh Campus of Transitions LifeCare since January 2014. Additionally, she has volunteered countless hours in the community recruiting other volunteers, fundraising, and spreading awareness of what hospice does for patients.

Ageless Hero of the Year (55+): Howard Manning, DORCAS Ministries

Following his retirement from a successful corporate career, Manning took a position with Christian Community In Action (dba Dorcas Ministries) and was later appointed executive director in 2006. Since then, he has led the nonprofit to continued growth in serving its mission of providing crisis relief to area residents who seek stability and self-sufficiency.

Ageless Hero Lifetime Achievement Award: David Cottengim

Cottengim was nominated for his extensive commitment to area seniors over the past 30 years. He was instrumental in the development of many senior services that exist today due to his leadership at Resources for Seniors. He was also instrumental in the founding of the GOLD Coalition, Growing Older, and Living with Dignity.

Fan Favorite Award: Helen Merentino

The Selection Committee added this award to honor the entrant with the most nominations: 12. Merentino volunteers at the Cary Senior Center teaching multiple line dancing classes that are all free of charge. She has also organized a group of performers for the Wake County Senior Games, the State Fair, and nursing home performances.

The Selection Committee was comprised of the following individuals: Rabbi Lucy Dinner, Temple Beth Or; Melissa Zeph, the Justice Theater Project; Douglas Richmond, board member with the Center for Volunteer Caregiving; Ed Yerha, Town of Cary council member; John Thoma, Transitions LifeCare; Erin Nortonen, SAS aging and eldercare program manager; Steven Hardesty, NewBridge Bank; and Kathleen Brennan, board member with Wake County Senior Games.

The Ageless Hero Awards will be presented at a special charity banquet on April 16 from 6-9 p.m. at SearStone’s Winston Clubhouse, located at 17001 SearStone Drive in Cary. Tickets are $85 each for this limited-seating event, with proceeds benefitting the Center for Volunteer Caregiving. To purchase tickets, please call 919-234-0339, RSVP online at http://www.searstone.com/events-cary-north-carolina or email dderosa@searstone.com.

For more information about SearStone, visit www.searstone.com. Visit SearStone’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SearStoneRetirementCommunity. For information on Transitions LifeCare, visit www.transitionslifecare.org.