Muriel Irving, an in-home care worker with Council for Jewish Elderly (CJE), was recently honored during a luncheon at the Illinois Governor's Mansion in Springfield, with the prestigious "Mary J. Hill Homecare Assistant of the Year award," given by the Illinois Association of Community Care Program Homecare Providers. Selected from 19 other nominees, Irving was presented with the award, a remembrance gift and a check for $100, by Charles D. Johnson, director of the Illinois Department on Aging.

The award was created by the Association to thank Illinois homemakers for being the "heart" of the Community Care Program and giving older citizens across the state the opportunity to age with dignity and respect in their own homes.

"Day in and day out, Muriel embodies care, patience, compassion and understanding in her work and relationships with clients," said Barbara Rabyne, Council for Jewish Elderly's manager of personal care, who nominated Irving for the award. "Those aspects coupled with her skills and knowledge of the job make her not only a great caregiver, but also more importantly, a great person. I can think of no person who deserves this award more than Muriel."

Irving, who has served as an in-home service worker with CJE for the past three years, assists clients in their homes with everyday tasks such as vacuuming, mopping, cleaning, and changing linens; helps to prepare meals and provides shopping assistance; makes observations and provides feedback to her supervisor about the condition of the client with regard to physical and emotional status and living quarters; and establishes a supportive relationship with clients to help them remain safe and comfortable in their own home.

Whether it is visiting an ailing client in a hospital to cheer them up and keep them up to date with current events or staying late into the dinner hour to make sure a client gets a warm meal, Irving does not limit herself to the typical nine to five work day, Rabyne explained.

When not caring for her individual clients, Irving is known to take care of their pets, namely cats. On one occasion when a client went into the hospital, Irving, knowing how upsetting it would be for the client to be away from her cat, made arrangements for it to be fed regularly until the client returned home. Rabyne added that Irving was also the only worker who agreed to serve a client who lived in a cat-shelter with 80 cats.

The 2005 "Hustle Up The Hancock" on Sunday, February 27, was no easy feat for the eleven members of the Growing Teens Association of Provident Hospital of Cook County. The students, under the guidance of Dr. Camille Billingslea, Department of Family Medicine, participated in the 42 floor climb up the Hancock Building to raise money for the American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago (ALAMC). The Hustle included more than 4,000 climbers in both the 94 floor and 42 floor climbs, with over 400 volunteers. The ALAMC raised more that $565,000.

When the "2004-2005" program season began for the Growing Teens last October, the students were introduced to various projects that they could participate in throughout the year to earn community service hours. One of those activities included the "Hustle." Provident Hospital program coordinator Lou Ward, RN explained to parents that part of the mission statement of the teen club was to promote health wellness and to encourage students to maintain physical health and fight obesity through exercise. Ward stated that participation in the "Hustle" would accomplish both of these goals.

Twelve students made a commitment to participate, although 42 flights seemed like a lot of stairs. Dr. Billingslea, who had participated in the event the previous year, agreed to help condition the students on a weekly basis.

Provident Hospital of Cook County, Growing Teens Club, physicians and staff participate in "Hustle Up The Hancock".

The Growing Teens were one of the first teams to register as volunteers and climbers. Through Dr. Billingslea’s generosity, the climbers were treated to an overnight sleepover at the Westin Hotel so that they would not be late for their early morning climb.

Dr. Donelson, Family Medicine, reviewed the rules for the climbers and gave the team a pep talk to mentally prepare them for their journey. The Growing Teens looked like a professional team, sporting their teal blue uniformed t-shirt with the County seal and black pants to the Hancock Building. The Growing Teens all completed the 42-stair climb between 8 – 15 minutes. Each team member received a team photo and medal. Congratulations to student climbers Ninotcha Harper Bay, Mazi Farris, Joseph Kelly, Shamari Cash-O’Bannon, Derrick Preston, Elliott Robinson, Chantil Simmons, Latonya Simmons, Charlene Smith, Jasmine Weathers, and Andre’ White.

"On behalf of the American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago, thank you for volunteering for the 2005 OfficeMax Hustle Up the Hancock! I would also like to welcome the Provident Hospital of Cook County volunteers to the ALAMC volunteer family!!! This year’s Hustle was a huge success and it is because of dedicated and supportive volunteers such as you," states the American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago.

The Growing Teens Association at Provident Hospital of Cook County was founded in 2000 through grant funding from the Ronald McDonald Charities. Provident physicians provide health interactive classes for high school teens, focusing on the social and challenging issues facing today’s youth. In addition, the program helps students to set personal, and career goals for positive outcomes in their lives. Program content includes such topics as peer pressure, violence prevention, substance abuse, image and etiquette, relationships, college and summer job preparation. Students also go on a college tour, and participate in various social outings.

Reverend Delois Brown-Daniels Receives the Anton Boisen Professional Service Award. Each year the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions in the field of pastoral care through its Annual Leadership Awards. The APC is honored to announce this year’s Anton Boisen Professional Service Award recipient is the Rev. Delois Brown-Daniels, vice president of Mission and Spiritual Care at Illinois Masonic Medical Center.

The Anton Boisen Professional Service Award is named in honor of a pioneer in chaplaincy and clinical pastoral education. Each year the award is given to a Board Certified Chaplain of the APC who demonstrates a commitment to excellence in professional chaplaincy and has offered a unique contribution to contemporary pastoral care. For almost twenty-five years, Rev. Brown-Daniels has offered outstanding leadership in various healthcare organizations and in her professional community. She is the author of various articles on pastoral care published in books and professional journals. She has served on various civic and religious boards of directors.

Affectionately known to many as "Rev. Dee," she brings integrity, sensitivity, compassion and a commitment to ministry that enriches every environment in which she serves. She accepted the challenge in 2000 of forming the first pastoral care department in the 100-year history of Illinois Masonic Medical Center. Along with serving on the management team as vice president of Mission and Spiritual Care at the hospital, Rev. Brown-Daniels recruited a strong team of full time clinical chaplains.

"This award honors the creative vision and unique talent of our association members," states Robert Kidd, president of the Association of Professional Chaplains. "Chaplain Brown-Daniels has exhibited visionary leadership in the APC, which not only strengthens our association, but increases awareness of the importance of professional spiritual care in her community." She is the first African American to receive this award.

Rev. Brown-Daniels has championed a strong commitment to diverse interfaith ministry in numerous healthcare settings and her efforts create an ethos where a variety of spiritual and religious expressions are welcomed and respected. She has developed partnerships with local clergy associations and community service organizations such as The Night Ministry, Casa Central, and the Community Renewal Society. As an advocate for excellence in professional chaplaincy, Rev. Brown-Daniels models a leadership philosophy that is shaping the practice of contemporary spiritual care. Like Anton Boisen, for whom this award is named, Rev. Delois Brown-Daniels has a pastoral heart which has both touched those she serves and influenced the profession of pastoral care.

Rev. Brown-Daniels holds dual standing in the United Church of Christ and the American Baptist Church. Now a Board Certified Chaplain in the Association of Professional Chaplains, she was initially certified as a Fellow in the former College of Chaplains in 1985. She is also a Certified Supervisor through the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education and has held active leadership positions in both associations. She served on the College of Chaplains Board of Directors from 1990 to 1997 and was a part of the merger team of the College of Chaplains and the Association of Mental Health Clergy that led to the formation of the APC. She is a graduate of Converse College in Spartanburg, SC, and received her Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. She is the recipient of the Yale Divinity School 2002 Alumnal Board Award for Distinction in Service to the Community.