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WASHINGTON — Lutheran Services in America, a nonprofit that harnesses a nationwide network of 300 health and human services organizations to empower communities across America, honored three of its members today with awards for their exceptional work and leadership. Samaritas, Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area and Marian Baldini of KenCrest Services were recognized with The Innovator Award, The Micah Award and the premiere of The Paragon Award – The Ken Daly Award for Excellence in Mentorship, respectively.

The awards were presented to each winner during CEO Summit 2022. Lutheran Services in America launched The Innovator and The Micah Awards in 2021 to recognize distinguished organizations that reflect the Lutheran Services in America network’s core values of seeking innovative solutions to transform the lives of people and lifting up the diversity of people, communities and ideas. The Paragon Award debuts this year in honor of the late Ken Daly, a former Lutheran Services in America board member who was committed to ensuring that people — particularly children — had the opportunity to thrive and who served as an inspiring mentor to people throughout his career.

“We entered 2022 with yet another incredible group of award nominees who demonstrated our network’s commitment to delivering change that can truly transform lives,” said Charlotte Haberaecker, president and CEO of Lutheran Services in America. “We are especially pleased to add The Paragon Award this year to honor the legacy of the late Ken Daly as an exemplary mentor to so many. The 2022 leadership awards recognize the bold action and leadership taken by this year’s recipients to advance solutions and drive systemic change in the lives of people in their communities.”

Samaritas received The Innovator Award, which recognizes organizations that pioneer new solutions and practices to solve complex issues that extend beyond their own mission to strengthen the Lutheran social ministry network. Through its CARES (Caregiver Accessible Resource Education Services) program, the Detroit-based organization improves health outcomes for older adults by investing in the education of caregivers through a credentialed dementia care training program. Samaritas CARES empowers caregivers with new opportunities for behavioral observation and education through the use of assisted reality technology. The technology promises to mitigate the challenges of an ongoing workforce shortage by empowering caregivers and increasing their quality of life while maintaining a high quality of care for older adults.

“Through our partnerships with DCS, Google Glass, Vuzix, and 1 Minuut, this training supports caregivers in assisting older adults at home and maintaining their independence as long as possible while also reducing daunting health care costs. Our goal has always been to create a stronger community of caregivers to empower older adults to live with meaning, purpose and independence,” said Sam Beals, CEO of Samaritas. “It’s an honor to be recognized by Lutheran Services in America for this work.”

Lutheran Services in America awarded Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) in Washington, D.C., with The Micah Award, which recognizes organizations that exhibit outstanding leadership in addressing justice, mercy and equity and exemplifies the spirit of Micah 6:8, “Act justly, and love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.” LSSNCA mobilized to resettle nearly 4,000 Afghan Allies in the Maryland, Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. area by providing immigration support, housing and job placements. In addition, LSSNCA continues to provide programs to unaccompanied youth from Central America, asylees from Cameroon, asylum-seekers from Haiti and Central America, and a COVID-safe outdoor getaway for youths who are living with, or whose parents have, HIV/AIDS.

“Welcoming others in need from around the world and accompanying them on their journey is who we are as Lutheran social ministry. Our diverse team has individuals from around the world who have taken similar journeys, which makes this recognition that much more special,” said Kristyn Peck, CEO of LSSNCA. “We greatly appreciate this award, which recognizes the importance of meeting the ever-increasing need for providing newcomers with support, housing, and job placement.”

Marian Baldini, the president and CEO of KenCrest Services in Pennsylvania, was presented The Paragon Award – The Ken Daly Award for Excellence in Mentorship. This new award recognizes a leader with an exceptional gift for spotting potential in people and who generously provides guidance, coaching and experience to lift up the next group of leaders. Baldini inspires a shared vision across KenCrest that people with intellectual disabilities can thrive in inclusive environments where they’re contributing in their communities. A true servant-leader who has never lost sight of her direct support professional experience, she has helped her team further their leadership skills and inspired a shared vision across KenCrest that people with intellectual disabilities can thrive in inclusive environments.

“The onset of the pandemic changed everything we knew about how to move our agency forward,” said Baldini. “Despite this, we’ve never wavered in our ability to explore possibilities, mobilize resources, and empower the dreams of those we support; and those of our talented staff who continue to navigate such a challenging time with courage and kindness. I am grateful to be recognized by Lutheran Services in America for the work we have accomplished.”

Additional organizations nominated for the 2022 Annual Membership Awards include Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida, Metro Lutheran Ministry, Mosaic, Shepherd’s Canyon Retreat and Wernle Youth & Family Treatment Center.

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About Lutheran Services in America
Lutheran Services in America is a national network of 300 Lutheran health and human services organizations that works with one in 50 people in America each year. Recognized by The Chronicle of Philanthropy and Forbes as one of the nation’s top nonprofit organizations, the Lutheran Services in America network operates with more than $22 billion in combined annual revenue. Headquartered in Washington, DC, Lutheran Services in America leads innovative collaborations with partners in philanthropy, academia, healthcare and others to address the most critical challenges in our communities and empower people to lead their best lives.

To learn more, visit lutheranservices.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

WASHINGTON — Lutheran Services in America, a nonprofit that harnesses a nationwide network of 300 health and human services organizations to empower communities all across America, has hired Wendy Beach as its vice president of marketing and communications. Beach will begin her role on January 1.

Beach has provided marketing and communications consulting services for Lutheran Services in America since January 2021. She maintains more than 20 years of experience in directing strategic marketing and communications initiatives across a range of organizations, from start-ups and nonprofits to global corporations.

“Wendy is an enormous talent whose skills and experience have already proven to be invaluable for Lutheran Services in America over the past year in amplifying our network’s efforts to empower people nationwide,” said Charlotte Haberaecker, president and CEO of Lutheran Services in America. “With Wendy’s leadership, we are well-positioned to continue lifting up the work of our 300 member organizations across 1,400 communities, especially during this crucial time.”

“The value of communications holds tremendous power in sharing the stories from across our national network that captivate us—stories of hardship and of triumph,” said Wendy Beach. “I am honored to be a part of the Lutheran Services in America marketing and communications team to help bring many of these incredible stories to life in a variety of ways and provide greater visibility to the work of this network and its powerful impact on communities.”

Wendy was previously director of brand marketing at Choice Hotels where she led the marketing strategy for nine of its hotel brands. She developed an integrated marketing approach across all consumer channels, involving targeted digital media campaigns, innovative partnerships and sponsorships, videos, social media promotions, email marketing, customizable marketing toolkits to empower franchisees and more.

Prior to Choice Hotels, she was the director of marketing and communications at Global Impact, a $120 million nonprofit, where she transformed the marketing of the world’s largest workplace giving campaign leading to a record-breaking $67 million campaign, led a re-positioning initiative for the organization, redesigned four websites, and revamped and integrated activities across traditional and digital venues.

Earlier in her career, Wendy was a senior manager of communications at Fannie Mae where she led strategic communications for the chief operating officer and the Restatement and Finance initiative and as the senior manager of eBusiness where she led a team in managing all aspects of marketing and communications for the division.

Wendy graduated cum laude from the Whittemore School of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire with a bachelor’s degree in economics and international affairs.

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About Lutheran Services in America
Lutheran Services in America is a network of 300 Lutheran health and human services organizations that works with more than 1 in 50 people in America each year. Recognized by The Chronicle of Philanthropy and Forbes as one of the nation’s largest nonprofits, the network operates with more than $22 billion in combined annual revenues. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., Lutheran Services in America leads groundbreaking programs in partnership with philanthropy, academia, healthcare providers and others to empower people to lead their best lives. To learn more, visit www.lutheranservices.org.

WASHINGTON — Lutheran Services in America, a nonprofit that harnesses a nationwide network of 300 health and human services organizations to empower communities all across America, is proud to announce the election of David Duea, the president and CEO of Lutheran Community Services Northwest, to its board of directors.

Duea brings with him decades of experience serving communities across Washington, Oregon and Idaho, and a reputation of leading innovative services that support people of all ages and backgrounds. He has led Lutheran Community Services Northwest, a 100-year-old member organization of Lutheran Services in America based in Tacoma, Washington, that lifts up more than 40,000 people each year, since 2014. As president and CEO, Duea has propelled programs that deliver behavioral health, child welfare, and services for families, refugees, and older adults. Recently, Duea oversaw the agreement for Compass Housing Alliance to become an affiliate of Lutheran Community Services Northwest.

“David is a proven leader whose record demonstrates his commitment to transforming lives in communities across the Pacific Northwest,” said Charlotte Haberaecker, president and CEO of Lutheran Services in America. “His skills and experience promise to invigorate how we continue to think about addressing the complex issues that affect the one in 50 people in America our network lifts up each year.”

Prior to joining Lutheran Community Services Northwest, Duea led HopeSparks, another Tacoma-based nonprofit, as CEO for 13 years. Duea has served in the nonprofit field since he graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in 1989 with a degree in social work. He has extensive experience working with board development, fundraising, and systems management.

“Tackling the toughest challenges people face each and every day to transform lives and communities is at the core of what Lutheran Services of America does,” said David Duea. “I am honored to join their board of directors and excited to work with a network that has a shared passion for empowering people and building healthier communities on a national scale.”

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About Lutheran Services in America
Lutheran Services in America is a network of 300 Lutheran health and human services organizations that works with more than 1 in 50 people in America each year. Recognized by The Chronicle of Philanthropy and Forbes as one of the nation’s largest nonprofits, the network operates with more than $22 billion in combined annual revenues. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., Lutheran Services in America leads groundbreaking programs in partnership with philanthropy, academia, healthcare providers and others to empower Americans to lead their best lives. To learn more, visit www.lutheranservices.org.

WASHINGTON — Today, the Bipartisan Policy Center released a new report, “Public Health Forward: Modernizing the U.S. Public Health System,” a five-year roadmap for public health leaders and elected officials to build a more equitable, robust, and sustainable public health system across the United States. Charlotte Haberaecker, president and CEO of Lutheran Services in America — a nonprofit that harnesses a nationwide network of 300 health and human services organizations to empower communities all across America — served as a member of a bipartisan task force that shaped the report’s recommendations. The 14-member task force consisted of current and former governors, mayors, elected representatives, nonprofit, public health, and health care executives.

With investment in and modernization of the public health system, the new report sets a vision where the United States is becoming a healthier nation, able to respond to an array of public health challenges — future pandemics, mental illness, substance abuse, obesity — all while ensuring every American has the opportunity to achieve their best health and well-being.

“This report provides a strategic blueprint for a strong public health system that fosters partnerships with key stakeholders that are critical to ensuring the health and well-being of all people in America,” said Charlotte Haberaecker, president and CEO of Lutheran Services in America. “The report recognizes that community-based nonprofit organizations are uniquely positioned to work in underserved communities because of their deep reach and long-standing trusted relationships with people. By working together, we can bring more stakeholders and resources to the table for the benefit of all people.”

Lutheran Services in America encourages state and local policymakers and health departments to use this opportunity to advance the nation’s health equity, safety, security, and economic prosperity through investments in public health.

The “Public Health Forward” report was produced in collaboration with the following organizations: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials; Big Cities Health Coalition; CDC Foundation; de Beaumont Foundation; Kresge Foundation; National Association of County and City Health Officials; Pew Charitable Trusts; Public Health Accreditation Board; and Sunflower Foundation.

Download the full report and watch the release event.

About Lutheran Services in America

Lutheran Services in America is the network of 300 Lutheran health and human services organizations that reaches more than 1 in 50 people in America each year. Recognized by The Chronicle of Philanthropy and Forbes as one of the nation’s largest nonprofits, the network operates with more than $23 billion in combined annual revenues. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., Lutheran Services in America leads groundbreaking programs in partnership with philanthropy, academia, healthcare providers and others to empower Americans to lead their best lives. To learn more, visit www.lutheranservices.org.

WASHINGTON — Lutheran Services in America, a nationwide network of 300 health and human services organizations that transforms the lives of one in 50 Americans each year, is proud to announce the election of Darrell Gordon as the new chair of its board of directors. Gordon, the president and CEO of Wernle Youth & Family Treatment Center, has a long track record of spearheading services that provide opportunities for growth and development for children and youth.

For the past 20 years, Gordon has served as head of Wernle, a nationally recognized residential treatment facility serving severely neglected and abused youth primarily in Indiana and Ohio. Under his leadership, Wernle was chosen as one of three national finalists for the 2014 Performance-based Standards Barbara Allen-Hagen Award for extraordinary improvement to facility quality of life and operations. Gordon’s efforts also earned Wernle the 2005 Achievement of Excellence Non-Profit Organization of the Year Award.

“Lutheran Services in America is at the forefront of innovating new models, practices, and ways of thinking that ensure Americans of all walks of life have the opportunity to live their best lives,” said Darrell Gordon. “I am honored to serve as chair of the board of directors for the nation’s network of Lutheran health and human services organizations to continue this great mission of bringing transformational change to so many across the country.”

To commemorate Gordon’s new role as board chair, Lutheran Services in America produced a short video to highlight his personal journey that led him to the Lutheran Services in America board of directors as well as his contributions to the Richmond, Indiana, community over the past two decades. The video illuminates Gordon’s achievements at Wernle, his passion for achieving equitable outcomes for young people, and his excitement for advancing the initiatives of Lutheran Services in America, including the Results Innovation Lab which aims to dramatically improve the lives of 20,000 children in America by 2024.

“Darrell’s two decades of leadership at Wernle has made an extraordinary difference in the lives of countless children in Indiana,” said Charlotte Haberaecker, president and CEO of Lutheran Services in America. “His passion for helping people—as exemplified in our latest video—will further propel our efforts to strengthen communities and address disproportionate outcomes for older adults, children and youth, and many others who our network aims to lift up each and every day.”

Gordon’s video is the fifth in a series that showcases Lutheran Services in America board members who are called to empower others. View all five videos to hear our board members’ personal journeys and their dedication to achieve a healthier, more equitable future for millions of Americans.

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About Lutheran Services in America
Lutheran Services in America is the nonprofit network of 300 Lutheran health and human services organizations that works with more than 1 in 50 Americans each year. Recognized by The Chronicle of Philanthropy and Forbes as one of the nation’s largest nonprofits, the Lutheran Services in America network operates with more than $22 billion in combined annual revenues. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., Lutheran Services in America leads groundbreaking programs in partnership with philanthropy, academia, healthcare, and others to empower Americans to live their best lives. To learn more, visit www.lutheranservices.org.