Jerry Flaschner Humanitarian Spirit Award
2008 Recipient - Richard Gehring, LCSW
The "Jerry Flaschner Humanitarian Spirit Award" was established in 2006 in honor of the late Jerry Flaschner, a member of the Network in Aging board of directors, publisher of Living Prime Time and an active volunteer for many important causes. This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated the same concern for elders in the Western New York community as exemplified by Jerry.
Richard recently retired after 30 years of service as President of Meals on Wheels for WNY, Inc. He was the heart of the organization, always finding new ways to spread the message "Feed the Need". Under his tenure, Meals on Wheels built and moved to new headquarters in the City of Buffalo, and began plans for a Meals on Wheels commissary. Excelling in both administrative and people skills, Richard built a strong board of directors, a network of community supporters, and an army of 2,000 dedicated volunteers. Prior to his employment with Meals on Wheels, Richard worked for the New York State Department of Health on the residential facility survey team. He was an adjunct instructor at numerous local colleges/universities.
Richard is very active in the Meals on Wheels Association of America, and has conducted trainings on various aspects of home-delivered meal programs both nationally and internationally. He has served on the board of directors and will begin part-time employment with them in July of this year. He also currently is a member of the Network in Aging's board of directors as well as serving on the Education Committee and is the chair of the Advisory Council of the Erie County Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP).
In the local network of senior services, Richard demonstrates a concern and respect not only for the recipients of the home delivered meals, but also for anyone who shares in the enterprise to increase the quality of life for seniors - the Meals on Wheels staff, volunteers, and his colleagues. It has been his 30-year mission to ensure that the Meals on Wheels program met standards of excellence, so that the daily delivery of a nutritious meal package and a volunteer's friendly smile would always reach those who needed them.
Richard exemplifies the qualifications for the "Jerry Flaschner Humanitarian Award" in all his different roles as - CEO, head of an organization that depends on volunteers for its operations, a teacher of students entering the field of aging, an Advisory Council member, and a friend and colleague in senior services. We thank Richard for his generosity with his time and expertise to help others to become better professionals and service providers for older adults.
Susan Radke, Director of the Erie County Nutrition Program quotes "Dick is one of a kind individual-always going above and beyond the call of duty by giving so generously of his time and experience". "Dick has dedicated his entire life in helping others by bringing individuals together to resolve problems, conducting productive meetings, helping out in a budget crisis, and coordinating conferences on regional, state or national levels." "He is a talented and informative speaker and presenter with the ability to enable people to come together to assist our senior population who are in need.
In retirement, he continues to deliver meals two days a week and is involved in many community activities to better the lives of Western New Yorkers.