Dr. Evan Calkins Meritorious Service Award
2009 Recipient - John W. Kinner, Health Association of Niagara County Inc.
John W. Kinner began as the executive director of the Health Association of Niagara County, Inc. (HANCI) in August 2000 after serving the Buffalo/Niagara region in other capacities for more than 16 years.
Kinner has brought passion and sincerity to the organization. In 2001, his vision led the Golden Age Program to merge into HANCI to help area seniors stay connected in the community. By realigning the program with HANCI's Council for Older Adults, (formerly the Council on Aging) he assured that funds that would have been spent in redundancies like bookkeeping and audits are now used directly for senior services.
Let's Get Physical, a new fitness program for older adults, also started under his leadership. The program, devoted to keeping seniors active and engaged through fitness and wellness programs, serves over 60 seniors around the Niagara Falls Region. Participating older adults become healthier, make friendships, and have fun.
However, his most important work for the aging began five years ago. Kinner spearheaded a collaborative effort with the Dale Association of Niagara County to create Complete Senior Care, a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) that will open in Spring 2010. This program will allow nursing home-eligible older adults in Niagara County to live at home instead of in institutions. Aside from vastly enriching the lives of frail elders, this program will give peace of mind to family caregivers, create 75 new jobs, reduce Medicaid costs and create $1.8 million of capital investment at HANCI's Main Street campus in Niagara Falls.
Kinner's collaborative approach has been crucial in bringing HANCI to the next level in human services. Motivated by his morals, values, and respect for the elderly, Kinner has bridged gaps between HANCI and other organizations in the Niagara Region to provide the best possible senior services. He works tirelessly every single day to enhance the lives of the aging.
To Kinner, HANCI is not simply an organization; it is a catalyst to meet the needs of the community. Instead of trying to take the lead independently, HANCI forges coalitions and partnerships to approach elderly care in a new and holistic way. Before taking on new community initiatives, he makes sure they are sustainable, high-impact, and unique. This approach led to the formation of the Niagara Caregivers Network, which has offered programming on advance care planning, education for professional caregivers, and materials to promote successful aging for older adults. Kinner also worked with the Niagara County Health Department to save the imperiled Healthy Living Partnership, which provides free cancer screening and prevention services for the uninsured and underinsured, many of them seniors.
Kinner has also done extensive advocacy work with public officials for a greater recognition of home- and community-based care to help people live more independently outside of nursing homes. His passion for senior care has played a substantial role in helping the Western New York state delegation to understand the value of home care. He has traveled with New York State Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte to senior groups, centers and apartment residences throughout Niagara County to discuss the services that are available.
At HANCI, John Kinner has shown a fervent commitment to keeping senior volunteer-based programs strong. The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, Senior Companion Program, and Foster Grandparent Program have seen great success in mobilizing area seniors to improve their community through volunteerism, while also providing stipends to those who are income-eligible. His work with these programs constantly raises the bar for excellence.
Kinner raised the bar in February 2009, when he combined these programs under a single umbrella, the Volunteer Center at HANCI. This took the three volunteer programs to the next level by eliminating redundancies and encouraging greater focus. Under the Volunteer Center at HANCI, these three programs work together to achieve greater and serve more.
Prior to joining HANCI, Kinner was vice president of the United Way of Niagara, a position he had held since 1985. His major responsibility there was the annual United Way Campaign. Before his United Way tenure, Kinner was community education coordinator for Opportunities Unlimited of Niagara.
John Kinner is active in the community and has a true passion for promoting positive change. He is a member of the Niagara County Workforce Investment Board and the Lewiston Kiwanis Club, and is a past volunteer for Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart and Stella Niagara. He is also a past president of the Western New York Chapter of the New York State Association of Health Care Providers.
Kinner is a faculty member for Niagara University's new Certificate of Applied Urban Ministry Program. This program is a series of courses that teaches people in the faith community how to better help their congregations, assisting both younger and older parishioners.
However, much of John's community work is done from inside HANCI. He constantly organizes drives to help people in the community, many of whom are elderly and impoverished. His insatiable drive to help others has led the way in collecting food for Heart and Soul Food Pantry and other charities in the area. He motivates and mobilizes employees of HANCI to do their part, stressing community values and the need to do what is right.
These values are shown in the many community awards Kinner has received. He is the 2008 recipient of Niagara University's prestigious Caritas Medal, which honors leaders who exemplify the charity of St. Vincent de Paul, as well as the Dale Association's Millicent Russell Award for outstanding service to older adults. Previously, he has been honored with the Public Relations Society of America-Buffalo Niagara Chapter's Outstanding Executive Award, the Niagara University College of Education Community Leadership Award, and the Pine Avenue Business Association's Community Service Award.