Local woman wins national honor for her work
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WELLINGTON — Wellington Kiwanis member and Aktion Club adviser Sandy Hoff is the kind of person who brings joy into every room she enters, according to Marilyn Weber, superintendent of Weber Habilitation Center.
That is probably one of the reasons why Hoff is receiving a national honor for her leadership of the Aktion Club for 14 developmentally disabled adults, Weber said.
Hoff was tapped the 2009 DD Hero of the Year by American Health Care and will receive her award before 1,500 to 2,000 people on Oct. 7 in Chicago, Weber said.
Last week, Wellington’s Aktion Club also was honored as the Aktion Club with the best service project in the state.
A wonderful relationship blossomed between first-graders at Westwood Elementary School and Aktion Club members who embarked on a service project to work with the youngsters, according to Weber.
Front, around car to the left, state Rep. Terry Boose,R-Norwalk; Randy Cook, Aktion Club; and Pat Weber. Standing, far left, Jim Carter, Aktion Club; Becky Pickering, Aktion Club; Tom Crawford, past Ohio district Kiwanis Governor; Rosemary Deleon, Aktion Club; and MaryLou Crawford. Seated in car, left, Sandy Hoff, Aktion Club Kiwanis Adviser and honoree; Del Weber, owner of Wellington Habilitation Center; and Jay Eastman, president of Wellington Kiwanis.
The Aktion Club members, aged 20 to 85, “adopted” the children, sponsoring Halloween and Christmas parties and working with the school to make 100 foam art bumblebees for the kids, Weber said.
The adults also hosted a tea for teachers and did other service projects that showed everyone they have a lot to contribute, according to Weber.
“That was our whole goal — to dispel the fear and satisfy the curiosity,” Weber said. “We’re all people.”
The Aktion Club is comprised of 10 people from Weber facilities in Wellington, two from a Sensi-Care group home near Palm Crest East in Elyria and a man who lives with his parents in Norton.
Like the children, they learned a valuable lesson — to do something for others — through the service project, Weber said.
“You’re working and doing things because we pay it forward — we show the community our abilities,” Weber said.
The state award was celebrated Sept. 16 at a cake and brunch reception at Weber Habilitation Center. The Aktion Club and Hoff received proclamations from state Rep. Terry Boose and Aktion Club members presented Hoff with a pink pen with a silver heart to honor her work as adviser.
Weber Habilitation Center operates facilities for 68 developmentally disabled adults in Wellington: Weber Health Care Center, Wellington Estates (comprised of the Boardwalk and Park Place group homes) and Hartford-Salem Manor.
It is owned by Del and Pat Weber, who are not related to their employee, Marilyn Weber.
The state Aktion Club service award is named in honor of Tom Crawford, a developmentally disabled adult with Down syndrome who died unexpectedly in 2007.
Crawford’s parents, Tom and MaryLou, helped present the award.
Send your Wellington and Oberlin news to Cindy Leise, 329-7245 or cleise@chroniclet.com.
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