Glenside, PA – August 20, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — The Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania is proud to announce the recipients of the 2009 Homegrown PA Awards, which recognize exceptional efforts and leadership in working for a home within reach of all Pennsylvanians. This year’s slate of nominees was particularly competitive, with over thirty worthy candidates. The award winners selected exhibit the highest degree of dedication and excellence, and these activists serve as models in leadership, innovation, advocacy, partnership and the media.
2009 Homegrown PA Award Recipients
Leadership Award
Judge Annette M. Rizzo, Court of Common Pleas
Judge Rizzo–with support and assistance from John Dodds and the Philadelphia Unemployment Project, Beth Goodall and Community Legal Services, Irwin Trauss and Philadelphia Legal Assistance, and with financial support from Terry Gillen and the City of Philadelphia–developed Philadelphia’s innovative mortgage foreclosure mitigation program, which has saved hundreds of homes from foreclosure. The Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Pilot Program has become a model for other programs throughout the state and the nation.
Innovation Award
Richard Kisner, Columbia County Redevelopment Authority
Rich Kisner piloted a number of ground-breaking design and construction projects. Rich’s creativity, enthusiasm, and hands on approach has stimulated ventures that have a truly elevating impact on the community and assist families to become more self-sufficient.
Advocacy Award
Ronell Guy, Northside Coalition for Fair Housing and Bob Damewood, Regional Legal Housing Services
Bob Damewood and Ronell Gu were selected to receive the Advocacy Award because of their tireless efforts to ensure that persons of low-income have access to safe, decent, affordable, accessible homes. Bob through his effective and dedicated legal representation. Ronell through her organizing of low income residents and work founding and directing the Northside Coalition for Fair Housing (NCFH), a Section 8 tenant-based organization. And through their collective efforts buying-out of a majority of the limited partners in North Side Associates, putting NCFH in a position to preserve the long-term viability and affordability of the properties in which their tenants reside.
Partnership Award
Kim Stucke, Stairways Behavioral Health
Kim Stucke’s mantra is “partnership and teamwork” and her application of such a slogan has been confirmed through her work with diverse stakeholders and her facilitation of $15 million dollars in affordable housing projects in Northwest Pennsylvania.
Media Award
York Daily Record/Sunday News
The York Daily Record/Sunday News brought widespread awareness of the foreclosure crisis and the lack of affordable homes, and has effectively demonstrated how these issues influence all members of a community.
The winners will be honored at the Awards Luncheon at this year’s Homes within Reach Conference in Harrisburg, PA, December 9-11.
