Hero Awards - Heroes Showcase

Heroes Showcase

The Heroes Showcase is a dedicated space honoring the individuals who have made a profound impact within our industry. Here, we celebrate present and past award winners whose passion, innovation, and commitment have transformed lives, setting new standards in service and care. Through their stories, the showcase pays homage to those whose contributions inspire us all to reach higher.

2024 Hero Award Winners

Andi Walsh

Wellspring Village Director
Westminster, MD

Andi recognized a need for a Dementia Support Group for Carroll County due to many of these shutting down during the pandemic. The few groups in the area had remained virtual and Andi recognized the need for in-person support for caregivers in the community. Andi worked to develop curriculum and speakers. She coordinated with the Alzheimer’s Association to identify the group as a recognized support group on their website. To date, she has more than 10+ households that attend. Andi takes it upon herself to reach out to individual members of the group to connect outside of the 90 minutes the group spends together monthly.

George Silva

Resident Engagement Director
Burlington, MA

George uses his knowledge of history to help others not only learn more but also create commonality and understanding. A great example is, Hometown History – a program George created. Hometown History won the Program Innovation Award at the 2023 Massachusetts Assisted Living Association Annual Excellence Awards. Hometown History, is one of the first programs that a resident experiences after moving in. George meets with new residents to go over interesting history from the resident’s hometown. The goal is to involve them immediately within the community and allow them to bring a little piece of their old home into their new home.

Marianne Hohrein

Executive Director

Provo, UT

Marianne’s community welcomed Gail S. Halvorsen, known as “The Candy Bomber,” a Berlin Airlift pilot famous for dropping candy-laden parachutes to German children post-WWII. His efforts, backed by candy companies, delivered over 250,000 parachutes with 23 tons of candy, symbolizing American kindness. Later, he dreamed of opening a Civil Air Patrol hangar to provide children with hands-on STEM education. Inspired by his vision, Marianne led efforts to support it, organizing a gala with entertainment, auctions, and a helicopter “candy drop” featuring Halvorsen himself. The event raised $61,000 for his foundation. Her community continues to host an annual carnival and car show, raising over $8,000 last September.

Mary Gomez

San Marcos, TX

Prior to working for the Wharton Community, she was the local towns seamstress she did all the Quinceanera dresses and wedding dresses for the surrounding towns, she was known by many. Over the last 20 years she has given her time, sweat and tears to Wharton Sodalis. She would work doubles just to make sure everyone was taken care of and was older than most of our staff but would run circles around them. We had a saying, “Well, if Mary can do it we all can” and it would make us push harder! To know Mary was to love her.

Rob Sampson

Director of Life Enrichment

New Albany, OH

Rob is repeatedly described as a champion and his passion for making a difference in the lives of the residents is unmatched. Rob finds importance in ensuring all residents feel seen and included, strives to instill confidence, and provide opportunities for residents to grow and shine. For example, Pat and Bea were a mother/daughter duo living at the Avalon. Bea was an adult living with special needs who Rob invited to join the community choir. Rob and a music therapist worked diligently with Bea on a song, “Jesus Loves Me”, for her to perform as a solo in an upcoming show. Pat and several family members were in the front row on performance day as Bea sang her solo. Proud of her daughter, Pat was moved to tears. After the show, the family presented a beaming Bea with flowers for her magnificent performance in an opportunity supported by Rob.