DARLINGTON — The Darlington County Disabilities & Special Needs Board recently recognized its employees for service and excellence during its recent Employee Awards and Recognition Ceremony.
The awards are presented to employees who have demonstrated agency loyalty for five or more years of service.
Awards for excellence consist or the Employee of the Year and the Vonoka Kind and Lou Scott awards. The board’s Staff Support Team sponsors the Employee of the Year, the Vonoka Kind Award and the Special Recognition of Excellence.
The Employee of the Year is selected from Employee of the Month recipients from the previous 12 months. The Employee of the Year Award was presented to Ann Lighty, April’s Employee of the Month. Lighty is a direct support professional at the Bridging the Gap Adult Day Program.
Other 2009 employees of the month are Tammy Johnson, Gwen Sansbury, Evelyn Harkless, Winnie Arnold, Shirley Myers and Reagan and Bowen houses’ staffs.
The Vonoka Kind Award is new. It was created in memory of Kind, who died in April 2009. The purpose is to recognize an employee who demonstrates excellence in commitment, dedication, dependability, teamwork, leadership and service above and beyond to the board and consumers.
The recipient is Verniell Hannibal, house manager for Reagan House, a residential home for consumers. John Kind, Vonoka’s husband, assisted with the presentation of the award.
Rose Brown received special recognition of excellence for her service to the board. She is the work activity supervisor at Bridging the Gap.
The Lou Scott Award is named for the board’s beloved founder. The award is given annually to an employee “who has a profound impact on the lives of the people we serve in some significant way.” The honoree is chosen by the board’s Executive Director Ruth Thomas based on nominations submitted to her by executive staff.
This year’s winner is Dawanda Brown, lead licensed practical nurse health coordinator for the agency. She was nominated for this award by executive assistant Carrie Chenard.
The board is a nonprofit agency that serves more than 500 people with mental retardation, autism and head and spinal cord injuries throughout Darlington County. It initially was named the Hartsville Area Developmental Center. It had its beginning in 1967 when Scott was asked to become director of a kindergarten class for the mentally retarded
It receives more than 99 percent of its $4 million funding from state and federal grants. The remaining portion is from organizations such as the United Way and private donations.
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