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PR-04/30/2003: Mental Health Board Tony Hoffman Awards

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 30, 2003 printer friendly version  San Mateo County Health Services Agency Contact: Beverly Thames, (650) 573-3935 SAN MATEO COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH BOARD TO PRESENT TONY HOFFMAN COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS San Mateo, CA--In observance of May as Mental Health Month, the Tony Hoffman Community Service Awards will be presented at 4:30 p.m. May 7 at 225 37th Avenue, San Mateo, in the multipurpose rooms A & B. The Mental Health Board, staff, and various agencies in San Mateo County will honor: Beverly Abbott, volunteer: For being one of the strongest advocates for mental health services in the state and for the countless hours she has spent as employee and a volunteer to improve the lives of people with mental illness. Beverly continues this work through the Statewide Women's Mental Health Policy Group and the California Institute of Mental Health in long-term planning. Sarah Fuhs, volunteer: For her exceptional work with Mateo Lodge, Inc. Sarah assists counselors at the residential treatment homes with cooking and transportation of clients five days a week, three hours a day. She also attends agency functions and fundraising activities for this nonprofit agency. Sarah manages to do all of this while pursuing a Human Services Certificate at CaÒada College and raising two small children as a single parent. Anthony Barreiro, business: For providing resources to assist clients with employment, housing, planning activities, and organizing meetings. Anthony is a social worker with San Mateo County. St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, business: For establishing, in cooperation with the Mental Health Association of San Mateo, the first Friendship Center over thirty-three years ago. As a result of the first center's success, due in part to the members of the congregation who volunteered, MHA established several Friendship Centers in the county. Richard Berghella & Robert Spano, landlords/housing: For their position as property owners providing Section 8 housing throughout San Mateo County for people with serious mental illness. Carmen Lee, client: For being a great role model and for her success with the Stamp Out Stigma Program. Lee Piombo, client: For his personal achievement and outstanding work in the client community, including volunteering at the Peninsula Network of Mental Health Clients. The awards are made in memory of Tony Hoffman who (with his wife, Fran) was known throughout California as a strong advocate and driving force in organizing families to demand the services they needed and should have for their family members with mental illness. Controversial, tough, persistent in the face of resistance, and sometimes even hostility from professionals, Hoffman pushed the mental health system to change in ways it needed to change. He served on the San Mateo County Mental Health Board for over twenty years. ###