PCS hosts gala benefit and awards celebration

Clark County

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July 31, 2012

PCS hosts gala benefit and awards celebration

NEWS AND TRIBUNE newsroom@newsandtribune.com The News and Tribune Tue Jul 31, 2012, 06:24 PM EDT

> SOUTHERN INDIANA — A thriving business, human services agency, college, and three professionals in Kentuckiana have been named winners of Personal Counseling Service’s Samaritan Awards that will be presented at its fourth annual Norman Melhiser Samaritan Awards Dinner on Thursday, Sept. 27.

The public is invited to join the celebration from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Plantation Hall at Huber’s Orchard and Winery in Starlight, Ind. Named for Norman Melhiser, a PCS board member and long-time supporter, the event will honor winners headquartered or significantly operating in PCS’s service areas of Clark, Crawford, Floyd, Harrison, Jefferson, Scott, and Washington counties in Southern Indiana and Bullitt, Jefferson, and Oldham counties in Kentucky.

“The evening is an opportunity to celebrate excellence and shine the light on outstanding business ethics and social consciousness throughout Kentuckiana,” said Doug Drake, executive director of the Clarksville-based counseling center that promotes wellness of mind, body, and spirit.

In addition, the event brings the community together to raise funds to provide licensed counseling and psychiatric services for adults, children, and families with limited financial resources.

THE WINNERS

From 27 nominated by the public, the following award winners were selected by an independent committee.

• L&D Mail Masters — Les & Virginia Albro Business Award for making significant contributions to the community through time and money to non-profit organizations, going far beyond what is required by law or industry standards.

• Hope Southern Indiana (formerly Interfaith Community Council) — Nancy & John Keck Non-Profit Award for an organization that demonstrates innovative programs and approaches to solving community problems and which has strong partnerships with other non-profits, businesses, and/or government entities.

• Ivy Tech Community College — The Green Award for a business or non-profit that has made a concerted effort to reduce its environmental impact on the world.

• Carol Dawson, owner and president of EEO Guidance, and Robert Kleehamer, senior vice president of River Valley Financial Bank — Alice & Richard Schleicher Individual Awards (tie) for those who have made significant contributions to the community through non-profit work, including volunteer efforts and monetary gifts, while demonstrating a commitment to personal values, influence in the community, and leadership within non-profits.

• Selected internally as the winner of the Diane Fischer Award of Excellence for a staff member who demonstrates outstanding commitment to ethical behavior and exceptional customer service is Dr. Patricia Pernicano, licensed psychologist with Personal Counseling Service, Inc.

THE EVENT

From 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 27 when doors open until dinner begins at 7, guests will enjoy a reception, cash bar, silent auction with a variety of items of varying values, a wine pull, and the opportunity to buy stuffed bears for $40, an amount that provides one hour of counseling for a child whose family cannot pay.

WHAS-TV News and “Great Day Live” anchor Rachel Platt will open the evening as emcee, and Scott Davenport, noted Bellarmine coach, will provide the keynote address, followed by the presentation of Samaritan Awards.

Major sponsors are: Gold, Business First and an anonymous donor; Silver, AML, Inc., General Contractors and the Hazel and Walter T. Bales Foundation; and Bronze, Derby City Litho, First Harrison Bank, L&D Mail Masters, Plantation Hall at Huber’s Orchard and Winery, and ProMedia Group.

Individual reservations are $125, and a table for eight is $1,000. For more information or to make reservations, email SamaritanAward@PCS-Counseling.org or log onto www.PCS-Counseling.org.