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Presidential Lifetime Service Awards bestowed on two residents of
West Palm Beach Housing Authority Southridge Development

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

West Palm Beach, Fl, April 14, 2008 – Two residents of the West Palm Beach Housing Authority Southridge development have been awarded Presidential Lifetime Service Awards.

Jorge Ching who is 74 years old and Manuel Delgado who is 69, received the Presidential Award along with letters from President George Bush commending their volunteerism.

The Cuban-born Southridge residents jointly amassed more than 12,000 hours in their volunteer work as Senior Companions at a Spanish-speaking adult day care center in Greenacres operated by Alzheimer's Community Care. Ching is a new citizen of the United States.

“Jorge and Manuel have helped foster a culture of service, citizenship, and responsibility,” said Pamela Wiener, the West Palm Beach Housing Authority's Elder Care & Crisis Manager who helped the men obtain their volunteer positions.

“Jorge and his wife lost all income due to citizenship issues which are now resolved for him. Volunteerism brought with it tremendous satisfaction in ‘giving back,’ as well as a stipend that helped them manage their finances in the interim,” Wiener added.

The President's Volunteer Service Award recognizes individuals, families, and groups that have achieved a certain standard – measured by the number of hours served over a 12-month period or cumulative hours earned over the course of a lifetime.

In his State of the Union address, the President issued a challenge to all Americans to make time to help their neighbors, communities, and nation through service. He called on each person to dedicate at least 4,000 hours – or two years – to service over the course of their lives.

With a mission to provide those with limited financial resources access to safe, decent and affordable public housing and programs to assist in transition to greater financial security, the West Palm Beach Housing Authority owns and operates 712 units in five housing developments: Dunbar Village, Southridge, Pleasant City, Twin Lakes and Robinson Village.