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"SPIRIT OF CRI" AWARDEES
Joe Gilkinson
Joe is a C5/6 Quad and he was injured on August 2, 1986. Joe was involved with the Waterford
Borough Council for three and a half years. Joe has been involved with the CRI basketball team sine
the start and he has played rugby since 1998 with the Pittsburgh rugby team. Joe was a member of
the PA National Guard unit in Erie for 5 years from 1981 to 1986 (112th Infantry). He recently
participated in the 2010 National Veterans WEheelchair games, he took home 3 gold metals in Quad
Rugby, 100 meter dash and wheelchair slalom. Joe plans on participating in the 2011 games which
will be held in Pittsburgh August 1-6, 2011. Joe married his wife LeeAnn on March 23, 1985. He has
3 children and 2 grandchildren. His dedication to the Bay City Basketball team and developing other
sports for individuals with disabilites depicts the "Spirit of CRI".
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Jill Hrinda-Patton
Jill has been an advocate for individuals with disabilities for over 15 years. Her specialty is
children’s advocacy. In 2007, Jill’s commitment to advocating for youth with disabilities lead to her establishing “Mission Empower.” Mission Empower is a non-profit organization whose mission is to empower youth with disabilities to use their gifts and talents to follow their dreams. Mission
Empower, under Jill’s relentless dedication, advocates for individual and systems’ changes in
schools ensuring inclusion for children with and without disabilities. Jill’s dedication to community education that dispels myths about people with disabilities is exemplary of the “Spirit of CRI”.
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Paul McCommons
Paul has been instrumental through his systems advocacy with local entertainment businesses in the Erie area. As a person that is hard of hearing, Paul has experienced the frustrations and barriers that prevented him from participating in activities in the community. Paul decided to contact several locations that failed to provide support to people that are hard of hearing and that use the neck loop system to participate in community events like plays, speeches, concerts, sporting events and educational activities. Three of the businesses Paul had success with so far are the Warner Theater, The Bayfront Convention Center, and the Tom Ridge Environmental Center. All three businesses have purchased the neck loop systems for their customers to use. Paul continues to advocate for people with disabilities as he works with other businesses in the Erie area, illustrating the “Spirit of CRI”.
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Doug Yaple
Doug shows the Spirit of CRI through his efforts to help local non-profits by organizing the Yaple’s
Hook & Slice Golf Benefit Invitational. For the past eighteen years, Doug has helped to raise nearly
$40,000 for a variety of causes in the Erie Community. This past year Doug’s benefit supported the
Bay City Thunder and Lightning Basketball team, CRI’s professional wheelchair basketball team.
Through Doug’s efforts, over $11,000 was raised to help the basketball team purchase equipment for
their upcoming season. Doug understands the importance to give back and help his community, exemplifying the “Spirit of CRI”.
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Joe Sherosky
Joe was born in 1952 in Erie and was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at birth. He is the youngest of
five children; three older brothers and an older sister. When Joe turned 46 years old in 1996, he
moved into his own apartment at Erie Independence House, receiving attendant care services and
became involved in advocacy programs at CRI’s Center for Independent Living. He became a strong advocate for people with disabilities, with a main interest centered on accessible transportation.
Joe was at the forefront regarding expansion of existing LIFT programs in Erie. Joe has become
valuable source of information to CRI’s consumer advocacy group, staying up to date on current
disability issues and political issues, and sharing information with other group members. Joe enjoys
the camaraderie of working with other people on advocacy issues and continues to be involved to
this day. Joe shows his “Spirit of CRI” everyday, staying knowledgeable on issues and advocating
for the rights of all people with disabilities.
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Presque Isle Rehab Technologies - Jim Nolan
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Tina Schiefelbein
Many people see a need for change; others hear a need for change. Tina is a hearing instrument specialist with nearly 15 years of experience testing, and fitting individuals with hearing disabilities. In 2006, Tina co-developed the “Lending An Ear” program partnering with CRI to provide quality hearing care for individuals with low to moderate incomes who do not qualify for traditional purchasing options.
In 2008, Tina saw and heard a need for change after spending years working for a lucrative hearing aid practice and witnessing the growing population of adults who couldn’t afford hearing aids which often are not covered by insurance plans. Tina decided to open her own practice, Affordable Care Hearing Aid, which is dedicated to both, those who can afford hearing aids and those who can not.
In the Spirit of CRI, Tina is committed to providing quality hearing care that supports independent living in all aspects of the community.
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Erie Community Foundation - Michael L. Batchelor
The Erie Community Foundation works to improve the quality of life in our region by evaluating and addressing community issues, by promoting responsible philanthropy, and by connecting donors to the critical needs of the community. Michael L. Batchelor has been at the helm of The Erie Community Foundation since 1990, when he was selected as the first executive director. He was named president of the foundation in 1995.
The Erie Community Foundation has supported several projects and programs that CRI has provided in the Erie Community empowering people with disabilities to live independently. With over 600 Endowments Funds valuing over $180 million, the Erie Community Foundation has become a vital support to local non-profits. The Erie Community Foundations mission to improve the quality of life of the Erie community portrays the “Spirit of CRI.”
In photo above: Representative of ECF accepting on behalf of Mike Batchelor.
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Karen Moski
Hospice of Metropolitan Erie (HOME) is one of Pennsylvania’s first hospice organizations, founded in 1980 by a concerned and capable group of volunteers. These volunteers respect the fact that every individual that they work with has the opportunity to pass away at home receiving the care that allows them to retain independence and dignity.
Working directly with Karen Moski, Director of HOME, CRI has developed a wraparound service assuring that terminally ill consumers receive attendant care in their homes along with end of life care without having to wait for the program eligibility process to be complete. HOME has never denied anyone services for financial reasons. HOME a community based hospice provider at every level, its commitment extends beyond the passing; bereavement supports and services are extended to love ones as they adjust to the lost. HOME’s relentless pursuit of advocacy and excellence pertaining to end of life care is commendable of the “Sprit of CRI”.
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Mayor Joseph E. Sinnott
Mayor Joe Sinnott, a lifelong resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, graduated from Academy High School in 1984 and Gannon University in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry.
Following graduation, Mayor Sinnott worked for eight years as a chemist for the City of Erie, Waste Water Treatment Plant. In this capacity he worked with local industries to solve environmental issues and achieve compliance with federal, state and local environmental regulations. This work experience gave Mayor Sinnott the insight into how the regulatory process works and continues to serve him as Mayor. Mayor Sinnott has the distinction of being the only Mayor to have been a city employee and City Councilman prior to becoming Mayor. The Mayor completed two years of a four-year term on City Council, 2004 through 2005, and was elected Mayor of the City of Erie, in 2005.
In his first term as mayor, Mayor Sinnott re-implemented the Mayor’s Roundtable on Disabilities, an advisory group made up of people with disabilities, agencies serving people with disabilities and city employees that meet quarterly with the mayor on accessibility issues. Through listening and addressing the concerns and issues from this group, Mayor Sinnott affirms his commitment to people with disabilities. Mayor Sinnott actively supports the principles of equality and inclusion in the Erie community, demonstrating the “Spirit of CRI”.
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