Fort Wayne, IN.-- Lutheran Life Villages (LLV), faith based, non-profit senior living community, announced today that Ashley Reed, Piper Trail Wellness Coordinator and Alex Dahnke, Concordia Lutheran High School Senior and LLV Business Office Intern, were named award winners at the Leading Age Indiana Spring Conference. LeadingAge Indiana is an association representing not-for-profit services and providers for the elderly.
Ashley Reed, a 2002 Concordia graduate, was named the winner of the Emerging Leader Award and Alex Dahnke the Community Volunteer Award. All members of Leading Age Indiana are encouraged to submit nominations and the winners are chosen by an award panel. Both individuals have made an impact in the lives of people that Lutheran Life Villages serves.
“Receiving these awards really highlights that there are a multitude of career paths in senior living,” said Tricia Neary, VP Marketing and Development, Lutheran Life Villages. “Traditionally people think of direct care services in senior living, but it really takes everyone coming together to ensure a high-quality lifestyle for the people we serve. We are thrilled to be able to recognize these two quality individuals.”
The Emerging Leader Award recognizes an employee in the early or mid-stage of their career who have demonstrated aptitude for and commitment to professional growth as a leader. Reed has certainly proven herself a leader as she created a vibrant wellness program at the new Piper Trail Community, Indiana’s only pocket neighborhood for active adults. Reed’s continued dedication to the Piper Trail community relies on partnerships within the Fort Wayne community to enrich what is offered to Piper Trail members through the utilization of community resources and community opportunities.
The Community Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes an individual or group of volunteers from outside of the member community whose commitment and dedication enhance the quality of life for seniors and their communities. Dahnke is a senior at Concordia Lutheran High School and one of two seniors who participated in the Career Internship program partnership with Lutheran Life Villages and Concordia High School for the spring 2022 semester. The Career Internship program at Concordia is a semester-long program where seniors are able to test of an undecided career choice before going on to college. While working his internship Dahnke was involved in a large payroll system software transition and year end close. While he spent time at the organization to learn about accounting and business his true spirit shined while talking about Concordia football with residents.
“Lutheran Life Villages prides itself on our long history in our community and our community partnerships,” said Alex Kiefer, CEO and President of Lutheran Life Villages, “We are excited that these awards give us a change to highlight our important partnerships with Concordia High School and Leading Age Indiana. Most importantly we are happy to applaud two hard working individuals who deserve this recognition.”
About Lutheran Life Villages
Lutheran Life Villages is a faith-based, not-for-profit organization providing high-quality living options and care to older adults in northeast Indiana since 1931. It currently operates four communities in the Fort Wayne area: The Village at Anthony Boulevard, The Village at Kendallville, The Village at Pine Valley and Piper Trail. Lutheran Life Villages offers residential living, assisted living, skilled nursing, short- and long-term rehabilitation; memory care, respite care and cottage style living in a pocket neighborhood. Lutheran Life Villages serves over 650 individuals each month, and employs over 540 staff. For more information, please visit www.lutheranlifevillages.org
As an expression of Christ’s love, we serve individuals and their caregivers with compassion and respect for independence, wellness, and spiritual life.