Nancy Battaglia receives “Wally Award”

Nancy Ann Battaglia was the recipient of the 2009 Bruce “Wally” Walford Community Services award. The award was presented during the Laurel Run opening ceremonies by Wally’s wife, Laurel.

Nancy Ann Battaglia addresses the crowd after receiving the 2009 Bruce “Wally” Walford Community Service Award. Behind her is Wally’s wife, Laurel.

Nancy is a Mental Health Clinician at the “Gateways” Continuing Day Treatment Program in Dunkirk. Gateways supports individuals in Northern Chautauqua County who are challenged by chronic and persistent mental illness.

Many of the people most in need of these services lack transportation to get to the program. So, on her own time before starting work in the morning, Nancy drives around Dunkirk and Fredonia, picking up people and bringing them to the program appointments, assist them with legal issues or help them complete forms they don’t fully comprehend. Nancy also helps consumers complete their income tax returns.

Knowing that community integration is important to the well-being of persons with mental illness, Nancy takes them to many community events (sometimes during the day, sometimes on her own time), and in the process the consumers have had the opportunity to volunteer their OWN time to support a variety of causes. With Nancy’s support, several of the Gateways consumers have formed a group called the “Team of Hope” to assist area not-for-profits and various charitable efforts.

Fittingly, the Team of Hope had its start at Laurel Run. For the 2007 event, Nancy and several Gateways consumers volunteered their time, taking posters around to area businesses. They also came to Silver Creek to help hand out T-shirts during Registration and be on hand at the finish line to give bottles of water to the walkers and runners. On their way home that day, the consumers told Nancy they had a great time and wanted to be able to do similar things every month. The Team of Hope was born.
Nancy also volunteers to sell newspapers for the special “Laurel Run” edition of the Observer. The past two years, she and some Team of Hope members have been stationed at Wal-Mart, and they thoroughly enjoy being able to sell the newspapers.

Going out of her way is the norm for Nancy. Through her efforts, persons with mental illness have begun to become integrated members of the community and have supported the community through their volunteer activities. Like Wally, Nancy has a huge heart and generously gives of herself in order to improve the lives of people with disabilities. And Wally was an inspiration for Nancy: the past two years, she has put together a team of TRC employees and consumers for the American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life.” She called the Team “Wally Walford’s Warriors” in honor of Wally, and they have raised more than $1,000 for the Cancer Society.

For her efforts to improve the lives of persons with mental health challenges by supporting them in doing good works for our community, we are pleased to present Nancy Ann Battaglia with the 2009 Bruce “Wally” Walford Community Service Award.

Wally, the Manager of The Resource Center’s Dunkirk Work Center, passed away unexpectedly in 2007. He was beloved by individuals with disabilities at the Work Center, and respected by those who worked with him. Wally played an integral role each year in organizing Laurel Run.

The Bruce “Wally” Walford Community Service Award was created to recognize those who exhibit the traits Wally possessed: a commitment to their community and a selfless streak a mile wide. They may not know HOW they’re going to get something done, but they possess the initiative and ingenuity to forge forward and make things happen. Their enthusiasm and exuberance naturally inspire those around them. They are movers, shakers and doers.

Click here to make a nomination

COMMENT

Nominations for the third annual Bruce “Wally” Walford Community Service Award will be accepted through March 1, 2010. Click here to make a memorial contribution to TRC Foundation in Wally’s honor.