Governor and Mrs. Richard Thornburgh Receive Edna Silberman Humanitarian Award

Nov 4, 2011 10:00 AM ET

(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) Harrisburg, PA - November 4, 2011 - Governor and Mrs. Richard Thornburgh received the prestigious Edna Silberman Humanitarian Award presented by Keystone Human Services (KHS) at their 39th Annual Meeting, Thursday, November 3rd at the Sheraton Harrisburg-Hershey. 

Keystone’s highest honor, this annual award is presented to outstanding citizens who have made a significant contribution to individuals, our community and to Keystone Human Services. Recognized for their role in making Keystone’s vision real in the lives of others, the Thornburghs are being honored for going above and beyond to serve vulnerable populations and “Advance the Human Spirit.”   As parents of a son with intellectual and physical disability, Ginny and Dick have taken a special interest in advocating on behalf of persons with disabilities and have worked worldwide to maximize opportunities for this population through involvement in their communities, places of employment, schools and congregations. In 2003, the Thornburghs were joint recipients of the Henry B. Betts Award presented by AAPD, as well as awards from The Jewish Foundation for Group Homes and the Western Law Center for Disability Rights.    During his public career spanning 25 years, Dick Thornburgh served as Governor of Pennsylvania, Attorney General of the United States under Presidents Reagan and George H.W. Bush and Under-Secretary of the United Nations. Under his administration as Attorney General, he enacted the Americans with Disabilities Act.   Ginny Thornburgh has spent the past forty years as an advocate for people with disabilities. In 2002, she received the Henri Nouwen Award from the American Association on Mental Retardation and the Distinguished Service Award from Easter Seals. From 1988-89, she served as Coordinator of Programs for Persons with Disabilities at her alma mater, Harvard University, where she edited Resources for Persons with Disabilities. She presently serves as Director of the AAPD Interfaith Initiatives at the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). Gov. & Mrs. Thornburgh received this award from Keystone Human Services’ Founding President, Dennis Felty, at the Annual Meeting on November 3, 2011.   Previous recipients of the Edna Silberman Humanitarian Award include Dr. Robert Scott, Mrs. Grace Milliman Pollock, Dr. Janet Kelley, Dr. Joseph Adlestein, Mary Kratzer, Dr. Robert and Nancy Fierer, and Karen Snider. For more information about Keystone Human Services or the Edna Silberman Humanitarian Award, call Ann Moffitt, ACFRE at 717-232-7509 or visit our web site at www.keystonehumanservices.org.  

About Keystone Human Services
Keystone Human Services is a family of nonprofit organizations working together to serve the community. Keystone is committed to creating an environment where all people can grow, make choices, and be valued and contributing members of society. Keystone provides comprehensive community-based services for children, young people, adults and families in the areas of intellectual disabilities (mental retardation), autism, mental health, early intervention and children and family services. Keystone serves individuals and families in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and Connecticut. Keystone Human Services is also engaged in initiatives in Russia and Moldova.

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