REM Iowa’s Linda Renn Receives Ripple of Hope Award

December 2, 2019

The MENTOR Network honored the 15th Annual Ripple of Hope Award recipients at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, Massachusetts on November 5. Among the winners was Linda Renn, a Direct Support Professional from REM Iowa.

The winners were selected from nearly 300 nominations and represent the very best among us—employees, Mentors and other independent contractors—whose dedication to the individuals The MENTOR Network serves has led to positive change and created a legacy for others to follow.

“This year’s honorees are an inspiration and representative of so many throughout The MENTOR Network who carry out our mission every day,” said William McKinney, Chief Executive Officer of The MENTOR Network.  “We celebrate their selflessness and dedication to enhancing the lives of others, and we thank them for setting a higher standard of care.”

In 2005, The MENTOR Network established the Ripple of Hope Awards to recognize The Network’s most outstanding employees, Mentors and independent contractors whose passion, energy and skill have created a positive impact in the lives of others. Whether they work in direct care, operations or supporting business roles, these outstanding employees and service providers create a “ripple of hope,” and a legacy of compassion and caring for others to follow.

The title of the award is inspired by the words of late U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy:

“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

The following employees and Mentors were honored with a 2019 Ripple of Hope of Award:

Liz Lauzon, Case Manager, NeuroRestorative Massachusetts

Lynn Leandro, Program Director, Massachusetts MENTOR

Diana Lozano, Program Director, MENTOR Adult Day Health, New Jersey

Lisa Martinez, Assistant Director of Nursing, NeuroRestorative California

Edwin Mikkelsen, Medical Director, The MENTOR Network

J.R. Moody, Program Director, REM Hennepin in Minnesota

Kenneth Oates, Mentor, Arizona MENTOR

Alice and Johnnie Ramos, Mentors, Pennsylvania MENTOR

Linda Renn, Direct Support Professional, REM Iowa

Recognizing the mission of The MENTOR Network could not be fulfilled without partnerships, this year The MENTOR Network once again honored an external party with a Ripple of Hope Award.  The Honorable Robert A. DeLeo, Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, was recognized among the distinguished group of award recipients.

The Blue Magic Band, composed of individuals served by NeuroRestorative Maine, honored the recipients with a performance during the ceremony.

To learn more about the Ripple of Hope Awards and view video clips from this year’s ceremony, please visit https://www.thementornetwork.com/rippleofhope.