Woman Honored for Work With Disabled

A Tierra del Sol employee has received a national honor for her leadership in a program that trains developmentally disabled adults to work as volunteers.

Jacquie Perrone was one of two individuals to receive the Volunteers of America’s annual Wittnauer Award for volunteerism in housing. The award stemmed from her work overseeing a volunteer program at Burns Manor, an apartment complex for low-income seniors in Sunland.

Under Perrone’s direction, Tierra clients help instructors lead exercise and other recreational programs at Burns Manor.

“I’m really blessed to have found my niche. I really enjoy doing this,” said Perrone, who insisted that the real credit for the program belongs to the Tierra clients who do the volunteer work.

“One of our goals at Tierra is to help our clients give back to the community,” Perrone said. “It’s very rewarding for them to be able to help out.”

“Our residents have come to look at the Tierra clients as part of their family,” said Dottie Wheeler, an administrator at Burns Manor.

“None of this would have happened if [Perrone] didn’t come to us and offer to set it up.”

About 70 individuals nationwide received Wittnauer awards in a variety of categories from Volunteers of America, a Christian nonprofit group dedicated to community service.

Perrone will be honored Thursday in a ceremony at Burns Manor.