“Dick Jevon has been a tireless advocate for people with mental illness for over 20 years. His dedication and tenacity has influenced policy and opened doors for many consumers and their families. He embodies the type of individual that Dr. Craig would have admired and the Foundation is pleased to honor him with this award”, said Knight.
Dick first became active in 1987 as a volunteer for ADMIT (Advocates for the Mentally Ill in Transition), the predecessor to NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania. Currently a Board Member, Dick volunteers at NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania over 125 hours per month, representing the consumer voice educating the public about behavioral health.
Dick also serves on the Allegheny County MH/MR Board, a group whose recommendations were incorporated into what is known as the County’s Behavioral Health Plan. And he serves on the Board of Directors for Allegheny HealthChoices. He was a former Board Member for the Consumer Health Coalition and previously co-chaired the Southwest Behavioral Health Stakeholder Advisory Committee, a 10-county regional committee that highlights service problems and offers solutions to the State Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Prior to his involvement with NAMI Southwestern Pennsylvania, Dick worked as an executive at Alcoa, where he retired after 33 years.
"Dick Jevon is an activist who has personally brought about changes in the community mental health system through unrelenting, persistent advocacy," said our Executive Director Chris Michaels. "Dick offers distraught family members great emotional support and comfort through education about mental illness and the service system, and he exudes empathy and understanding through his own shared experiences."
"We were honored to nominate Dick for the Albert B. Craig Jr. Award and thrilled that he is being recognized as a pioneer in mental health advocacy. His kindness, tenacity and generosity of spirit are unparalleled."
The Staunton Farm Foundation’s award is named in honor of Albert B. Craig, Jr., MD of Rochester, NY. Dr. Craig, who died in 2007, served as the chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Staunton Farm Foundation and was a Professor of Physiology and Pharmacology at the University of Rochester Medical School. The award is made annually and includes a $5,000 cash prize. The person or agency nominated need not live in this region, but their innovation must have impacted people in southwestern Pa.
1 comment:
I cannot think of another who is more deserving of the award. Thank you, Dick.
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