Government
Camden County Freedom Medal Ceremony
Camden County Board of Freeholders Honored Recipients of 2012 County Freedom Medals Honoring The Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Awards Dinner at Camden County BoathouseFourteen Camden County residents were honored Friday night with Camden County’s 2012 Freedom Medal for their unselfish contributions and service to their communities at a dinner and ceremony at The Camden County Boathouse on the banks of the Cooper River in Pennsauken. The award, created in 2001, is presented to civic leaders who demonstrate the ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Recipients are nominated by residents of Camden County and the award winners were decided upon by the 2012 Freedom Medal Selection Committee, headed by Dr. Mark Doorley, Ph.D., Director of the Ethics Program at the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at Villanova University.
More than 100 people attended the dinner and awards ceremony, including the recipients, their family and friends ,members of the Camden County Freeholder Board, Camden County Surrogate, Patricia Egan Jones, County Clerk, Joe Ripa, State Senator Donald Norcross and Assemblymen Angel Fuentes and Whip Wilson.
“This was a very special year for the Freedom Medal because it marks the tenth anniversary of presenting these awards,” said Louis Cappelli, Jr., Director of the Camden County Board of Freeholders and emcee of the event. “I am constantly amazed and humbled by the people who don’t seek the spotlight but serve their fellow residents so well and so selflessly. It was an honor to be here and, with the help of my fellow Freeholders, Jeff Nash and Rodney Greco as well as County Clerk Joe Ripa, to present these awards.”
One of this year’s award recipients, Sister Helen Cole, said both the invocation and the benediction. Her benediction was a call to action to everyone there: “Give light to those who live in darkness and despair,” she said.
Guest speaker was Adrienne Thomas Esquire, partner and legal counsel for Franklin Global Group. She shared words of inspiration from her father, Detective Samuel Wyche, who was one of Philadelphia’s first African-American police officers and was assigned to guard Dr. King whenever he visited the Philadelphia Region.
“My father always said this rhyme, which was really a call to us to go out there and achieve,” Thomas recalled. “He’d say to all six of his children: ‘Good, better, best. Never let it rest ‘til the good gets better and the better gets best.’” She added that all of her siblings went to college and earned graduate degrees.
Below are the recipients, listed by town. Photos of each of them receiving their award are available from the County. Call or email if you need them.
From Camden:
Atnre Alleyene. He works to improve and enhance the educational opportunities for minority students. Mr. Alleyene and his wife founded Teen SHARP, a college prep program for students ages 10-17. The program encourages and empowers students to reach their goals through academic guidance and assistance with college and summer prep programs.
Roger W. Barker. Mr. Barker has a deep devotion to his community and is a grandfather volunteer at Charles summer school, the town watch and Centerville Simbas Football Association. He volunteers his time in activities that aid widowers, the elderly and the needy in his community.
Sister Helen Cole. Sister Helen Cole was an integral part of the creation and opening of Guadalupe Family Services in 1995, a component of the Jesuit Urban Services Team. This team offers medical, legal and social services to residents in need in Camden. Sister Cole has been an advocate for victims of crime for over 16 years, whether they live in Camden or in the suburbs.
From Cherry Hill:
Lori Braunstein. Lori is a tremendous asset not only to Cherry Hill but to the communities that surround it as well. She is the executive director and found of Sustainable Cherry Hill and is participating for the fourth year in the prestigious NJ Learns for A Sustainable Future Program. She has received the Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award.
Hardon H. Durrani. Dr. Durrani is a civic leader who devotes his time and passion to life to make the community better. He provides free health and education classes and seminars on preventative measures against disease. He has also organized fundraisers for victims of disasters around the world, including the tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and the earthquake in Pakistan.
Linda Holscher. Mrs. Holscher is an extraordinary individual whose compassion is shown to everyone she helps. She has spent 40 years working in the City of Camden helping others and is a former member of the Camden Board of Education.
Melinda Kane. Mrs. Kane has made her community better by channeling her own grief into a positive cause. She lost her oldest son to the war in Afghanistan two years ago. Instead of retreating, Mrs. Kane has stayed strong and focused her energy on supporting veterans of all wars in numerous ways. She is an active member of the Gold Star program, the American Legion and the Yellow Ribbon Club. She established the Jeremy Kane Run in conjunction with Rutgers Camden and their Veterans for Education Group. Money raised is used to help veterans complete their education.
From Gloucester City:
Robert Morrell. Mr. Morrell embodies the true spirit of the Camden County Freedom Medal. His commitment to the community and his country are second to none. He served in the Marine Reserves for over 20 years. Upon his retirement, he started a 5k run in honor of Cpl. Marc Ryan, a Camden Count Marine killed in action. He is also a member of American Legion Post 84.
From Lawnside:
Thelma Lenore Long. Mrs. Long has a passion and dedication for education. She has given her time and spirit to enhancing the educational opportunities and instilling valuable life lessons for the young men and women of Lawnside since 1963. She played a huge role in the establishment of the district’s first code of conduct and uniform policy and served as a community volunteer educator with the Lockheed Martin Future Engineers and Scientist Program to enhance academic skills and promote science in schools.
From Magnolia:
James Ernest Hannold. Mr. Hannold has lived an exemplary life of commitment to his community and his country. He is a World War II veteran with medals of Honor, including the American Theater Medal, the European Theater Medal, The Asiatic Pacific Medal and others. He has built schools, churches and homes and is responsible for starting one of the first recreation centers in Magnolia to provide young people with a safe environment. He was a member of the Magnolia Planning Board for 10 years and is cherished by his neighbors for his efforts on their behalf.
From Pennsauken:
Larry and Trudy Painter. Larry and Trudy are totally involved in their community. Larry is on the fundraising committee for St. Cecilia’s Church. Trudy is active in the Merchantville Women’s Club and is instrumental in initiating food drives and collecting gifts for the needy, especially at Christmas. Together they improve this small community by getting people together and helping make people aware of the needs of their neighbors.
From Voorhees:
Nasim Badat. Mrs. Badat has spent her entire life helping and reaching out to those in needs. While principal at the Palmyra Mosque, Mrs. Badat came up with an innovative speech competition that enabled students to improve their public speaking skills. She is a terrific educator who was also instrumental in organizing the interfaith dialogue program between Jews, Christians and Muslims. She scheduled open houses for people of diverse faiths, ethnicities and cultures, gender and race. She has helped people understand each other’s cultures and helped them to create bonds of friendship and trust.
Mary Lamielle. Ms. Lamielle is the founder and president of the National Center for Environmental Health Strategies. She has spent her life standing up for those who have become ill as a result of exposure to chemicals. For more than 30 years, she has been a passionate advocate and educator. She has worked across the state and country to make people aware of illnesses caused from exposure to chemicals. Her efforts led to the first in-depth study on chemical sensitivity.