Life Care Centers of America bestowed this year’s awards for excellence in an array of presentations Monday evening, Sept. 26, at its headquarters in Cleveland.

The Chairman’s Award for outstanding commitment to excellence went to Latessa Morris, vice president of Life Care’s River Region in Tennessee.

The Carl W. Campbell Wind Beneath My Wings Award for the companywide volunteer of the year went to Freeda Wiant, who volunteers her time at Life Care Center of New Market, Va.

“The winners of these awards — both for performance and volunteerism — reflect the professional skill and the heart for service demonstrated daily by thousands of people across our company,” said Beecher Hunter, Life Care president. “They are compelled by a remarkable faith and love.”

Morris was praised for being firm, fair and consistent. She has greatly improved care in the facilities where she served as executive director.

She is still willing as regional vice president to put her certified nursing assistant skills to work, taking residents to the bathroom or putting them to bed. She also developed an initiative to streamline facility departments and eliminate unnecessary duties, which has been successful throughout the division.

Wiant has become a close friend to the residents at Life Care Center of New Market and their families. She has held the hands of dying residents and has recruited her husband and fellow church members to help at the center.

She continues to volunteer when she can, even after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Her award was presented by Carl Campbell, the man for whom it is named and a co-founder of Life Care Centers of America.

Other volunteer winners were Olivia Heisey, Youth Volunteer of the Year, from Life Care Center of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and the Dream Catchers club from Carson-Newman College that has made residents’ dreams come true at Life Care Center of Jefferson City, Tenn.

Facility of the Year honors went to:

• Life Care Center of Elkhorn, Neb., in the Central Division;

• Life Care Center of Sparta, Tenn., in the Eastern Division;

• Life Care Center of Valparaiso, Ind., in the Heartland Division;

• Life Care Center of Cheyenne, Wyo., in the Mountain States Division;

• Life Care Center of Raynham, Mass., in the Northeast Division;

• Life Care Center of Port Orchard, Wash., in the Northwest Division;

• Life Care Center of Pensacola, Fla., in the Southeast Division; and

• Life Care Center of Reno, Nev., in the Southwest Division.

President’s Awards went to:

• Gloria Smith, dietary director at Life Care Center of Omaha, Neb., and Terri Ingracia, director of clinical services in the Missouri Region, for the Central Division;

• Ben Stiefel, executive director at Life Care Center of Bruceton-Hollow Rock in Bruceton, Tenn., and Ken Bolin, regional controller for the Cumberland Region, Tenn., for the Eastern Division;

• Sheila Milburn, director of clinical services for the Lakes Region, and Sally Wolf, division controller, for the Heartland Division;

• Dave Dunaway, rehab services manager at Life Care Center of Farmington, N.M., and Dan Gauger, executive director at Life Care Center of Greeley, Colo., for the Mountain States Division;

• Deanne Craft, executive director at Life Care Center of New Market, Va., and Mark Presutti, senior executive director at Life Care Center of Acton, Mass., for the Northeast Division;

• Shannon Smith, executive director of Cascade Park Care Center in Vancouver, Wash., and Jeron Walker, former regional vice president, for the Northwest Division;

• Jim Breuler, executive director at Life Care Center of Estero, Fla., and Janet Sorel, division vice president, for the Southeast Division; and

• Regina Cadena, business office manager at Life Care Center of North Glendale, Ariz., and Sadie Harness, executive director of Life Care Center of Escondido, Calif., for the Southwest Division.

The Division Support Award went to Mike Pigg, field controller for the Eastern Division.

Founded in 1976, Life Care is a nationwide health care company. It operates or manages more than 220 nursing, post-acute and Alzheimer’s centers in 28 states.