News - June 15, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 15, 2021

CONTACT:  Elizabeth Bement| 703.915.5830 | elizabeth.bement@finnpartners.com   

Goodwin House Incorporated Receives LeadingAge Virginia 2021 Stewardship Award

Statewide Award Recognizes Top Senior Living and Health Care Services Organization for Community Support

Alexandria, Va. – LeadingAge Virginia selected Goodwin House Incorporated (GHI) as the winner of the 2021 Stewardship Award. This annual award honors a community organization that has advanced public trust and confidence in aging services through public service, collaboration, media or other efforts to educate consumers and help them make informed choices.

“Goodwin House exemplifies the values of LeadingAge Virginia through their leadership, stewardship and efforts at community building. In the midst of the pandemic when most were looking inward just to get through the day, Goodwin House recognized the need to also look outward to help their fellow not for profit communities with PPE, testing and a playbook for surviving Covid,” said Melissa Andrews, President & CEO of LeadingAge Virginia. “We are grateful for their stewardship and proud they are a part of our association.”

Through a peer review process, GHI was honored for its service to older adults, non-profit organizations and businesses across Northern Virginia and the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the outset of the pandemic, GHI adopted and embraced the philosophy of “Stronger Together,” applying that philosophy to protect its residents, Goodwin House at Home members and staff from the virus while also extending the philosophy to others.

GHI’s community-minded efforts began in March 2020 with an unparalleled group purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). At that time, PPE was nearly impossible to source, and GHI recognized that through a group buy, it could command attention in international markets. Sixty-five organizations across Virginia participated in the initial group buy.

In May, GHI began to source COVID-19 testing labs with an eye towards helping other businesses resume safe operations through regular testing of their employees, ranging from schools to churches to other senior living communities. Today, Goodwin House Palliative Care and Hospice nurses continue to administer COVID-19 tests at the Campagna Center, which provides educational and social development programs for more than 2,000 families in Alexandria, Virginia.

In August 2020, GHI assembled its protocols, templates and communications into a comprehensive COVID-19 Playbook to share broadly on GHI’s website. The GHI COVID-19 Playbook outlined GHI’s successful approach to safely navigating the pandemic and resuming operations. The Playbook was made available for other organizations to download at no charge. With more than 300 organizations from across the U.S. downloading the Playbook, GHI projects its efforts have protected and touched the lives of more than 190,000 individuals during the pandemic. A video that captures Goodwin House’s pandemic efforts can be viewed here.

“The challenges of the pandemic have made all of us acutely aware of the importance of community and reinforces the philosophy that we are stronger together,” said Rob Liebreich, President and CEO of GHI. “Goodwin House’s spirit of strength and community guided our goal to uplift and support the lives of our residents, members, staff and local community with our PPE group buys, testing access and clinics and community playbook. We are grateful for the ability and resources to support so many in our community during these difficult times.”

LeadingAge Virginia also honored Courtney Nuzzo, executive director of The Lewinsville Retirement Residences (LRR), with the 2021 Advocacy Award. The award recognizes an individual for exceptional achievement in advocacy initiatives that have impacted positive changes in the aging services field. Courtney has been the LRR administrator and executive director since January 2008, and is widely respected for her local, state and federal advocacy on behalf of low-income older adults. GHI is grateful for the opportunity to serve as the management agency for LRR, a non-profit independent living facility serving low-income older adults in McLean and Great Falls, Virginia.

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About Goodwin House Incorporated: Celebrating 54 years of providing exceptional service to older adults, Goodwin House Incorporated (GHI) is a not-for-profit, Virginia-based corporation affiliated with the Episcopal Church. Through its growing family of senior living and healthcare services owned and operated across Northern Virginia, GHI serves 2,000 older adults with options that include: two Life Plan Communities—Goodwin House Alexandria and Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads; an innovative continuing care at home program—Goodwin House at Home; and a portfolio of healthcare services and partnerships delivering Home Health, Rehabilitation, Primary Care, Palliative Care and Hospice. GHI also is the management agent for The Lewinsville Retirement Residences, Inc. serving low-income older adults in McLean and Great Falls, Virginia.

GHI also advances its mission through the Goodwin House Foundation, a 501(c)(3) supporting foundation that provides financial support to current and future residents in need and to fund programs dedicated to promoting growth and education of staff as well as overall well-being and vibrant living as we age.

About LeadingAge Virginia: LeadingAge Virginia is an association of not-for-profit aging services organizations serving residents and clients across the senior care continuum including life plan/continuing care communities, senior housing, assisted living, nursing homes, adult day centers, and home and community-based services. We are not-for-profit organizations working together to expand the world of possibilities for aging. www.leadingagevirginia.org.