Established in 2021, the Spirit Award is presented each year to an exceptional individual or organization whose efforts have had an inspiring impact on the field of aging or the lives of older adults. Spirit Awardees demonstrate CMSS’ core values of dignity, respect, compassion, and equity. This award seeks to honor those whose work demonstrates revolutionary, interdisciplinary, or collaborative approaches that bring new possibilities to aging and aging services. The Spirit Award highlights those who act as leaders and whose actions serve as a model for future generations.
The 2024 Spirit Award was presented posthumously to Ellen F. Butkus, on Thursday, September 12 at CMSS’ 2024 Fall Benefit. Ellen’s husband, Al Butkus, accepted the Award on Ellen’s behalf.
Ellen was the Co-Founder and First Director of Senior Connections and she led the program for 17 years. Ellen was dedicated to community service, and caring for older adults throughout her life and career. In 1991, she became a parish nurse at Reba Place Church in Evanston and in this role, was the first director of the newly formalized Senior Connections. Ellen quickly found that this program – which focused on visiting neighborhood seniors who were alone or isolated – was her calling.
Ellen was a visionary who understood that adults of all ages experience loneliness and isolation and could benefit from forging positive relationships. Ellen also recognized that social isolation and loneliness have major health consequences. Through Senior Connections, she brought together older adults and younger individuals to share the benefits of intergenerational friendships.
Ellen believed in the value of older adults in our communities. Respect and dignity were central to her work. While many medical providers today are just beginning to understand how social isolation and loneliness can negatively affect our health, Ellen talked about those impacts back in 1991 when this program was founded. She knew friendship and human connections were extremely important, not just for our emotional health but for our physical health as well. Ellen’s love and dedication to older adults was both remarkable and inspiring. Since its founding, the Senior Connections program has continued to adapt to the needs of seniors in our communities but still focuses on the value of friendships, especially on the mutual benefits of intergenerational friendships.
In 2022, Ellen passed away after a brave three-year battle with cancer. Her passing was an enormous loss for her family, friends, community, and all of us who had much to learn from such an inspiring woman. Today, Ellen’s legacy continues through the leadership, community, and connections she created – as shown by how Senior Connections grows and thrives today.
Make a Gift to Senior Connections in Honor of Ellen F. Butkus
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