Compassionate Connections Home Care hosted its 1st Annual Caregiver Appreciation Awards Gala, fulfilling a vision that has been years in the making.

“This has always been my dream, to show our caregivers how appreciated they are,” Administrator Tasia Drayton says. “As a former caregiver myself, I know how important it is to recognize their hard work, especially in an industry where we don’t get to see them as often as we’d like.”

The gala not only celebrated the caregivers who exemplify excellence but also marked an exciting milestone for the company.

“At the gala, we officially launched the process to franchise this company,” Tasia announced. “We couldn’t have done it without them! In the next coming years, we will be a nationwide company, and that’s pretty exciting.”

Recognizing Excellence in Caregiving

The evening honored caregivers with awards that highlight their exceptional dedication and service:

• Caregiver of the Month (December): Christina Leggett
  “She’s our lead caregiver, and we send her to all of our new cases to be the first face they get to meet and set the tone for the excellent care they are going to receive. She’s so diplomatic and professional, kind, friendly, easygoing, and an amazing asset to our organization.”

• The Pillar Award: Ronita Mccoullough
  “Ronita has been with us for over two years, and she is so reliable. Once she is on a case, she is so loyal to her clients, usually staying on that case all the way until they transition. She never misses a day, never calls out, and she’s always willing to help out if we’re in a bind. Love her.”

• The Exceptional Service Award: Jacqeline Handy
  “She has gone above and beyond for all of her clients, going well beyond the call of duty and getting nothing but amazing reviews. Our last client she served passed away, and we couldn’t hear enough from her client’s daughter how much of an angel she was. And she is.”

• The Golden Heart Award: Violeta Burgos
  “She has been with us for five years, and she’s so sweet and loving. She’s been with her client for over a year, and he adores her. She’s so loving and attentive. The entire five years, she’s been consistently compassionate and pleasant, and I love her.”

• The Rising Star Award: Lillie Taylor
  “Lillie has only been with us since the summer and has left a huge imprint already. She has a background of upper management and customer service. She’s very professional, prompt, reliable, and has been getting glowing reviews from day one. We call her ‘The Mayor’ because she’s extremely active in the community of Mount Dora, and she’s also a pastor. She’s very loyal to our company, and we’re blessed to have her.”

• The Milestone Award: Marie Zawatski
  “Marie has been with us for over four years, and she gets an award for being Marie, lol. Literally just love her. She’s so eccentric, funny, and sweet. And she’s another one that is so committed to her clients and doesn’t miss a day. Love her.”

• The Compassion Award: Melonie Cates
  “Melonie works out in Fort McCoy and serves nothing but veterans. There have been multiple instances where she’s gone above and beyond for the vets she serves and has been a light in their life. One of them had just lost his wife unexpectedly right when she started, and she was such a help in being there for him in that time. She’s always willing to help, and she’s the epitome of what it looks like to have ‘Compassionate Connections’ with our clients. Love her, she’s amazing.”

• Caregiver of the Year: Riana Sullivan
  “Riana is the youngest on our roster, and she gets Caregiver of the Year because she doesn’t even have a car. She Ubers to work and doesn’t miss a day. We’ve sent her to clients that other people may not want to do due to multiple pets, etc., and she never complains. Everywhere she goes, they love her. She’s worked shifts and then helped us out with last-minute overnights, and she’s just the definition of a team player with a smile on her face. Love her!”

“This was the first of what will be an annual thing moving forward,” Tasia said. “We are all about giving our caregivers their flowers and letting them know how appreciated they are because we hold them to very high standards at this company, and we only hire the best of the best.”

Photos by Bonnie Whicher and submitted