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(Honesdale, May 20, 2009)…A prestigious award for northeast Pennsylvania nonprofits went to the organizers of the first ever Pike-Wayne Health and Human Services Needs Assessment, a landmark study released earlier this year. The study sponsors, including Wayne Memorial Hospital and commissioners of both counties, took home the Theodore “Ted” Daniels Community Development Award, a first place honor from the Northeast Pennsylvania Nonprofit & Community Assistance Center (NCAC), whose service area encompasses the seven counties of northeastern Pennsylvania. 

      “The results of the assessment,” said Anna Cervenak, NCAC board member, as she presented the award at a recent banquet, “have allowed community groups and organizations to better address health & human service issues that impact the community.” 

       “We were very honored to receive this tribute,” said Jack Dennis, manager of development for Wayne Memorial Hospital and a lead coordinator for the study. “It acknowledges the hard work of those who conducted and participated in the study. 

       “More importantly, though,” Dennis added, “we hope it jump-starts collaboration and partnerships among nonprofit agencies and other groups to help meet our increasing health and human services needs efficiently and compassionately. Our future depends on it.”

      The study, a two-year grassroots project, grew out of an urgent need to set policy priorities to deal with extraordinary growth in the Wayne-Pike region. Since 1990, the dual counties’ population has reached or exceeded a 100% jump; by the year 2030, that number in Pike County could double,