Out & About: Mental Health America hosts Innovations Awards night

Shirley McMarlin | Monday, May 6, 2019 1:30 a.m.

Kim Stepinsky | For the Tribune-Review

From left: John Lovelace of Pittsburgh, president of government programs at UPMC, Deborah Wasilchak of Allegheny Township, board member and COO of government program offices at Community Care Behavioral Health, and Dr. James Schuster of Pittsburgh, chief medical officer of Medicaid and behavioral services at UPMC and Community Care Behavioral Health, gather for a photo during the Mental Health America of Southwestern PA 17th annual Innovations Awards held May 2 at the Ramada Hotel & Conference Center in Hempfield.

Mental Health America of Southwestern PA hosted its 17th annual Innovations Awards dinner and program May 2 in the Ramada Greensburg Hotel and Conference Center.

The awards recognize community members and organizations that help make a difference in the lives of people experiencing mental health and substance use issues.

Honorees in the following categories included:

Lifetime Achievement: Dr. Loren Roth, University of Pittsburgh Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and consultant for UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital

Community Advocacy: Tay Waltenbaugh, former CEO of Westmoreland Community Action

Education: Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, represented by executive director Harris Ferris

Prevention: Deborah Thackrah, founder/president of Feeding the Spirit

Recovery: Sage’s Army, represented by founder Carmen Capozzi.

The dinner, which featured a strolling buffet and silent auction, benefits MHA’s mission of providing mental health advocacy, education and support services. MHA executive director is Laurie Barnett Levine; board president is Marybeth Grandinetti Pultz.

Event committee chairwoman was Joan Stairs. Host was Adam DeFlorio.