May 11, 2000
BIRMINGHAM, AL — A Bessemer woman and a Tuscaloosa-based service organization won the 20th annual Lotus Awards today. The Women’s Committee of the UAB Spain Rehabilitation Center announced the awards at a ceremony at The Club.
The Lotus Award was established to recognize individuals, organizations and agencies in Alabama who have improved the quality of life for people with disabilities. Nominations are accepted from all over the state.
The Lotus Award for individual service was presented to Bari Leigh Watson of Bessemer for her efforts toward seeing that all children in public schools have opportunities for positive participation.
“Bari Watson has gone above and beyond the efforts that anyone would undertake in order to create a program, Project Friendship, that encourages social inclusion of children with special needs,” said Paula Miller, co-chair of the 2000 awards program. “She also took the time to create a disabilities awareness booklet to be distributed to children.”
The Lotus Award for group/organization effort was presented to Alabama Power Service Organization’s (APSO) Western Division Chapter for its volunteer involvement for the RISE program and Oak Hill School, a public school for children with special needs.
Miller said “APSO’s Western Division Chapter has displayed the perfect picture of community involvement to meet important needs. They helped raise critical dollars for RISE’s new, state-of-the-art facility and they put in countless volunteer hours with the Oak Hill children. They’ve just been fabulous givers in the Tuscaloosa area.”
A certificate of recognition was presented to Teri Terry of Northport for her individual efforts with RISE, the Association for Retarded Citizens and the Special Olympics. “Teri has done a fabulous job as an advocate and spokesperson for children with disabilities,” said Miller.
A certificate of recognition was presented to Good Samaritan Services of Tuscaloosa County, Inc., for its group effort to provide healthcare to people unable to afford it. Miller said, “It’s incredible to think of all the architects, carpenters, electricians, nurses, physicians, pharmacists and medical record personnel — tons of people were needed to get this clinic up and running — they all worked together and created a true gem.”
The Women's Committee, organized in 1970, supports the programs and activities of UAB's Spain Rehabilitation Center by sharing information and news with others, assisting with patient activities and coordinating fund-raising activities. Since 1970 the committee has focused on increasing awareness of the facility and its programs as well as generating funds to establish an endowed chair to enable the medical and research staff to expand its research mission to include nerve regeneration projects.