6 The Hampton Roads Messenger
Volume 3 Number 10
July 2009
Deadline Extended for
Mourning Selected Over Reno for
Governor’s Caregiver Recognition
Newly Named Miami High School
Award Nominations
BY octavia wYatt
Caregivers provide $8 million in service to loved ones
Retired NBA great
Deadline extended for Governor’s
Alonzo Mourning has
Caregiver Recognition Award
beaten out Former U. S
nominations Caregivers provide $8
Attorney General Janet
million in service to loved ones
Reno in a debate over
The deadline for nominations for the which party would have
2009 Governor’s Caregiver Recognition a Northern Miami high
Award (GCRA) has been extended to school named in their
July 31. An estimated 700,000 Virginians honor.
selflessly care for loved ones, receiving
A committee that was
no compensation while providing 793
in charge of choosing
million care giving hours each year.
at the Science Museum of Virginia in
between these two
The GCRA was created to honor these
Richmond.
parties decided to name
caregivers.
Last year’s winners included a Farmville
the school after Alonzo
Alonzo Mourning and his wife Tracy
“The award serves as a reminder of the
woman who has cared for her 30-year-
Mourning and his wife Tracy. The Dade County public schools in various
invaluable acts of compassion and care
old son since an accident as a teenager
official name of the school, the Alonzo ways,” he said. “When you look at
made by so many family members and
left him paralyzed and a Suffolk man
and Tracy Mourning Senior High what they’ve done together, it’s directly
friends throughout the Commonwealth.
who provides care for his wife, who has
School Biscayne Bay Campus, has been impacted children.” Karp was also a part
Consider nominating someone you know
suffered serious illness for nearly 30
forwarded to the Miami-Dade School of the committee that ultimately decided
to recognize their unselfish deeds,” said
years.
Board and approved. on the naming of the school after this
Governor Timothy Kaine.
All nominations must be postmarked,
Alonzo Mourning is a sports figure, but
power couple.
Nomination forms are available at
received via fax, mail or e-mail no later
the work he and his wife Tracy have done There were numerous people who felt
www.dss.virginia.gov/community/
than close of business Friday, July 31.
for the local schools and communities that Alonzo and Tracy should not have
council_women or by emailing council.
Mail forms to Council on the Status of
is what got them the nomination. this high school named after them and
women@dss.virginia.gov. Nominations
Women, 7 N. Eighth Street, 6th floor,
Alonzo is a native of Chesapeake, VA that Reno would be the better candidate.
are open to unpaid caregivers who give
Richmond, VA 23219. Fax forms to (804)
and is a firm believer in giving back To many people, that would make
of themselves to improve the quality of
726-7015 or e-mail to council.women@
to people. He and Tracy have several them upset but not the Mournings. The
life for others.
dss.virginia.gov. Incomplete nomination
organizations, “Zo’s Fund for Life” Mournings said in a statement that they
forms and nominations postmarked or
The GCRA, in its fourth year, is
which is a non-profit foundation, is one were more than honored to be considered
delivered after the deadline cannot be
sponsored by the Virginia Council on
of many. This foundation’s purpose is to but that they also support the school
considered. For more information, call
the Status of Women. In celebration of
raise awareness about kidney diseases. being named for Reno, saying she “has
Karin Clark at (804) 726-7017 or visit
National Family Caregiver’s Month in
Something that Alonzo knows a lot touched many lives.” The couple said:
www.dss.virginia.gov.
November, this year’s winners will be
about after being diagnosed with Focal “The work we do in the community is
honored at a special ceremony Nov. 17
Glomerulosclerosis in 2000. not for recognition.”
www.dss.virginia.gov
School board member Martin Karp is the Although everyone was not pleased,
man who nominated the Mournings for Alonzo and Tracy Mourning have done
this honor after two students suggested so many things for this community out
great health and
it to him. “They’ve spent more than a of the goodness of their hearts and they
decade contributing directly to Miami- are very much deserving of this tribute.
wealth can be
yours!
Statement from President Obama
on Agreement to Bring Down Drug
Prices for America’s Seniors
“I am pleased to announce that an
companies to contribute to the health
agreement has been reached between
reform effort comes on the heels of the
Senator Max Baucus and the nation’s
landmark pledge many health industry
pharmaceutical companies that will
leaders made to me last month, when they
bring down health care costs and
offered to do their part to reduce health
reduce the price of prescription drugs
spending $2 trillion over the next decade.
for millions of America’s seniors. As
We are at a turning point in America’s
part of the health reform legislation
journey toward health care reform.
that I expect Congress to enact this
Key sectors of the health care industry
year, pharmaceutical companies will
acknowledge what American families
extend discounts on prescription drugs
and businesses already know - that the
take herbal
to millions of seniors who currently
status quo is no longer sustainable.
are subjected to crushing out-of-pocket
The agreement reached today to lower
supplements ...
expenses when the yearly amounts
prescription drug costs for seniors will
they pay for medication fall within
be an important part of the legislation I
the ‘doughnut hole’ any payments by
expect to sign into law in October. I want
seniors not covered by Medicare that fall
to commend House chairmen Henry
... earn residual
between $2700 and $6153.75 per year.
Waxman, George Miller and Charles
The existence of this gap in coverage
Rangel for addressing this issue in the
has been a continuing injustice that has
health reform legislation they unveiled
income!
placed a great burden on many seniors.
this week. This is a tangible example of
This deal will provide significant
the type of reform that will lower costs
relief from that burden for millions of
while assuring quality health care for
American seniors.
every American.”
“The agreement by pharmaceutical www.whitehouse.gov
www.loveherbals.com
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