Special to the Record
Mystic Valley Elder Services is proud to announce that Giovanny Zuniga received the nonprofit agency’s Community All-Star Award. The awards program recognizes individuals whose efforts impact the lives of older adults and people with disabilities.
Mystic Valley Elder Services (Mystic Valley) named 11 people as All-Stars, one for each of the communities the organization serves. Zuniga received the award for Chelsea.
Mystic Valley presented the awards on June 4 at its Legacy50 Summit, an event that served as a fundraiser and a celebration of the agency’s 50th anniversary.
“Our community has been integral to the growth of our agency over the past 50 years. It seemed fitting to celebrate our milestone by honoring people who enrich the lives of older adults and adults with disabilities,” said Lisa Gurgone, Chief Executive Officer.
Columbia-born Giovanny Zuniga is a Transit Justice Organizer with GreenRoots. He is a trusted advocate for older adults, working to improve transportation access, mobility independence, and civic participation. Through culturally responsive outreach, he reduces transportation barriers and helps residents access resources such as Senior Passes, Low-Income Eligible Passes, and The RIDE.
Mystic Valley invited the public to nominate Community All-Stars, with the goal of spotlighting individuals whose outstanding contributions help build age-friendly and disability-positive communities. Members of Mystic Valley’s Development Committee had the difficult task of selecting the 11 winners.
The other recipients are Rosemary Ardagna (Medford), Susan Becker (Melrose), Anthony Carbone (Everett), Gene Ferullo (Stoneham), Mary Ellen Keough (Winthrop), Janis Mamayek (Wakefield), William Reedy (Revere), Julio Salado (Malden), Roberta Sanchez (North Reading), and Joanne Wooldridge (Reading).
Visit www.mves.org/community-all-star-awards for more about Zuniga and the other award winners.
Established in 1975, Mystic Valley Elder Services is a non-profit agency that provides a wide range of resources and care for older adults, adults with disabilities, and their caregivers. For more information, please call 781-324-7705 or visit www.mves.org.