Her fun-loving, friendly and caring disposition are among the many positive attributes that helped earn Betty Pigg the most premier honor awarded by local nonprofit Journeys in Community Living at its annual fundraiser on April 28.

"Over the years, Betty has learned many new skills in taking care of herself," said George Cunningham, director of the more than 40-year-old organization that assists adults with disabilities as they choose and realize their visions of where and how they live, work and socialize.

Cunningham's comments were addressed to the roughly 130 people in attendance at Journeys' 2016 Annual Celebration & Silent Auction at the DoubleTree Hotel on Old Fort Parkway in Murfreesboro. The event serves as both an annual fundraiser and an outlet for honoring the good work being undertaken daily in the community to support the agency and people it serves.

The Individual Achievement Award, which Pigg received this year, is also awarded to an individual with disabilities who has made great strides towards being independent.

"Betty has become especially experienced in being part of her community - going out to restaurants, attending the senior citizens center, shopping for her own personal items (purses and hats are two of her favorites), and attending church," Cunningham explained.

While those achievements may seem small in the eyes of a non-disabled person, Pigg's transformation at Journeys over the past 20 years has been truly remarkable, Cunningham explained. She was very introverted when she first entered the program and required a higher degree of care than she needs today.

"Betty had been living at Clover Bottom Developmental Center, but we were able to help her move back into her community, where she lives in one of our supported living homes with two roommates," Cunningham said. "Recently, a former nurse from Clover Bottom ran into Betty and her staff while in the community. She expressed her amazement at how much Betty had learned and progressed since she had known her. She said Betty had really blossomed into a loving, outgoing person and seemed to be enjoying her life to the fullest."

In addition to honoring Pigg, Journeys also awarded two staff achievement awards, a health care leader award, a business leadership award and its traditional Robert Rose Community Service Award.

First Vision Bank Business Development Officer and Journeys' Board Member Janet Bowman was the recipient of this year's Robert Rose award. Rutherford County Mayor Ernest Burgess took to the stage at Cunningham's request to help present the award.

Bowman has been active in the Murfreesboro Noon Exchange Club, American Heart Association, Rutherford County Heart Walk, Leadership Rutherford, Rutherford County Diplomat Program, Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Business Alliance and on the local United Way allocations panel.

"Janet has dedicated herself to helping others in her community in many ways," Cunningham said. "For four years, Janet has been one of the hardest working and most dedicated board members we've ever had (at Journeys). If we had a perfect attendance award, she would have won it every year. She always brings her warmth, sense of humor and intelligence to every project that she approaches."

Journeys staff members Michael Pinkston and Carol Poteete were honored for their dedication as residential supervisors at Journeys. Cunningham explained that Pinkston and Poteete work hard to train their staff, scheduling staff at homes and inspecting homes regularly, as well as supporting the individuals who live in them.

"Michael and Carol do outstanding jobs as residential supervisors," Cunningham said. "Both of these supervisors are extremely conscientious, hard-working, and very caring of the clients for whom they work. Their jobs are very demanding and they carry much responsibility."

Embassy Suites was recognized with the Business Leadership Award for its pivotal role in Project Search, an important job training program for students in their senior years of high school who are graduating with special education diplomas.

The students in Project Search are trained on work skills, work ethics, social skills, transportation, hygiene, and time management. They're taught by a special education teacher from Rutherford County Schools and by a job coach from Journeys. All training is done at Embassy Suites, where the students are taught in areas such as laundry care, food service, and housekeeping.

In their first year Project Search and Embassy Suites worked with 6 students. In the second year - with 8. The program is being expanded to 10 students in the upcoming school year.

"From the first day that Project Search started at Embassy Suites, our staff found that the hotel staff were very supportive and caring," Cunningham said. "The human resources department, the management staff, and all employees demonstrated that they are eager and happy to work with the students and the staff. The Embassy Suites personnel are always friendly and positive."

Psychologist Marty McCoy, PhD, received the Health Care Leadership Award for his role in providing counseling to persons with disabilities served by Journeys.

McCoy has been providing assistance to Journeys since he was in graduate school at MTSU. He reached out to Journeys with an interest in providing counseling services to persons with disabilities and came to Journeys offices to do so.

"Over the years, the staff and clients at Journeys have come to care for Marty a great deal," Cunningham explained. "He is a compassionate, caring person; a great listener; and a big supporter of rights for people with disabilities. He always puts the interests of the clients with whom he works fist."

Prior to the awards ceremony, Larry Flowers from WKRN News Channel 2 gave a keynote speech on the meaning of volunteerism. The event was emceed by Kelli Beam from the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by several local businesses, including National HealthCare Corporation, Gordon Images, First Vision Bank, Mitchell Technical Services, State Farm Agent Andy Womack, and Middle Tennessee Reprographics.

To learn more about Journeys and the work being done by the organization, visit www.journeystn.org. Journeys offers private tours of its programs by appointment. Call 615-890-4389 for more information.