CHC's Annual Awards Celebration, May 7, 2025 — Highlights
- John Cochary
- 1 minute ago
- 3 min read
“CHC has been there for me, and for so many others — and I know it will continue to be that place of support, community, and care for years to come — every step of the way." -Heather Baker, Board President
Honoring Those Making a Difference
CHC hosted the Annual Awards Celebration and Reception on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at Sullivan and Cromwell LLP in New York City. With nearly 100 guests in attendance, including our extraordinary clients and their families, CHC honored community members making a difference in the lives of people with hearing loss and celebrated the achievements of our scholarship recipients.
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Welcome and Opening Remarks
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Steven Peikin, CHC Board member and past President, welcomed guests and reflected on 2024 as a year of meaningful impact, recognizing the remarkable individuals who have made a lasting difference in the lives of people with hearing loss.
Heather Baker, CHC President, called the meeting to order, presented the Treasurer’s report, and highlighted CHC’s significant programmatic growth, including educational outreach, dementia and hearing loss initiatives, expanded family services, access to mental health telehealth, and programs supporting cognitive health in older adults.
Laurie Hanin, CHC Executive Director, recognized the CHC staff, both in New York and in Florida, and reiterated the breadth of CHC’s integrated programming, including audiology, speech therapy, mental health services, educational support, and community outreach, all offered under one roof. Laurie emphasized that this comprehensive approach is what makes CHC holistic, human-centered, and uniquely impactful.
Keynote Address
Jill Harkavy-Friedman, Senior Vice President of Research at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and CHC Board Member touched on the growing integration of mental health services across CHC, made possible through the Emotional Health and Wellness Center.
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Honorees
Ruth D. Bernstein, hearing access ambassador, received the CHC Lifetime Service Award presented by Laurie Hanin, in recognition of her lifelong passionate commitment and impactful advocacy for hearing access.
Jodi Michelle Cutler, international author, film producer, co-founder of the Global Coalition of Parents of Children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and motivational speaker, received the Ruth R. Green Advocacy Award presented by Dana Selznick, Director of Education and Family Programming, in recognition of her extraordinary advocacy on behalf of children with hearing loss.
Jo Brook, actor, singer, and advocate, received the Sheldon Williams Leadership Award presented by Paul Aguirre, Director of the Emotional Health and Wellness Center, for her leadership and making a difference in the lives of people with hearing loss. After accepting the award, Jo Brook treated the audience to a moving performance of a song she wrote, Back Float, about her own experiences with hearing loss and finding acceptance.
Amanda Lipitz received the Nitchie Award in Communications, presented by Camille Mihalik, Director of Speech and Language services, in recognition of her exceptional storytelling that amplifies the voices of people who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing and advancing the cause of communication access for all.
Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez, of the NYC Department for the Aging, received the Irving Berelson President’s Award, presented by Heather Baker. During the presentation, Heather read a message from Ellen Berelson, daughter of Irving Berelson, who shared that the award honors the Commissioner’s tireless advocacy for inclusion and dignity for older adults.
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Congratulations to All!
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A heartfelt congratulations to our incredibly deserving honorees and to the inspiring young presenters and recipients of CHC scholarships.
Special thanks to Sullivan & Cromwell for graciously hosting the event and ensuring it was fully accessible to individuals with hearing loss.
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We look forward to celebrating with you again in 2026!