FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:    Pete Winton, Lee County Administration
                (941) 335-2777

FORT MYERS, Fla. (September 24, 2001) – Two Lee County employees have received 2001 Human Service Awards from the Community Coordinating Council.

Commissioner Ray Judah was awarded "Most Outstanding Public Official" and Silvia Hasak, with the county’s Human Services Department, received the "Most Outstanding Human Service Provider (Individual)" Award.

The Community Coordinating Council represents the interests of service providers by enhancing communication and coordination of services, providing a forum for discussing pertinent social service issues and recognizing the achievements of social service professionals and organizations.

Judah was recognized for his leadership in supporting human service issues and in improving the local human service system. Nominations singled out his work in support of the Salvation Army and Children’s Home Society. Judah, currently in his fourth term as the District #3 Commissioner of the Board of Lee County Commissioners, has been a commissioner since 1988, serving as the Board’s chairman in 1994 and 1998. His district includes the Iona-McGregor area, South Fort Myers (west of U.S. 41), Fort Myers Beach, Estero and Bonita Springs.

Hasak is a 10-year employee of the Human Services Department, most recently providing outstanding service to homeless families as the case manager for the Temporary Assistance for Homeless Families Program. Since the program’s inception in June of 2000, she has placed 68 homeless families in housing. Due to her successful placement of homeless families, the original grant award to Lee County was increased.

She also organizes an annual bus tour of non-profit agencies and is chairwoman of Lee County’s Hispanic Advisory Board. In that capacity, Hasak developed the idea for the annual Hispanic Achievement Awards Banquet, which recognizes those in our Hispanic community who have made a significant contribution to improving life in Lee County and bridging the differences between cultures.