First Annual CAAPtivating Excellence Awards

Lancaster, PA - The Community Action Association of Pennsylvania (CAAP) is proud to announce the winners of the First Annual CAAPtivating Excellence Awards, held on October 18th, 2023 at the Eden Resorts in Lancaster. The awards ceremony, held as part of the CAAP Annual Conference, recognized individuals in the Pennsylvania Community Action Network for their excellence, dedication, and hard work in the fight against poverty.

The CAAPtivating Excellence Awards were created to honor those individuals who have made significant contributions to the PA Community Action Network. The individuals were nominated by their organizations for the award categories including CAAP Impactful Educator Award, Dependable Difference Maker Award, CAAP Empowerment Navigator, CAAP Emerging Excellence Award, Community Action Excellence Award, and the Anti Poverty Advocate of the Year Award.

In addition to the formal award categories, CAAP honored a few individuals that have made significant impacts on the association’s work including the SDoH Champions and the Equity Champion. These individuals were nominated by the CAAP staff and have made a significant impact on moving the work of the association and the network across the commonwealth forward. 

The winners of the 2023 CAAPtivating Excellence Awards are as follows:

• SDoH Champions:

  • Wendy Melius, Chief Executive Officer, Center for Community Action

  • Jennifer Wintermyer, Chief Executive Officer, Tri County Community Action

  • Erin Lukoss, Chief Executive Officer, Bucks County Opportunity Council

• Equity Champion:

  • Vanessa Philbert, Chief Executive Officer, Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County

• CAAP Impactful Educator Award

  • Erin Griguts, Early Learning Program Director, Agency for Community EmPOWERment of NEPA

• Dependable Difference Maker Award

  • John Kuzmick, Van Driver for the EARN Program, Central Susquehanna Opportunities, INC.

  • Megan Foy, RISE Program Specialist, Tableland Services, INC.

• CAAP Empowerment Navigator

  • Kathie O’Grady, Case Manager, Central Susquehanna Opportunities, INC.

  • Adriana Pozos-Beltran, Self-Sufficiency Manager, Community Progress Council

• CAAP Emerging Excellence Award

  • Amanda Burns, Chief Strategy Officer, Community Action Partnership of Lancaster County

• Community Action Excellence Award

  • Rachelle Abbott, Chief Operations Officer, Lycoming-Clinton County Commission for Community Action, Inc. (STEP, Inc.)

• Anti-Poverty Advocate of the Year

  • Megan Shreve, Chief Executive Officer, South Central Community Action Programs, INC.

"CAAP is thrilled to honor these individuals and agencies for their outstanding work in fighting poverty in Pennsylvania," said Beck Moore, CEO. "Their dedication and hard work are an inspiration to us all, and we look forward to continuing to work together to make a difference in the lives of those in need."

For more event photos please click here.