2002 Nancy Susan Reynolds Award Winners

2002 award in the category of Advocacy

Diane Bauknight

Fairview

Ms. Bauknight, who received a Nancy Susan Reynolds Award in the advocacy category, has an adopted daughter with mental illness. She has spent years trying to get government agencies to do what she thinks they reasonably should for such children and provide support for their parents. Instead, she has run into roadblock after roadblock. She has worked the legislature and urged increased appropriations. Instead, last year the General Assembly reduced spending on mental health. Also, in her opinion, state mental health administrators are misusing the funds already appropriated specifically for parents like her who each day fight to give their children lives as normal as possible. In desperation, she has brought a lawsuit against the area mental health agency.

2002 award in the category of Race Relations

Cader P. Harris

Elizabeth City

Mr. Harris grew up in a small northeastern town and led a privileged life until his family’s clothing business was picketed by civil rights demonstrators in the 1960’s, and his business declined and eventually failed. In spite of this fact, Harris, who received the award in the race relations category, was not embittered by the experience. Years later, after the Los Angeles riots, he helped bring together a racially and ethnically diverse group to promote racial understanding and harmony in Elizabeth City. The Hope Group, because of its diversity, provides a role model for the community and helps provide support for local activities such as a soup kitchen and a homeless shelter.

2002 award in the category of Personal Service

Dr. Margaret A. Noel

Asheville

Dr. Noel, who received the award for personal service, has spent her professional career working with patients who have Alzheimer’s disease or other memory disorders. When she saw the only facility in her area that offered comprehensive service to these people close, she was compelled to open a center herself. She did so, though, with a mission in mind – to take a more holistic approach that placed a value on time spent with patients, families and other caregivers, as well as on “technical” treatment. It has been a struggle because Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements and HMOs are not geared to this model. She has forgone any remuneration for herself since the center opened three years ago.