HAMILTON, Feb. 21, 2024 – Allies, Inc., a leading provider of services for people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) in New Jersey, is pleased to announce the naming of Allies employees and partners as finalists in the New Jersey Social Innovations Awards.
Dawn King, VP of integrated healthcare at Allies, and MaryAnne McMillan, HTR, horticultural therapist working with the Project Grow, have been named finalists in the 2024 New Jersey Social Innovation Awards. Public voting is open through March 12, 2024. and can be accessed at this link.
The awards are presented by the Social Innovations Journal, and the 2024 awards aim to honor “all innovators and change makers within the New Jersey region who are working hard for social justice.” Award categories include Innovations in Health and Human Services, Innovations in Health Equity, Population Health and Public Health, Innovations in Social Mobility, and Innovations in Social Sector Systems.
King’s nomination under the Public Health Impact category follows her tireless efforts to identify and implement partnerships with organizations that have had positive impacts on the health and wellbeing of the individuals Allies supports. McMillan, nominated as part of the Models for Achieving Health Equity is being nominated due to her innovative work bringing horticultural therapy to Allies participants on a regular, consistent basis.
“I am humbled and honored to be a finalist for the 2024 New Jersey Social Innovation awards,” Dawn King, vice president of integrated healthcare at Allies, said. “I feel very special to be recognized for doing work I am passionate about.”
“Allies is honored to be part of the annual New Jersey Social Innovation Awards that recognizes the excellent work of the non-profit sector,” Michael Haggerty, president and CEO of Allies, said. “We are especially proud and grateful that members of the Allies team are being recognized for their tireless work to improve and enrich the lives of those we are so fortunate to serve.
In addition to McMillan and King, two close partner organizations were also nominated. Catherine Chin, executive director of the Alliance for the Betterment of Citizens with Disabilities (ABCD), and Tara Simmons, founder and owner of All Abilities Fitness, are also finalists.
Please join us in congratulating our colleagues and partners for being named finalists.
About Allies, Inc.:
Allies, Inc. is a nonprofit agency dedicated to providing housing, healthcare, meaningful employment and recreational activities to people with special needs in the communities of their choice. To learn more, visit www.alliesnj.org.
About Social Innovations Journal:
Social Innovations Journal (SIJ) is dedicated to social innovators and entrepreneurs who work at the cross section between the private sector, government, and not-for-profits and aligns them toward collective social impact goals and public policy. SIJ chronicles social innovations and enterprises addressing the world’s most challenging issues surrounding social policy, leadership, human capital, and systems. In collaboration with government, philanthropy, not-for-profits and universities, the Journal bridges formal research and real-life experience.