Honors and Awards

Received by...

Aid for Friends / Rita Ungaro-Schiavone

1987

•National Award for Outstanding Women/Honorary Award from Woman's Day Magazine
•Benjamin Rush Award for Outstanding Health Services to the Community, from the Philadelphia County Medical Society

1988

•One of the Ten Most Caring People in America Award from The Caring Institute (Washington, DC)

1996

•Hero of the Day Award from CBS Morning News
•Making A Difference Award, from KYW-TV3 

1972

•John Cardinal Krol "Dedication To An Ideal" Award from The Cardinal's Commission on Human Relations, Archdiocese of Philadelphia
•Human Rights Award from the House of UMOJA, Philadelphia

1973

•Human Rights Award from the City of Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations

1976

•Human Relations Award from the Levenson Chapter of B'nai B'rith Women

1978

•Jefferson Award from The Evening Bulletin  
•Outstanding Service Award from LaSalle College Alumni Signum Fidei
•Honor certificate from the Valley Forge Freedom Foundation

1979

•Outstanding Volunteer Award (Group Services) from the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging

1981

•Citizenship Award from the Philadelphia Bar Association

1982

•Award for "Untiring Efforts on Behalf of the Handicapped" from Aid Association for Lutherans, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Philadelphia

1983

•Distinguished Service Award from the Pennsylvania Association of Non-profit Homes for the Aging (PANTHA), Hershey, PA

1984

•Spirit of Philadelphia Award for Outstanding Service, from WCAU-TV

1985

•Inter-Group Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews (Philadelphia Region) 
•Distinguished Woman Award from the Old York Road Soroptimist International
•Immaculate Award for Outstanding Contributions from Immaculate College, Immaculate, PA
•Saint John Neumann Medal from the Saint John Neumann Assembly, Knights of Columbus, Philadelphia

1986

•Distinguished Woman Award from the Southampton-Huntingdon Valley Soroptimist International

1987

•National Award for Outstanding/ Honorary Award, from Women's Day Magazine
•Benjamin Rush Award for Outstanding Health Services to the Community from the Philadelphia County Medical Society

1988

•"One of the Ten MostCaring People in America", Award, from The Caring Institute, Washington, DC

1989

•Award for Outstanding Volunteer Contribution from the Emergency Aid of Pennsylvania Foundation

1990

•Volunteer Administrator of the Year Award from the Volunteer Action Council of Greater Philadelphia 
•Woman of the Year Award from the Northeast Philadelphia Soroptimist Club
•For Valuable Service Award from Holy Redeemer and Nazareth Home Health Services
•Distinguished Woman Award from the Northeast Philadelphia Soroptimist International

1991

•Lifetime Achievement Award from Holy Family College, Philadelphia, PA

1993

•Award "In Recognition of Outstanding Service as an Advocate for the Rights of Elder Citizens" from the Senior Citizen Judiciary Project, Philadelphia
•Catholic Woman of the Year Award from the Philadelphia Chapter of the Knights of Columbus

1994

•Outstanding Leadership and Service Award from Aid For Friends

1995

•Excellence in Community Service Award from the Daughters of the American Revolution/Flag House, NSDAR
•Charles Russell Commemorative Plate for Service from the Governor's Prayer Breakfast (Helena, Montana)
•Annual Service Award from the Rotary Club of Northeast Philadelphia
•Award for "Outstanding Contribution to the Community by a Public School Graduate" from the Pennsylvania Retired Public School Employees
•Featured Speaker, Philadelphia Corporation for Aging Senior Companion Volunteer Awards

1996

•"Hero of the Day" Award, from CBS This Morning
•Making A Difference Award, fri\on\m KYW-TV3

1997

•Woman of Achievement Award from Frankford High School
•Art of Living Award from the Philadelphia Senior Center and Colonial Penn Life Insurance Company

1998

•Award for Nonprofit Excellence from the Graduate Program in Nonprofit Management, Eastern College, St. Davids, PA
•The Papal Cross: Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, bestowed by His Holiness John Paul II presented by Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia.
•Maggie Kuhn Award for outstanding advocacy on behalf of elders from Philadelphia Corporation for Aging

1999

•Governor's Gold and Silver Award, for being the founder of the best grassroots non-profit organization in Pennsylvania that enables independence for the elderly- bestowed by Governor Ridge, of Pennsylvania. 
•1999 Human Rights Award for Community Service - for our efforts to provide inter-group harmony and interaction in the city of Philadelphia, from Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations.

2001

•Philadelphia Inquirer June 18th, Editorial Page Citizen Heroes Column, Headline: "Comfort and Joy-Leaders of a volunteer army provides meals, companionship and love." The founder of Aid For Friends, Rita Ungaro-Schiavone, was chosen as a Citizen Hero for the accomplishments of the Aid For Friends program: free meals, compassionate visiting and ancillary outreach services.
•KYW TV3 Neighborhood Hero A segment about Aid For Friends and Rira was shown during News- three times in the third week of June. Both of these features heightened interest in our Mission to the isolated, frail disabled elderly homebound.
•2001 Rita was honored to be invited to sit on the dais at Independence Hall on the 4th of July during President Bush's  presentation of his Faith Based Initiative.
•The Associate Members of the Catholic Philopatrian Literary Institute presented the Fourteenth Neumann Medal to Rita on November 7th. 
•2001 North American SHARE Leadership Award from GlaxoSmithKline, in Chicago, IL on November 17th

2002

•Staffer Receives "For God and Youth" Award form National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry. Mr. Thomas Wallin accepted the award in a ceremony in the chapel of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia. Mr. Wallin who is also an Aid For Friends' social worker and director of support services, took over the agency's nascent youth volunteers program in 1996, he systematically expanded it with a recruitment that included public speaking appearances before scores of youth groups in churches, synagogues and schools interested in aging issues.
•AFF Received the 2002 Distinguished Organization Award from the Pennsylvania Association for Volunteerism PVA, which is headquartered in Reading, exists to promote and strengthen voluntarism in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Founded in 1984, it has more than 400 members, which include both organizations and individuals.

2003

•2003 Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center Leadership Award, for exemplary commitment and service to ending hunger. Presented by Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center
•Sister Michaelann Delaney, CSFN Tribute Grant, for exemplifying Sister's virtues of Love, Compassion and Service to Others. Presented by Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, Immaculate Conception Province.
•Named one of the 2003 Philadelphia Business Journal's "Women of Distinction" Rita was one of 25 recipients.

2004

•From The Center for Families and Relationships (CFAR) for Rita's accomplishments.
•From National Women's Magazine, "Women Who Inspire Us" Annual Award, October 2004

2005

•AARP Hero to the Hidden Hungry – June 2005
•KYW Local Legends Recognition Award – August 2005
•Philadelphia Fire Department 2nd Division Fire Prevention Award – October 2005
•“Service In God’s Name” – St. Augustine Church, Bridgeport, PA – October 2005

2006

•Frankford Pioneers Alumni Award –  April 2006
•Community College of Philadelphia Leadership Award – May 2006