OGDENSBURG – One of United Helpers’ longest tenured employees was also recognized recently as one of its best, with the presentation of the annual Wayne N. Ladouceur Award to Sheri L. Sharpe.
Mrs. Sharpe, of Richville, has been an LPN with the organization for 43 years, earning a reputation, not only as one of United Helpers’ best nurses, but as one of the best nurses in the area.
United Helpers Management Company Board of Directors member Nancy Rehse submitted the nomination, which also contained a letter of support from Program Leader Paul A. Linden, written on behalf of the staff at the Rensselaer Falls IRA.
Ms. Rehse knows firsthand the impact Mrs. Sharpe has on the lives of program members and their families. Her son, Jason resides at the Pleasant Valley IRA.
“Sheri stays at the hospital with us long past her work hours. She has given me her phone number and assures she is always available to talk, and she always has been. She has never failed to answer a call or text, even in the evening or on weekends when she is not on duty.” Ms. Rehse said. “She certainly does all of this on her own. She seems to be everywhere, helping everyone. She is a Godsend.”
The Ladouceur family chose the criteria for the award, picking traits exhibited by Mr. Ladouceur and things he was known for, not just in the United Helpers family, but also across the entire city of Ogdensburg. That criteria includes giving generously of oneself, the ability to see beyond one’s own needs, a strong personal drive to provide the utmost in care, the ability to feel and express empathy, and exuding a love for life.
Those are all areas where Mrs. Sharpe excels.
Citing a specific example, Mr. Linden recalled an evening from two years ago when Mrs. Sharpe was on vacation.
“I received a phone call at 2 a.m. while covering a midnight shift. The call was from another IRA letting me know they were sending a program member to the hospital. Already short staffed, I placed a dreaded middle of the night phone call to Sheri,” he said. “I wasn’t dreading it, because I was afraid of waking her up, nor was I worried about bothering her while she was on vacation. I was worried because I knew if I called her, she would get up and proceed directly to the hospital, which is exactly what she did. She went to help that night because that’s who she is and that’s what she does.”
The Wayne N. Ladouceur Award was created in memory of and in honor of Mr. Ladouceur, a longtime United Helpers volunteer, board member and former board president. The award is funded through an endowment with the Northern New York Community Foundation created by Mrs. Ladouceur and more than 80 of the Ladouceurs’ friends and family.
Sheri L. Sharpe, a 43-year United Helpers employee was honored with this year’s Wayne N. Ladouceur Award. The award is presented annually to an employee who exemplifies traits exhibited by Mr. Ladouceur, including, giving generously of one’s self, the ability to see beyond one’s own needs, a strong personal drive to provide the utmost in care, the ability to feel and express empathy, and exuding a love for life. From left, Vice President of Human Resources Michelle Matthews, Program Leader Paul Linden, Mrs. Sharpe, Director of Residential Services Kim George, Chief Operations Officer Stacey Cannizzo, and Management Company Board of Directors member Nancy Rehse.
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