The achievements of people with disabilities and the efforts of those who support them will be showcased when The Resource Center holds its 32nd annual Ability Awareness Awards Celebration on Friday.

The event will begin at 6 p.m.

Because of the pandemic, the celebration will be held virtually via a videoconference. The event is free, but people must register to attend in order to receive the access information to watch the celebration online.

The Ability Awareness Awards recognize people with disabilities who have made significant accomplishments, as well as area residents and businesses that have improved the lives of people with disabilities. This year’s award recipients are:

¯ Advocate of the Year – Jennifer DeWolf of Sheridan

¯ Business/Employer of the Year – Can Kings of Fredonia and Silver Creek

¯ Community Partnership Award – YMCA Camp Onyahsa near Dewittville

¯ Bruce Walford Community Service Award – Wendy Wilcox of Jamestown

¯ Health Provider of the Year – Nancy Hunt of Jamestown

¯ Edwin Roth Mental Health Award – Ashlee Terry of Sheffield, PA

¯ Outstanding Achievement Award – Courtney Poitras of Jamestown

¯ Personal Success Award – Brianna Wicks of Westfield

¯ Elmer Muench Volunteer of the Year – Peter Carlo of Jamestown

In addition, Mary Davis of Jamestown will be recognized for being honored by New York State Industries for the Disabled, Inc. NYSID selected Davis for recognition through its annual William B. Joslin Outstanding Performance Award Program.

In a typical year, The Resource Center presents the Ability Awareness Awards at a large celebration.

Because of the pandemic, this year’s awards were presented to two honorees at a time at a series of small luncheons. Those events were recorded and will be shared during Friday’s virtual celebration. The event will include footage from brief celebrations that were held at some of the homes The Resource Center operates, so residents could applaud the honorees.

To register to attend the virtual celebration, visit www.resourcecenter.org/awards-registration or phone Victoria Trass Bardo at 661-1477.

The Resource Center is a not-for-profit organization that has been supporting people with disabilities and their families in Chautauqua County since 1958. The Resource Center also offers a range of health services that are available to anyone in the community. In addition, TRC performs subcontracting work for the federal government and local businesses at manufacturing facilities in Dunkirk and Jamestown.