National Nonprofit Awards Outstanding Healthcare Professionals
BURNSVILLE, WV February 26, 2025 – Ceca Foundation, a national nonprofit dedicated to recognizing and supporting healthcare workers and senior living professionals, proudly announces Roberta Kuhl, Hospice Social Worker at WV Caring, one of the oldest and largest non-profit hospices in the state serving people living with life limiting illnesses, as recipient of a 2024 National Ceca Award.
Now in its 11th year, this prestigious honor celebrates extraordinary caregivers from across the country for demonstrating exceptional acts of care that promote well-being and quality of life for those in their care. The 2024 National Ceca Awards are sponsored by MemoryFox, Ohio Health Care Association, and RB Health Partners, Inc.
Roberta Kuhl received WV Caring 2024’s 4th Quarter Ceca Award. Then she was selected out of hundreds of nominees to receive one of the three national awards for 2024. Locally, recognized by her team members and families for exceptional compassion and dedication to her hospice patients. Roberta is more than just a professional, she treats her patients like family, ensuring they feel seen, valued, and cared for, even in their most vulnerable moments. On Thanksgiving of this past year, she took time away from her own family to personally deliver meals to patients who would have otherwise spent the holiday alone. More than just food, she provides companionship, warmth, and kindness on other holidays and throughout the year. This act exemplifies the countless ways she goes above and beyond every day, walking alongside patients and their families through their hardest times. Roberta’s work embodies the true essence of hospice care, reminding everyone that social work extends far beyond paperwork—it’s about making a meaningful difference, one heart at a time.
“The Ceca Award program represents what we need more of—grateful spirits. I am so pleased and humbled to lead an organization dedicated to God and to lifting the human spirit through compassion and love for this vulnerable population,” said Malene Davis, Founding President & Chief Visionary Officer of WV Caring. “Our team members go above and beyond daily and help families have quality of life.
Recognizing a team member who spends her day selflessly thinking of how to improve another person’s life is a calling.”
“Our continued success in healthcare excellence will depend on developing our next generation of health professionals. WV Caring is proud to partner with Glenville State University and other healthcare providers to broaden the opportunities and develop a stronger network to prepare these individuals to meet the current and future healthcare needs in West Virginia,” Davis continued.
An award reception will take place on Monday, March 3rd from 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM at Glenville State University in the Mollahan Community Center Ballroom. As a National Ceca Award Honoree, Roberta will receive a cash award of $2,500, along with an engraved commemorative trophy. Ceca President Nate Hamme will present this award to Roberta along with WV Caring’s Malene Davis, Founding President with remarks from Dr. Mark Manchin, President of GSU, staff and healthcare community leaders.
Nate Hamme, President and Executive Director of Ceca Foundation, commented, “Every year our team is inspired reading the amazing stories of caregivers around the country. Roberta stands out for her unyielding personal dedication to those in her care, making time on holidays to spend time and provide companionship to those feeling alone during one of the most consequential moments of their lives. She is an exemplary person and dedicated professional who impacts people’s lives in a transformative way. We are humbled to honor her with this award for the compassion, care and skill she exhibits.”
Hamme added, “It is incredibly rewarding to see how meaningful acknowledgements—from team members, their patients, and the community at large—can reconnect people with the work they do each day. Ceca’s partners, like WV Caring, have made a commitment to a culture of gratitude that celebrates individuals and their efforts. We’re so proud to play a role in supporting and celebrating care workers who make a real difference in people’s lives.”
About Ceca
Ceca is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Washington, DC, which partners with healthcare communities nationally of all sizes to recognize their exceptional caregivers. Ceca’s mission is to improve the human experience in healthcare by providing a highly affordable, turnkey recognition solution tailored to healthcare providers, using its innovative software, network, managed services, and cash awards.
Founded by Matthew and Rosemary Lawlor in 2013, Ceca has publicly recognized more than 51,000 exceptional acts of care and nearly 1,400 caregivers have received a Ceca Award. To date, Ceca has awarded over $550,000 to deserving caregivers. For more information, watch a brief video and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. To schedule an interview with one of our award recipients, contact Michelle Stewart.
About WV Caring
WV Caring hospice, is a 501 (c) (3), non-profit an advanced illness provider of hospice and palliative care that is dedicated to improve care for those facing life-limiting illness through direct support of patients and their families while providing advocacy, outreach, education and expertise in grief support to the entire community. Since 1983, WV Caring has served the following twelve counties in West Virginia: Barbour, Braxton, Calhoun, Gilmer, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Pocahontas, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker, and Wetzel, and has the only regional in-patient facility serving the region. WV Caring is a non- profit, stand-alone hospice serving North Central West Virginia for the past 42 years.