SAGE AWARDS
10:30 a.m. Brunch and Awards Presentation
The Frances Langford Theater at the Kane Center
Guest Emcee: Martin County Commission Ed Ciampi
Congratulations to the Winners of the 2020-2021 Sage Awards!
Robin Bisi and Matt Markley (accepting on behalf of the late LaVaughn Tilton), Claire Siefker, Dan Mackin, Ellyn Stevenson and Karlette Peck
Congratulations to the 2020-2021 Charlie Kane Award Honorees!
Dr. Linda Kardos and Dr. Howard Robbins
Honorary Chairman and Keynote Speaker
Honorary Chairman
H. William Lichtenberger
H. William Lichtenberger received the Charlie Kane Award in 2018.
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Mark Brody
President and Founder of Brain Matters Research
“Getting Close to a Cure for Alzheimer’s”
Brain Matters Research is one of the largest Alzheimer’s disease clinical research facilities in the country.
Proceeds from the Sage Awards will benefit the charitable work of the Council on Aging of Martin County, which includes Meals on Wheels, a therapeutic Adult Day Club, the Joseph C. & Ann S. Day Medical Center, geriatric care management and caregiver support.
2020-2021 Sage Award Winners
Arts & Culture
Dan Mackin
The 2020-2021 Sage Award winner for Arts & Culture is Dan Mackin for his outstanding enrichment of the cultural fabric of South Florida and beyond. The long-time Hobe Sound resident has made a name for himself across the globe for his bright, tropical scenes. His charitable work shows his true commitment to making our slice of the world a better place. His artwork has raised over $2 million for the National Kidney Foundation of Florida and he is on the board of the National Kidney Foundation. In all, Dan’s “Art of Giving Back” page on his website lists 21 charities.
Remarkable Caregiver
Ellyn Stevenson
The 2020-2021 Sage Award winner in the Remarkable Caregiver category is Ellyn Stevenson for being a source of encouragement for every caregiver she encounters, offering camaraderie, strength and a sense of humor. As the full-time caregiver for her husband, her no-nonsense, proactive approach to life has not only helped her navigate caregiving’s myriad challenges, it has been life-changing for fellow caregivers sharing the same experience. Ellyn is also an active philanthropist and volunteer. She serves as the Chair of the Community Foundation Martin-St. Lucie and is a co-founder of Impact 100 Martin.
Health Science & Medicine
Karlette Peck, MPHS, PA
The 2020-2021 Sage Award winner for Health Science & Medicine is Karlette Peck for her unwavering passion for public health, global health, health equity, and community partnerships that create structural social change. After four decades in public health, Karlette retired and promptly turned her focus to building a new project: St. Mary’s Healing Center at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. Karlette is the new 501(c)(3)’s volunteer Executive Director, leading the organization’s strategic planning process to create a destination for faith-based mental and physical health and wellness.
Education
Claire Siefker
The 2020-2021 Sage Award winner in Education is Claire Siefker for her life work dedicated to helping those most in need of compassion. Throughout her nearly 60 years in the Indiantown community, she has been a beacon of hope for people in crisis, particularly immigrant women and children. She now serves as Board President of KinDoo Family Center, providing life-skills for adults who never had the opportunity to further their education. Art and painting have always been Claire’s passion, and she has brought her talent to the children at Hope Rural School and to the women at the KinDoo Family Center.
Community Service
LaVaughn Tilton (Posthumous)
The 2020-2021 Sage Award winner in Community Service is the late LaVaughn Tilton, for being one of the Treasure Coast’s most successful and ardent child welfare advocates. As the founder of Hibiscus Children’s Center, the Treasure Coast’s only licensed emergency shelter for children, her vision, fortitude and generosity has ensured a better—and safer—life for thousands of children. LaVaughn Tilton passed away on January 8, 2021, before the Sage Awards could be rescheduled. She leaves behind an incredible legacy. Her passion and vision live on in the mission of the Hibiscus Children’s Center.
2020-2021 Sage Award Honorees
Charlie Kane Award Honorees
Dr. Linda Kardos and Dr. Howard Robbins
Dr. Linda S. Kardos and Dr. Howard Robbins have been pillars of the medical community, providing thorough, thoughtful medical care and leadership in Stuart for over 30 years. Outside their busy internal medicine practice, they dedicate their time, treasure and expertise to many local charitable organizations.
Chairman's Award
William & Helen Thomas Charitable Trust
The William & Helen Thomas Charitable Trust has been honored with the 2020 Chairman's Award for fulfilling the legacy of a long-time philanthropic couple from Stuart, Florida by supporting nonprofit organizations providing services for education, the environment, medical needs, the underprivileged and other charitable purposes.
All of the 2020-2021 Sage Award nominees were recognized throughout the morning for being remarkable and inspiring senior role models:
- Robert "Bob" Benson
- Lee Borellis
- Dr. LaBarbara Chenault
- Sue DeNike
- Kevin M. Donahue
- Pat Garrett
- Rachelle "Rocky" Grady
- Ann Jackson
- Belinda Lowe
- Eileen Morris
- Richard Otten
- Dorothy Scotto
- Alice Shann
- NancyAnn Taylor
- M. Sean Todd
Gytha Von Aldenbruck, from Hutchinson Island, won a Sage Award in Community Service for her unwaivering commitment to multiple organizations across the Treasure Coast including Treasure Coast Hospice, Memory Bridge, Alzheimer's Community Care, the American Cancer Society, the Arts Council on Martin County and Martin County Community Foundation.
Dale M. Hudson, from Stuart, received a Sage Award in Faith-Based Service. For 23 years Dale has served as the chairman of Mary's Kitchen - an outreach mission of St. Mary's Episcopal Church. Through his devotion to this mission, over 200,000 meals have been served to the hungry and homeless living in our midst.
Dr. Reza Khatib, from Palm City, received a Sage Award in Healthcare & Health Services. Dr. Khatib is a retired neurosurgeon who continues to pursue his passions through far-reaching philanthropic work. He endows chairs and professorships in Neurological Surgery and Oncology at four U.S. universities. He was instrumental in the opening of the first hospice in Iran in 2017. And, he created the Khatib Bridge and Education Center here in Stuart.
Dr. Barbara Bush, from Stuart, received a Sage Award in Healthcare & Health Services. Dr. Bush has continued her 39 years of volunteering with the Martin Health Auxiliary well into her retirement, logging 18,450 hours of service. Whether in a leadership role or helping patients through the No One Dies Alone Program, she's known for her remarkable dedication to health care.
Irwin Stovroff, from Boca Raton, won a Sage Award in Human Services for founding Vets Helping Heroes at the age of 84, which underwrites service dogs for veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. The organization has provided service dogs for more than 300 veterans. Well into his 90s, Irwin continues as President of Vets Helping Heroes.
Dr. David L. Anderson, from Port Salerno, won a Sage Award in Professional Services for his lifelong commitment to improve the quality of education for all students in Martin County. At the age of 71, he was the longest sitting School Board member in the State of Florida. He is one of the county's best known educators and the namesake for our newest middle school in Martin County.
