Atlantic County will celebrate the outstanding contributions of individuals with disabilities during its 32nd annual Donald J. Sykes Award ceremony on Thursday, October 21 at the Atlantic City Country Club.
The ceremony is presented as a cooperative effort of the Atlantic County Division of Intergenerational Services and the Atlantic County Disability Advisory Board.
This year’s honorees include Robert Frolow of Egg Harbor Township who serves as the Atlantic County Veterans Services Officer, and Shondel Greenwood of Pleasantville, president of Council 5 of the New Jersey Self-Advocacy network.
“These two remarkable individuals show us by their examples that all things are possible,” stated County Executive Dennis Levinson. “They do not let obstacles stand in their way. They meet challenges head on and encourage others to do the same. They are true champions and very deserving of this award.”
Frolow was nominated by Somers Point Mayor Jack Glasser, who cited his contributions to his community.
Frolow was instrumental in bringing the Vietnam “Moving Wall” to Somers Point and establishing the city’s new Veterans Resource Center, in addition to his many years assisting veterans in need of government benefits.
Frolow is a charter member of AmVets Post 911, the Atlantic County and Somers Point Veterans Advisory boards and is the current commander of the Somers Point American Legion.
Greenwood was nominated by Andrea McDonough, of the Arc of Atlantic County, in recognition of his extraordinary personal growth and his significant steps towards independence that have given him the confidence to rejoin the workforce as a part-time housekeeping assistant with the Hard Rock Casino Hotel in Atlantic City.
Greenwood also serves as a volunteer consultant with the Arc and has helped educate local police departments and improve their interactions with individuals with disabilities. As president of Council 5, he advocates for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and meets each month with the state board on their behalf.
The annual Disability Awareness ceremony was established by the county in 1989 and later renamed in memory of Donald J. Sykes, a longtime community advocate and former chairman of the county’s Disabled Citizens Advisory Board.
For more information about county services for individuals with disabilities, contact the Atlantic County Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) at 1-888-426-9243.
