Serena Merck Award
The Serena Merck Direct Service Memorial Award for Innovation and Dedication in Practice and the Serena Merck Leadership Memorial Award have been discontinued. The final awards were presented in October 2007 to Jarhari Smith (Direct Service) and Gene McConnachie (Leadership). The John Merck Fund is exploring other ways to serve children who are developmentally disabled and assist their families.
Serena Merck took a profound interest in those who devote their lives to caring for developmentally disabled children. To recognize the vital work caregivers do, The Fund established the Serena Merck Memorial Award in 1997. The award is presented annually to an individual who, in the opinion of a distinguished panel of judges, brings outstanding personal qualities and care-giving skills to bear in the lives of developmentally disabled children.
In 2005, the award name was changed to the Serena Merck Direct Service Memorial Award for Innovation and Dedication in Practice and a second award was added: the Serena Merck Leadership Memorial Award, to recognize an individual who has proven leadership and guidance that have resulted in the significant improvement of quality of life for persons with developmental disabilities and mental health needs. The awards both carry a $5,000 cash award and a plaque, presented at an awards luncheon at the annual meeting of the National Association for the Dually Diagnosed.
In 2006, the Serena Merck Direct Service Memorial Award was given to Bill Bergeron, a special needs aide at Wilton High School in Connecticut. Mr. Bergeron works with dozens of young adults to provide not only academic support within the classroom, but also social, behavioral and vocational opportunities within Fairfield County. He started his own “Friends & Buddies” organization that offers many extracurricular activities for special needs students.
The 2006 Serena Merck Leadership Memorial Award was given to Lee Marcus, director of the Chapel Hill Training and Education of Autistic and related Communication-handicapped Children — TEACCH. Mr. Marcus has been a leader in the field of autism treatment, education and outreach. He has helped thousands of people with autism and their families by overseeing clinical services, by training hundreds of students and professionals in how to diagnose and most effectively treat autism, and by participating in various research projects.
In 2005, the Serena Merck Direct Service Memorial Award was given to Catherine Johnson, a respite care provider and residential habilitation trainer for challenged children in Wyoming. Parents are overwhelmingly supportive of Ms. Johnson's efforts because her work helps them keep their children at home where they can enjoy being a part of their community. She launched a program for children during the summer months at the Rehabilitation Enterprises of North