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About the Peter Nebenzahl Champions Award

Katie Nebenzahl has lived her whole life with fear and anxiety, but when she feels comfortable, her mother Nancy can see her happiness shine through her eyes. Currently 35, Katie suffered a cerebral hemorrhage while in utero and during her birth, which led to visual impairment, intellectual and developmental delay (IDD), physical limitations, and some autistic qualities. The traumatic birth could have created the initial fear and anxiety that Katie has exhibited throughout her life, which has led to behavioral issues, and resistance in following basic daily routines such as dressing, sitting down for meals, and showering. The consistent, structured care that Katie has received since Koinonia took over the management of her home, however, has been a game-changer.

“The quality of care and the teamwork in the house has been absolutely amazing,” said Nancy. She has seen a dramatic difference in the way Katie responds to her Koinonia direct support professionals (DSPs). “Koinonia really strives to place direct support staff in the house who are a good match for the people they care for,” said Nancy. The DSPs really get to know the individuals they care for, and they truly respect them, noted Nancy. Nancy believes fully in the trauma-informed care that Koinonia provides, as well as the high quality of its staff. “Koinonia expects more from their DSPs, they have a high standard, and they, therefore, get more,” said Nancy. “And they take good care of their employees.” In this same way, Nancy wanted to give back to the Koinonia staff. She worked with the organization to fund a champions award that is dedicated to the memory of her late husband, Peter Nebenzahl and will be given annually to five deserving Koinonia DSPs who are living and applying the principles of trauma-informed care to the people that Koinonia serves. In addition to the award, it funds other costs associated with Koinonia becoming a Trauma-Informed Care Agency.

Katie with her direct support professional Natalie.

Meet the 2022 Peter Nebenzahl Champions Award Winners

Runners Up's

Rob de la Cruz

“Rob de la Cruz works with a cluster of individuals and takes them out into the community. Rob has been working for the company for over 10 years and does an amazing job with trauma-informed care for the individuals he serves.”

Sherri Mayo

“Sherri goes above and beyond for the clients she bake cakes for birthdays and provide gifts for them she cooks great nutritious meals for clients treats them like family”

Cam Hulec Pace

“Cam just became a supervisor in the last couple of months. Before she became the supervisor, she was always ready to help out with work whenever Brookpark needed her. She was loving and cared for the client. Since she has been a supervisor, she still helps out and jumps in to help to make sure the house and clients are taken care of.”

Dawn Sbeghen

“Dawn is hard working and understanding. She has been at the site for 13 years and has been great at training me to fulfill the role as the other supervisor for Brookpark. Together we make a great power team as I have been working on this site for 16 years.”

Beth Revennaugh

Beth is my current supervisor, and she does her very best to go above and beyond to make sure that our consumers are well taken care of, that the house runs smoothly, that the staff works together, and that the guardians and SA are kept in communication with each other.