FASC proudly announces the 2016 Jay K. Morgan Senior Center Professional Award Winner!

​Each year, the Florida Association of Senior Centers presents the Jay K. Morgan Award to recognize an outstanding professional in Florida’s Senior Centers and their efforts to enhance the senior center profession as well as the Florida Association of Senior Centers. Named after Jay Morgan, a long-time proponent for seniors both state and nation-wide, this award honors their efforts to improve Senior Centers and the quality of life for all seniors across the state. This year’s recipient is Donna DeFronzo of the N.E. Focal Point Senior Services Center in Deerfield Beach.
In her 27 years working in the field of Senior Centers, Ms. DeFronzo has been responsible for the overall management, supervision, and coordination of all project activities and staff in order to provide a comprehensive program of services to individuals from age 2 -102.  She coordinates the Senior Center, Adult Day Services Center, Alzheimer’s Day Care Center, Intergenerational Child Care Center, and Thrift Shop services and programs.  She has received a Master of Science Degree from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Science Degree from Florida Atlantic University in Health Services Administration.  She has been a licensed Nursing Home Administrator in the State of Florida since 1987 and a licensed Assisted Living Facilities Administrator since 2000.
Highlights of her accomplishments:
 

• In 2002 she was awarded the “Project Advocate of the Year” Award by the Area Agency on Aging of Broward County for her outstanding leadership and advocacy for seniors.
• Under her leadership as the President of the Florida Association of Senior Center, FASC received an award for excellence and innovation as a state association.
• Past Board of Trustee for the Florida Council on Aging and Past Membership Chair for the Florida Council on Aging. 
• Member of the National Council on Aging and the National Institute of Senior Centers. 
• Received the 1996 Florence R. Goldmann Distinguished Senior Center Award for excellence in the development and promotion of Senior Centers by the Florida Association of Senior Centers. 
• First Center to receive the Flo Goldmann Senior Center Award for a second time – 2012
• She has successfully developed an all-volunteer Board of Directors and Auxiliary to actively raise funds and provide positive public relations for the Center. 
• Adjunct Assistant Professor for the Health Services Administration Program of Florida Atlantic University since 1995
• Preceptor for the FAU’s Health Practicum Program since 1989 - She initiated and developed FAU’s first Long-Term Health Care Administration Course in 1999.
• She is a Professional Clown, Sunshine, and has participated in various charity events - She has been a Humor Therapist/Clown, “Sunshine,” for Hospice
• Member of the World Clown Association, Clowns of America International, Southeast Clown Association, and the Kracker Jaclown Club.
• Has also been a member of Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation’s Partners in Caring, the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP), and the Transplant Foundation, Inc. 

 
Her philosophy is to labor hard, learn always, laugh often, love much, and live in faith, hope, and charity. Jay Morgan, for whom the award is named states, “I found Donna to be one of the most positive people I know.  She attended every conference full of enthusiasm, always volunteering on the front end of the conference to stuff bags for FCOA, manning the FASC booth, being a speaker for FASC presentations, introducing other speakers for FCOA, and basically stepping up to help when there was a need.  I still remember the wonderful picture of her and her sister in the hospital together after her surgery when Donna needed a kidney transplant and both had the biggest smiles and both were wearing big red clown noses.  What an inspiration she is.”
 
 
For these and many more reasons, Ms. DeFronzo has been a tremendous advocate for seniors and has championed the role of Senior Centers in the lives seniors. It is the pleasure of the Florida Association of Senior Centers to present her this prestigious award, and to thank her for all of her work to improve the lives of seniors across the state!