Janet Whitten

Joel Pelayo

Whitten and Pelayo to receive "Hearts" honor

October 17, 2007

The Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital Foundation has announced the Hearts of Gold recipients for 2007; Janet Whitten and Joel Pelayo.

Whitten and Pelayo were chosen for "exemplifying exceptional advocacy and/or action in contributing to the community's health" and will be honored at the Hearts of Gold Gala Saturday, November 3, at the Best Western Hood River Inn.

Whitten will receive this year's health professional award. She is recognized by the courts, State Department of Human Services (DHS) and peer professionals as an expert in children's mental health. Last year, she came out of retirement to oversee the development and implementation of the Systems of Care (SOC) for Mid-Columbia Center for Living. "Janet's expertise and dedication in collaborating with local partners to ensure the complex needs of families struggling with mental illness, regardless of ability to pay, are met is just one example of her commitment to our community," says, Rena Whittaker, executive director of the PHRMH Foundation.

Pelayo, health promoter at Nuestra Comunidad Sana, a program of The Next Door, Inc., and family services coordinator at Mid Columbia Children's Council will be recognized for his role as a community partner. In addition to Joel's extensive work with the Latino community in providing health education and lay counseling on diabetes, HIV/Aids and oral health, he began Hombres Autoresponsables para Parar el Abuso (HAPA) a long-term intensive support group for perpetrators of domestic violence in 1994. Through this program, he has helped hundreds of men learn to control their anger and work through their emotions before becoming violent. "He is devoted to ensuring all people live healthier lives, children get a good education and families in crisis get the help they need," Whittaker says.

Tickets for the Hearts of Gold Gala are $75 and can be reserved by calling the foundation office at 541-387-6474. The event is open to the public and will feature a champagne reception, plated dinner and silent and live auctions. All proceeds will benefit PHRMH foundation's The ONE Campaign.