2025 Annual Awards- Nominate. Celebrate. Inspire.
Ripples of Impact: When Purpose Makes Waves
Each year, the LeadingAge Massachusetts Annual Achievement Awards honor the people, programs, and organizations whose actions send ripples of impact across the aging services field. These awards shine a spotlight on those whose leadership, compassion, and innovation create waves of lasting change—touching lives, strengthening communities, and inspiring others to follow their lead.
We invite you to submit a nomination that recognizes a person, team, or organization whose work is making a meaningful and measurable difference. Whether it’s a rising leader, a dedicated volunteer, or an initiative that’s transforming care and culture, your nomination helps us celebrate the very best of our field.
Award recipients will be celebrated at the Annual Achievement Awards Ceremony on October 15, 2025.
Before you begin your submission, please review the award categories and criteria. We encourage you to gather any required materials in advance to ensure a smooth process.
Each year, the LeadingAge Massachusetts Annual Achievement Awards shine a spotlight on the individuals and organizations across our membership who demonstrate leadership, compassion, innovation, and a deep commitment to advancing aging services.
Eligibility
Achievement Awards are open to current LeadingAge MA provider member organizations, their staff, volunteers, Board members, residents or consumers. We encourage our members to submit nominations that showcase the remarkable achievements, innovative practices, and positive impacts made by individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Award Categories:
Individual Awards
Emerging Leader Award
Heart and Hands Award
Volunteer of the Year Award
Organizational Award
Innovation & Impact Award
Selection and Notification
The LeadingAge MA Award & Recognition Committee will review all nominations and select award recipients. All individuals that submit nominations will be notified of award decisions in mid-September.
The Committee reserves the right to make award decisions at its discretion, including the option to recognize multiple recipients within a single category, to withhold an award in any category, or to reassign a nomination to a different category if deemed more appropriate.
Award recipients will be honored at the Annual Achievement Awards Ceremony on October 15, 2025.
Nominations are open to LeadingAge MA provider member organizations, their staff, board members, residents, and volunteers.
How to Submit
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Review the award categories and criteria.
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Prepare a written response (in Word or PDF format) to the questions under the appropriate award.
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Gather any supporting materials (e.g., letters of support, photos, program summaries, or links to media).
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Complete the online nomination form and upload all materials in one submission.
⚠ Please note: The form cannot be saved mid-process. We recommend preparing all materials before starting your submission.
Submission Deadline: Friday September 5, 2025
Emerging Leader Award
Description:
Recognizes an employee at any level who has taken on leadership responsibilities in the past five years and demonstrated collaboration, vision, and organizational excellence.
Eligible Nominees:
Employees at any LeadingAge MA member organization
Questions:
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Describe the individual you are nominating and why you are nominating them.
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Please detail additional leadership responsibilities this person has taken on in the past few years.
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In what ways has this person excelled in these additional responsibilities?
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How has this person influenced individuals, processes, or strategic direction for your organization?
Heart and Hands Award
Description:
Honors an individual or team who goes beyond the expectations of their role to build meaningful relationships and enrich the lives of residents or clients.
Eligible Nominees:
Employees at any LeadingAge MA member organization
Questions:
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Describe the individual or group you are nominating and why you are nominating them.
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How long has the nominee been with your organization?
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How has this individual or group demonstrated exceptional relationships with residents or clients?
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In what ways did they go beyond their job description? Please provide specific examples.
Volunteer of the Year Award
Description:
Celebrates a volunteer (or group of volunteers) who has shown exceptional dedication to enhancing the quality of life for older adults.
Eligible Nominees:
Volunteers (including Board Members) at any LeadingAge MA member organization
Questions:
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Please share a story that illustrates the nominee’s exceptional volunteerism.
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Include examples of specific actions that go above and beyond to enhance or enrich the quality of life for older adults.
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Include one letter of support from the executive director, site manager, or CEO.
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Include up to three letters of support from staff, residents, families, or community members (minimum one).
Innovation & Impact Award
Description:
Recognizes a provider organization that has implemented an innovative program, practice, or initiative with the power to transform aging services and contribute meaningfully to service excellence and sector advancement.
Eligible Nominees:
Any LeadingAge MA provider member organization
Questions:
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Executive Summary – Describe the innovation, its inspiration, specific goals, and intended outcomes.
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Distinctiveness – What makes this a new or unique approach within aging services?
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Impact – Describe the outcomes or benefits for residents, staff, or the broader community.
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Evaluation – If available, explain how success has been or will be measured.
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Replicability – How could other providers adopt this innovation?
To submit nomination,
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