The Charlene Kinnelly Advocacy Award
The Charlene Kinnelly Advocacy Award is given to individuals within and outside of our organization who advocate for people with disabilities, their families, and the workers who support them, with unyielding strength and compassion.
Charlene Kinnelly was one of the IDD community’s strongest advocates, most fearless leaders, and kindest friends. She dedicated her life to ensuring access to community supports, serving as the Executive Director of Uplift for over two decades and, in retirement, as a lobbyist, historian, and all-around expert on community services for MACSP, her state, and the nation.
Charlene Kinnelly Advocacy Award Recipients
2024
Pete Plummer, Chief Operating Officer, Woodfords Family Services
2023
Heidi Mansir, Executive Director, Uplift, Inc.
2022
Catherine Thibedeau, Executive Director, Independence Advocates of Maine, Inc.
2018
Kim Humphrey, Parent-Advocate and Founder of Community Connect Maine
The Bonnie-Jean Brooks Leading Light Award
The Bonnie-Jean Brooks Leading Light award is presented to a MACSP member who embodies Bonnie’s strong resolve and her hopeful, collaborative spirit in their work to support and improve the lives of people with disabilities.
Leading Light Award Recipients
2024
Lydia Dawson, Vice President of Government Relations, ANCOR
2023
Cullen Ryan, Executive Director, Community Housing of Maine (CHOM)| Founder & Chair, Maine Coalition for Housing and Quality Services (MCHQS)
2022
Bonnie-Jean Brooks, Founder & Former CEO, OHI. | Founding & Lifetime Member, MACSP
Inaugural Award Recipient
The Leading Light Award was established in honor of Bonnie Jean- Brooks ~ A founding mother of MACSP and long-time board member, a state and national leader who helped de-institutionalization people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, in Maine, a driver for and creator of quality services to help people build supportive and independent lives in the community, and a mentor to many.
Legislative Leadership Awards
The MACSP Legislative Champion Award is given to a State Representative or Senator who champions legislation benefitting people with disabilities and the providers and direct care workers who support them, through its successful passage in the Maine Legislature.
2023
Representative Drew Gattine
Representative Kathy Javner
2021
Representative Jessica Fay
Representative Michele Meyer