CAHEC's Community Programs Participant of the Year Awarded to Marsha Day for Creating a Sense of Family Among Woodland Village Residents

    RALEIGH, NC, July 31, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Each year, CAHEC recognizes residents who distinguish themselves through their participation in CAHEC's Community Programs. This year Marsha Day, a resident at Woodland Village in Hudson, North Carolina, walked away with CAHEC's 2014 Community Programs Participant of the Year Award for her dedication to the Senior Recognition Program for two consecutive years.

Few things keep Marsha Day out of commission. She's had a triple bypass, MRSA and three strokes, and last spring she learned she had cancer for the third time. Yet Day is a fighter and asserts she is "gonna beat 'em all with the grace of God." She went on to say, "CAHEC's Senior Recognition Program has given me a sense of purpose to help others and have the opportunity to travel to new places."

Between 2005 and 2014, the Senior Recognition Program offered seniors living in CAHEC-sponsored developments the opportunity to receive an expense-paid vacation trip in return for active participation in the program. Requiring residents to take part in 100 hours of on-and off-site activities annually, the program encouraged residents to emerge from their apartments and get to know their neighbors and community better. Residents who completed the program in 2014 could choose from three destinations for their reward trip: Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Savannah, Georgia; and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

In 2012, Day began the first Senior Recognition Program at Woodland Village. She describes her duties as keeping the program organized, tracking participants' activity hours, driving a neighbor to the store -- anything to keep the community going. "If it wasn't for this project and the things I do, I'd probably just have more health problems," said Day. "I started with a few hours, enjoyed what I was doing and just kept going like the Energizer bunny. The residents know my medical history. When they see me going, it encourages them to keep at it." The first group of senior participants recorded 1,662 community activity hours, 762 more than required. Their reward trip took them to Williamsburg, Virginia, in the spring of 2013.

Because of her energy, passion and dedication, 13 seniors at Woodland Village completed the program this year with 2,785 activity hours, an impressive 1,485 hours over the requirement. The Woodland Village participants chose Myrtle Beach as their final reward trip.

"Life is too short," Day said. "I believe you live it to its fullest and do whatever you can every day to the best of your ability. There is no place I'd rather be than right here with my family and friends in this community. I'm grateful to receive this award from CAHEC and especially grateful for all the opportunities CAHEC helped to provide with its Senior Recognition Program."

About Community Affordable Housing Equity Corporation (CAHEC):

Created in 1992, CAHEC now ranks as one of the largest nonprofit regional equity syndicators in the United States. In addition to its mission is to provide communities with affordable housing and opportunities for growth and revitalization by investing in qualified tax credit products, CAHEC also provides capital through a series of Community Investment Programs. These programs empower residents, promote the development of affordable rental and ownership housing, and foster sustainability within the communities CAHEC serves. www.cahec.com

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