Vinfen Program Director Elizabeth Friary Receives Patriot Award from Defense Department

August 1st, 2011

NEWS RELEASE
Vinfen Corporation
Communications & Public Affairs Dept.
950 Cambridge Street
Cambridge, MA 02141
617-441-1800
www.vinfen.org

For immediate release: 

August 1, 2011

Vinfen Program Director Elizabeth Friary Receives Patriot Award from Defense Department 

Vinfen employee Elizabeth Friary has been awarded the Patriot Award by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the Department of Defense. The Patriot Award was created to publicly recognize individuals who provide outstanding patriotic support and cooperation to their employees.    

Friary, a resident of Jamaica Plain, was chosen for the award because of her extraordinary support of Hubert Kobu, a Vinfen employee and member of the National Guard.  Kobu recently returned from Kuwait where he was deployed for 13 months.  Kobu is a Vinfen residential counselor and lives in Weymouth.

“Support for the men and women in the National Guard is not automatic by employers, but it’s very much appreciated,” said John Pelosi ESGR Area Chairman.

Elizabeth Friary is a Program Director at the Jefferson House program in Roslindale, MA.  She has been a member of the Vinfen family for nine years beginning her career in the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Division as a site manager.

“I was surprised and flattered to be nominated for the Patriot Employee Award,” said Friary.

“I nominated Elizabeth because of the support she showed as a supervisor. “It’s not easy to ask for a year off.  I was so grateful to Elizabeth, not many employers would be so flexible,” said Kobu.

Vinfen Corporation, the region’s leading human services organization, is a private nonprofit human services organization that provides a comprehensive array of services to adolescents and adults with psychiatric and developmental disabilities. Established in 1977, Vinfen assists individuals by offering them opportunities to attain the highest possible level of independence and quality of life.  Vinfen’s 2,000 dedicated employees are experience, highly trained professional who provide a full range of services.

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