Ryan Hoffman Receives the Art Wunsch Award

L-R Ryan Hoffman holding the Art Wunsch award presented by Newaygo CMH Board Member Kathy Broome

By Kathy Broome

My father had a passion for helping others and after his retirement from White Cloud Public schools, he was appointed to the Newaygo County Community Mental Health Board of Directors and subsequently served for 24 years. At his second retirement  in 2010 he received  the first Art Wunsch Advocacy Award, named in his honor, for his “dedication to the promotion of consumer involvement, empowerment and the reduction of stigma for those who suffer with developmental disabilities and/or mental illness.” 

In the past 13 years the award was given to individuals who touched the lives of CMH (Community Mental Health) consumers in a variety of ways; a medical professional, a state representative, an employee of the Empowerment Network, an employee of the Disability Connection, several retired CMH employees with many years of service to the agency, another retired board member, a veteran direct care worker, a special education teacher, and the former director of Newaygo County MDHHS.

I was fortunate enough to have presented the award to many of the recipients and was extremely honored to do so, but this year was special. The process was slightly different in that the recipient wasn’t notified ahead of time, just invited to the January board meeting. I also knew him, as did other board members. There was an air of anticipation as I announced that Ryan Hoffman, an intern at the Empowerment Network, was in fact the 2024 recipient of the Art Wunsch Advocacy Award. The Empowerment Network is a Drop in Center for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled of Newaygo County.

 Ryan’s involvement began in 2011 and in the ensuing years he took on more responsibilities and became an integral part of the organization. He is now the head intern and president to the Empowerment Network Board. His nominator described him as “a jack of all trades, doing whatever needs to be done for others. 

Congratulations Ryan, and thank you for the many ways you touch the lives of others.

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