SOP WINNERS: (left to right) Janet Rooks, Community Hero award; Mausam Chokshi, Rising Star award; Marialice Knight, RN, Healthcare Hero award; and Aja Assad of Aja’s Salon & Day Spa, Business Hero award. Not pictured is Patricia Manning, Ed.D., Lifetime Achievement award winner.

THE JESS PARRISH MEDICAL FOUNDATION awarded five North Brevard women with Spirit of Philanthropy awards at the first annual Spirit of Philanthropy Awards Ceremony. The honorees were:

PATRICIA MANNING, ED.D: Lifetime Achievement award winner, which recognizes a remarkable woman (age 55+) for a lifetime of achievements in making positive differences within the community. Since retiring from teaching, she has diverted her energy and passion to educating the community. She has also been instrumental in the development of the planned Health Village at Main Street PMC project, a one-of-a-kind initiative that brings healthy aging resources and services together within what will be another trademark PMC healing environment.

MAUSAM CHOKSHI: Titusville High School senior. Rising Star award winner, which recognizes an Outstanding Young Philanthropist between the ages of 14 and 20. Chokshi is an active member of the Health Occupations Students of America Club, and a teen volunteer for Parrish Medical Center, where she has logged over 500 hours of volunteer service.

JANET ROOKS, MSW: Community Hero award winner, which recognizes an Outstanding Woman of Philanthropy between the ages of 21 to 54.  A social worker by trade, Rooks has developed a one-stop resource for healthy aging and caregiver support. She facilitates support groups of people caring for aging parents or loved ones; teaches high schoolers about aging; coordinates community courses on the subject; and serves on many civic organizations including the American Cancer Society, the Legal Aid Society, and the Brevard Commission on Aging.

MARIALICE KNIGHT, RN: Healthcare Hero award winner, which recognizes an Outstanding Clinical Professional and Philanthropist. Knight has dedicated her life to cardiovascular care and has conducted countless community seminars to educate people, especially women, about the risks of heart disease and stroke. Her passion for her cause has resulted in her becoming a mentor to other Spirit of Women hospitals around the country.

AJA ASSAD: Business Hero award winner.  Assad is a longtime volunteer with the American Cancer Society who donates her time and talent to the Look Good Feel Better and Locks of Love programs. This businesswoman has made cancer prevention her priority. She teaches cancer patients how to care cosmetically for scars and wounds that result from treatment or therapy and provides scarves, wraps, hairpieces and specialized cosmetic products for women battling cancer. She also participates in the Relay for Life, Titusville Rotary Club and The Gulf Restoration Network.

OTHER NOMINEES in one of the five categories were Nancy Eberlin, George Anne Goggins, Rachel Hartos, Julie Kable, Hillary Lynch, Judy Morter, Pam Myers, Lindsay Raub, Lynda Tempest, Barbara Terhune, Rachel Terry, Pamela Tronetti, DO, and Authrine Whyte, MD, PhD.

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