Date: June 4, 2002
For Immediate Release
Contact: Ed Long, (310) 533-1996

H.E.L.P. Wins Community Service Award

H.E.L.P. has received the Palos Verdes Peninsula Coordinating Council's 2002 Community Service Award, recognizing H.E.L.P.'s work on behalf of older adults and their caring families and friends. Senator Betty Karnette, Assemblymember Alan Lowenthal and County Supervisor Don Knabe joined in by awarding commendations.

In less than six years, the Torrance-based non-profit agency has assisted thousands via its classes, private consultations, website (www.help4srs.org) and other services. Ed and Pat Long, husband and wife, founded the agency in 1996. 

Ed Long, accepting the Award at ceremonies at the Peninsula Center Library, dedicated the Award in memory of Anne and Duffy Petragnani (Pat's mother and father). Pat and Ed's experience in helping Anne and Duffy was the spark that led to the creation of H.E.L.P. Ed told about Anne and Duffy "whose six-year battle with declining health became our battle, whose struggle to maintain control of their situation became our struggle, whose frustration with the difficulty of finding needed services became our frustration, and whose dignity and perseverance became our source of pride." 

He credited H.E.L.P.'s hard working volunteers and staff, and its generous donors, for making it possible to help so many people. And he thanked the Council for giving the Award to H.E.L.P. and "confirming for us what we strongly believe – that older adults matter." 

H.E.L.P. is a non-profit service for older adults and their caring families and friends. It helps people meet aging-related legal and care challenges, through classes and private consultations. Telephone and Internet assistance is also available. Almost all services are free. H.E.L.P. is located at 1404 Cravens Avenue, Torrance, California 90501. The phone number is (310) 533-1996, and the Internet address is www.help4srs.org