Pair honored for their community service contributions in Cobb

Saturday, October 22, 2005 3:07 AM EDT
By Kimberly Starks - Marietta Daily Journal Staff Writer

An advocate for the homeless and a doctor dedicated to helping low-income people fight drug and alcohol addiction are the latest recipients of the annual Jack Vaughan Jr. Human Services Award.

Dr. Karl Steinichen, medical director at the nonprofit addiction recovery agency The Extension, and Yvonne DePina, residential department coordinator for the Cobb Community Services Board, were honored Friday during the 12th annual volunteerism and community services ceremony. They were selected from a field of 11 nominees for the annual service awards, created to honor the memory of a young state legislator from Marietta who died in 1994.

Ms. DePina works with Cobb's homeless population through the Cobb County Community Services Board, a public agency that provides mental health, disability and substance abuse services.

"My goal is to get as many people off the streets into affordable housing as possible," she said. "I would not put anybody in a place that I would not live in."

The Extension, a Marietta counseling and recovery center for low to moderate income people, includes a Residential Recovery program for homeless men that offers low-cost addiction rehabilitation services. The recovery program is the largest recovery residence for homeless men in the north metro Atlanta area.

"Given Jack Vaughn's legacy continuing in this community and the servitude he has given over the years, to receive this reward in his name is an honor way above my scale," Steinichen said. "I'm very flattered; I'm humbled and convicted that I am going to do more."

State Rep. Jack Vaughan, Jr. (R-Powder Springs) served three terms in the Georgia House of Representatives before he died at age 33 after a four-year battle with cancer. The Marietta native was known for his intuitiveness and community service.

"He'd take money from his own checking account and never wanted any attention," said Cobb Superior Court Administrator Skip Chesshire, a friend of Vaughan's. "His touch is still on my shoulder and all the people he helped."

Award recipients received the distinction during the luncheon held at The Center for Family Resources in Marietta.

Nearly 75 people attended the ceremony including Chesshire, Cobb Commissioner Tim Lee and WSB-TV meteorologist Glenn Burns. Former Powder Springs Mayor Brad Hulsey, who now chairs Cobb Disaster Recovery, was keynote speaker.

Cobb Community Collaborative Policy on Homelessness, formerly known as Cobb Human Services Coalition, sponsored the luncheon and ceremony.

The Jack Vaughan Jr. Human Services Award was established in the memory of its namesake to honor those from charitable, faith-based and governmental agencies that have assisted homeless and at-risk families.