WS Chronicle

Sam Matthews, executive director of the Shepherd’s Center of Greater Winston-Salem, received the 2024 Rusty and Nancy Ryan National Visionary Award from the Aging Forward Alliance (formerly known as Shepherd’s Centers of America) on Sept. 18 during the Aging Forward Alliance Conference, which was celebrating its 50th anniversary.

The Ryan National Visionary Award recognizes exceptional leaders in the Aging Forward Alliance for their determination, imagination, integrity, and dedication to the Aging Forward movement to ensure older adults have meaningful opportunities for service and lifelong learning that promote individual well-being and community connections.

Sarah Cheney, executive director of Aging Forward, noted that “Sam’s leadership is deeply rooted in our core values. His commitment to empowering older adults to lead, serve and contribute meaningfully to the community, while also championing collaboration, diversity and inclusion, are key reasons why the Shepherd’s Center of Greater Winston-Salem has thried under his direction.”

With 24 years of dedicated service as executive director, Matthews has made a lasting impact on the Shepherd’s Center of Greater Winston-Salem and beyond. A former board member of Aging Forward, Matthews has mentored countless leaders across the national Alliance. His unwavering commitment to the mission has not only strengthened individual affiliates, but has also played a key role in elevating the entire Alliance, making him a respected and influential figure within the network.

Story reprinted with permission  from the fall issue of Vital Living, a publication of the Shepherd’s Center of Greater Winston-Salem.