Senior Volunteer of the Year - Mary Ann Ryan

Mary Ann Ryan has been saving lives with one selfless act of service at a time through the integration of services that she helped begin years ago. Through her career as a registered nurse, Mary has always acted as a voice for those who didn’t always have one. She’s spent countless hours over the years working with HOPE Hospitality and Warming Center. HOPE is a low barrier shelter that acts as a way out of homelessness, rather than a place of last resort. She has accumulated a great deal of medical supplies and equipment for the shelter through hundreds of donations, and she’s encouraged friends who were nurses to volunteer at the shelter. She also developed relationships with clinics to provide health services for the guests. Over the years, thanks to Mary’s admirable efforts, partner agencies like Easter Seals and Community Network Services are regularly onsite to provide mental health intakes and case management. The integration of all these programs and services have significantly helped improve the quality of life for these shelter guests. Additionally, Mary’s service has led to the launch of the Recuperative Center – which is the only place in southeast Michigan where homeless individuals can receive proper post-hospital care. Mary didn’t simply give her time; she wanted to help enact long lasting changes that helped to improve the system.  She has achieved her goal, and the community appreciates all she has done.