ANCOR Foundation Recognizes 2026 Class of Honorees

ALEXANDRIA, VA. – The ANCOR Foundation, the 501(c)(3) charitable arm of ANCOR, a leading national association dedicated to advancing the future of supports and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), has announced the 2026 class of honorees for three awards programs, each of which recognizes outstanding contributions to community inclusion for people with I/DD. Honorees for the Rising Star Mid-Career Impact Award, the Legacy Leaders Hall of Fame, and the Community Builder Award will be recognized as part of ANCOR Connect ’26, taking place April 21-23 in Boston.

“Recognizing and celebrating professionals who are working every day to lay the groundwork for a more inclusive future is integral to the ANCOR Foundation’s mission,” said Gabrielle Sedor, director of the ANCOR Foundation. “Our annual awards program is intended to spotlight those exceptional leaders supporting inclusive communities, no matter where they are in their careers.”

Established in 2024, the ANCOR Foundation’s Rising Star Mid-Career Impact Award recognizes mid-career professionals who support ANCOR’s mission through service and dedication to change in public policy or organizational practice.

The 2026 Rising Star Mid-Career Impact Award, sponsored by Woods System of Care, recognizes five honorees, including Nadine Daley, vice president of organizational engagement, innovations and advocacy for The Center for Family Support in New York, N.Y.; Barbara Didona, director of training for The Moore Center in Manchester, N.H.; Brad Hagan, vice president of adult services for Easterseals Arkansas in Little Rock, Ark.; Olivia Kaplan, director of employee success for Carey Services in Marion, Ind.; and Erika Rademan, president and chief executive officer for Starling in Jefferson City, Mo.

The second award being bestowed next week is the ANCOR Foundation’s Legacy Leaders Hall of Fame. Established in 2010, the Legacy Leaders Hall of Fame recognizes longtime members of ANCOR who have positively influenced the association and made meaningful contributions to its quest for community inclusion for all.

This year, the Legacy Leaders Hall of Fame will honor two outstanding professionals who comprise the 2026 class of inductees. They include Armando Contreras, recently retired chief executive officer for United Cerebral Palsy in Vienna, Va.; and Linda Timmons, president and chief executive officer for Mosaic in Omaha, Neb.

Finally, the Foundation’s Community Builder Award honors substantial initiatives undertaken by organizations other than I/DD service providers that create inclusive opportunities for people with I/DD to live fulfilling lives. Established in 2004, the Community Builder Award recognizes organizations that actively seek to amplify the contributions of individuals or groups that are systematically overlooked. This year’s Community Builder Award is generously sponsored by Aspire Living & Learning.

The recipient of the 2026 Community Builder Award is Crystal Joys in Longmont, Colo. Since 2014, through its partnership with Sample Supports, Crystal Joys has offered over 200 people with I/DD employment opportunities within a competitive and integrated retail environment. For more than a decade, Crystal Joys has been an inclusive employment partner across its retail stores, employing individuals with I/DD to assist in store operations, gemstone education, customer service, and product preparation. The business promotes therapeutic engagement and vocational training, giving participants consistent opportunities to grow their skill sets while contributing to a thriving community-focused business.

“For more than a quarter century, the ANCOR Foundation has recognized and invested in leaders who fight for the promise of full community inclusion for people with I/DD. Today, that promise is more urgent than ever. This year’s honorees embody the spirit of what’s possible when we work together, alongside partners like Crystal Joys, who show up every single day to build the more inclusive future we know is within reach,” said Sedor.

Rita Wiersma, president of the ANCOR Foundation Board of Directors and president and CEO of Accord in St. Paul, Minn., added: “Whether it’s the seasoned dedication of leaders like Armando [Contreras] or Linda [Timmons], or the bold energy of emerging voices like Nadine [Daley], Barbara [Didona], Brad [Hagan], Olivia [Kaplan], and Erika [Rademan]—our communities are stronger because of their determination to build a more inclusive future.”

To learn more about the ANCOR Foundation and its initiatives to honor exceptional leaders in the field of community-based I/DD services, please visit ancorfoundation.org.

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For more than 50 years, the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ancor.org) has been a leading advocate for the critical role service providers play in enriching the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). 

As the 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm of ANCOR, the ANCOR Foundation exists to recognize current and past leaders and to develop future leaders through dynamic education and innovative practices to strengthen inclusive communities for and with people with disabilities.