Silver Maples of Chelsea Retirement Neighborhood is proud to announce that resident Howard Brooks and staff member Renee Gray were recognized with distinguished statewide awards during the 2026 Member Awards Gala hosted by LeadingAge. Each award winner was nominated by their peers and selected by an esteemed group of committee members from among many nominations across the state. This year’s gala took place at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where nearly 300 people gathered to celebrate the elite group of 23 award winners and recognize their collective achievements.
Howard received the Volunteer of the Year Award, which honors individuals whose exceptional volunteer service has made a meaningful impact on the lives of older adults. Renee was presented with the Servant’s Heart Award, recognizing employees whose compassion, empathy, and unwavering kindness consistently make a difference in the lives of residents and coworkers.
Together, these two honors beautifully reflect the culture that defines Silver Maples—a community where residents and staff work side by side to create an environment rooted in connection, service, and purpose.
Howard Brooks embodies the heart and spirit of Silver Maples through his thoughtful leadership, selfless service, and quiet acts of kindness. As Treasurer of the Resident Council and a member of numerous committees, he helps ensure residents’ voices are heard and transformed into meaningful action. His contributions to the Employee Hardship Fund Committee and Scholarship Committee demonstrate his empathy, fairness, and deep respect for others. Howard’s leadership has strengthened relationships throughout the community and helped make Silver Maples warmer, stronger, and more connected.
Renee Gray, a member of the housekeeping team since 2023, approaches her work with extraordinary compassion and attention to detail. Shortly after residents move in, she takes the time to learn their preferences and build personal connections that help them feel truly known and valued. Her initiative in creating individualized housekeeping binders has improved service consistency, safety, and resident satisfaction. As one resident shared, “Renee doesn’t wait to be asked; she simply notices, cares, and acts.”
“These recognitions are a powerful reflection of what makes Silver Maples so special,” said Holly Ridenour, President and CEO at Silver Maples of Chelsea. “Howard and Renee represent the very best of our community. One is a resident volunteer who generously shares his time and talents, and the other is a valued staff member whose compassion touches lives every day. Together, they demonstrate the extraordinary culture of caring that exists here.”
As a locally owned nonprofit senior living organization, Silver Maples of Chelsea continues to earn statewide and national recognition for both its outstanding resident satisfaction and exceptional workplace culture. The community has received Holleran’s Choice Community Award for four consecutive survey periods, placing Silver Maples among the nation’s top-performing senior living communities for resident engagement and satisfaction. Silver Maples was also ranked No. 5 on Fortune Magazine’s 2024 list of Best Workplaces in Aging Services and has been recognized by Great Place To Work and National Association for Business Resources as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in both Michigan and the nation. To learn more about these honors and what they reflect about life at Silver Maples, visit our Awards & Recognition page
LeadingAge Michigan and Silver Maples of Chelsea extend heartfelt congratulations to Howard Brooks and Renee Gray for their extraordinary service and unwavering commitment to enriching the lives of older adults in Michigan. Their leadership, compassion, and dedication exemplify the very best of Silver Maples and the mission-driven values shared by nonprofit senior living communities across the state. To learn more about the 2026 Member Awards Gala and other honorees, review the 2026 Member Awards Gala Program or visit LeadingAge Michigan on YouTube.
