Celebrating Our Team at the 2026 Employee Appreciation Dinner
July 1, 2026
Celebrating the People Who Make Homeward Bound Stronger
Every year, Homeward Bound’s Employee Appreciation Dinner gives us an opportunity to pause, reflect, and celebrate the incredible people who make our mission possible.
On June 23, employees from across our organization gathered for an evening of recognition, gratitude, and celebration. It was a chance to honor years of service, recognize outstanding achievements, and thank the dedicated professionals who create opportunities every day for people with disabilities to live, work, and thrive.
As someone passionate about workforce development, evenings like this remind me that building a strong organization begins by investing in people. When employees feel valued, supported, and appreciated, they are empowered to continue making an extraordinary difference in the lives of others.
An Evening of Appreciation
The evening began with time to reconnect before opening remarks welcomed everyone to the celebration.
Throughout the night, cash prize drawings added excitement between recognition ceremonies, while conversations, laughter, and shared memories reminded us just how connected our Homeward Bound family has become over the years.
Celebrating Excellence
One of the evening’s highlights was recognizing Scott Noland as our 2025 Employee of the Year.
Scott exemplifies Homeward Bound’s mission through his compassion, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to the people we support. His dedication reflects the values we strive to demonstrate every day throughout our organization.
Growing Leaders from Within
This year’s celebration also marked an exciting milestone as we recognized the graduates of Homeward Bound’s inaugural Leadership Academy.
Following our annual Leadership Academy Conference, this first graduating class represents our commitment to developing future leaders from within our organization. By investing in leadership development, we strengthen our workforce, support employee growth, and ensure Homeward Bound continues to provide exceptional services for years to come.
Congratulations to each graduate on this important accomplishment.
Honoring Years of Service
One of my best parts of the evening is our annual Employee Anniversary Recognition Ceremony.
Each name called represents another year of showing up for the people we support, helping coworkers, solving challenges, and strengthening our organization. Whether celebrating two years or several decades of service, every milestone reflects a meaningful commitment to Homeward Bound’s mission.
Celebrating an Extraordinary Milestone
One recognition stood above all the rest.
This year, we celebrated Suzanne Teska’s incredible 50 years of service to Homeward Bound.
Five decades of dedication to one organization is a remarkable achievement and a testament to Suzanne’s compassion, commitment, and unwavering care.
What makes Suzanne’s service especially meaningful is the deep relationships she has built with the individuals she supports. After fifty years, she knows many residents so well that she can often recognize when someone isn’t feeling well before anyone else notices.
That kind of understanding cannot be taught in a classroom or written in a care plan. It comes from years of trust, consistency, and genuine compassion.
Suzanne’s career is a powerful reminder of the lasting impact one person can have over a lifetime of service.
Sharing Our Stories
Employees also had the opportunity to stop by our recruiting backdrop to record short videos sharing why they enjoy working at Homeward Bound.
There is no better way to tell our story than through the voices of the people who live our mission every day. These authentic stories will help future employees see the culture, purpose, and sense of belonging that define Homeward Bound.
Thank You
As the evening came to a close, I couldn’t help but feel grateful. Behind every anniversary, award, and milestone is a person who has chosen to care for others, often in ways that go unseen. Their compassion, patience, and dedication strengthen Homeward Bound and enrich the lives of the people we support every day.
A heartfelt thank you goes to the Homeward Bound Foundation Board of Directors, whose generous support makes this special evening possible. Their investment in employee appreciation, recognition gifts, and prize giveaways reflects a shared belief that celebrating our workforce is an investment in our mission. Their commitment helps us honor the people who make Homeward Bound the exceptional organization it is.
Thank you as well to our Human Resources team, leadership, and everyone who worked behind the scenes to plan and coordinate such a meaningful celebration. From organizing the program and recognition ceremony to creating an evening where employees felt truly valued, your hard work made this event possible.
Finally, thank you to every Homeward Bound employee. Your compassion, professionalism, and commitment are the heart of our organization. We are proud to celebrate your accomplishments, grateful for your service, and honored to have you as part of the Homeward Bound family.
