Sen. Unterman receives award from Georgia Gerontology Society

ATLANTA (October 6, 2006) - State Senator Renee Unterman (R-Buford) has been presented with the annual Legislative award given by the Georgia Gerontology Society. The presentation was made at the society’s annual conference held at the Brasstown Valley Resort in Young Harris. 

   The Legislative Award was established in 1993 and is given annually to the legislator who has sponsored or co-sponsored legislation to improve the quality of life for older adults, has consistently supported aging issues, and has been willing to listen to the concern of Georgia’s elderly. 

   Sen. Unterman is the founder of the Friends of Gwinnett County Senior Services, a non-profit organization benefiting the elderly, aging population in east metro Atlanta. As a legislator Senator Unterman efforts led to the opening of the first senior center in Loganville. She also instituted that city’s first senior program as a mayor. While serving on the Gwinnett County Commission, Unterman secured funding that led to the opening of several award-winning senior facilities such as the Bathesda Community Center and the Norcross Service Center. 

   Senator Unterman has also written legislation to create Georgia Law protecting the rights of seniors and prosecuting the abuse of the elderly, expanded waiver services for community programs promoting in-home care, and promoted programs that help grandparents raising grandchildren alone. 

   She is the only legislator to receive consecutive yearly awards from the Georgia Council on Aging recognizing her work in advocating and promoting the needs of Georgia’s growing elderly population

   As chairman of the Human Development Subcommittee of Appropriations, Sen. Unterman has worked tirelessly to ensure that older Georgians are not forgotten in our state’s budget allocations. She has been a friend to aging advocates and a champion of older Georgians for a long time.