Retired Teacher's Heartfelt Surprise: You Won't Believe What Youth Health Service Did Next!

ELKINS — In a heartfelt ceremony, Youth Health Service (YHS) honored retired Randolph County Schools teacher Jay Saseen with its annual Heart of Giving Award. This recognition, which highlights significant contributions to the community, was presented at the YHS Board of Directors meeting in January.

Saseen was celebrated for his extensive volunteer work, particularly for teaching American Red Cross First Aid and CPR to YHS employees over the past three years. “He has been helping train First Aid and CPR to our staff for at least the last three years now,” shared Tammie Rizzio, Executive Co-Director of YHS. “That has been such a huge help to us because it’s hard to find trainers that can meet the scheduling needs of our staff and of our business.”

The Heart of Giving Award is presented annually to individuals, agencies, or organizations that have played a crucial role in helping YHS fulfill its mission of serving children and families in Randolph County and neighboring areas. Rizzio mentioned that this award was established in 2015 to honor the contributions of founding board member Jean Jory and her husband, Steve Jory, who were the first recipients.

“This award is just a small token of our appreciation for his time and effort,” Rizzio emphasized. “His contributions have not gone unnoticed and we thank him for everything he’s done while volunteering at Youth Health.” Previous recipients of this award include organizations like YouthBuild North Central.

Founded in 1978, Youth Health Service has been dedicated to addressing the health needs of children and adolescents in the region. With its licensing by the state of West Virginia in 1989 to provide mental health services, YHS has continuously expanded its offerings to better meet the evolving needs of the community.

For more information about Youth Health Service and its programs, individuals can call 304-636-9450 or visit www.youth-health.org. The organization’s commitment to youth health is evident in its ongoing initiatives and the support it receives from dedicated volunteers like Jay Saseen.