'Compassionate...Visionary'

NEW YORK CITY

That's how sponsors of the Sloan Public Service Awards described the seven New York City employees — including Rolanda Pyle of Local 371 (DC 37) — who have won the honors this year.

Pyle directs the Grandparent Resource Center of the city's Department for the Aging. Her center is the nation's first municipally run resource facility for grandparents who are obliged to become primary caregivers for their grandchildren. In New York City, some 84,000 elderly people are in that position."With a tiny budget," declares the Sloan Foundation, "Ms. Pyle's unit provides [the grandparents] with emotional and practical support, identifying and directing them to resources that can help."

Pyle's motivation and excellent work, the foundation notes, are "fueled by memories of her own caregiving grandmother." Along with the other winners, Pyle received a cash prize of $7,500 and an original drawing depicting her work.