During the banquet, we give out awards to honor those that are truly living out the meaning of LYS in their own lives and are making a difference in their community and world around them. Each year we award one of our most prestigious awards to a recipient whom we find is doing just that through the Roddy Richard Award.
Roddy Richard came to LYS from Teurlings Catholic High and joined Staff in 1983. Roddy was an exceptional young man whose life was taken in a tragic accident. To celebrate his life and honor his spirit LYS created the Roddy Richard Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes an outstanding individual each year whose character and purpose in life has lessened the burden of others and made this a better place for their fellow man.
In honor of his memory, we select a Louisiana native who shows the same compassion and fervor as Roddy himself. We are very pleased to announce that this year’s Roddy Richard recipient is Mrs. Anne Hindrichs.
Anne, a native of Baton Rouge, LA, always has had a strong interest in working with children with special needs. Beginning in high school and continuing until she started at McMains Children’s Developmental Center, she tutored for the DePaul School for Dyslexia, now known as Brighton Academy. She tutored and later became a supervisor in the 6-week Summer Programs and the school year Saturday Programs. While working at the DePaul School, she also privately tutored children who were struggling in school. Anne received her Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education from Louisiana State University in 1985. Following graduation she worked at Guardian Angels Catholic Special Education School for the Diocese of Baton Rouge from 1985 – 1986. After this she returned to Louisiana State University where she obtained her Masters of Social Work in 1988. Anne then began working at the McMains Children’s Developmental Center as a social worker, while at the same time studying for her Licensed Clinical Social Work certification which she obtained in 1990.
As a social worker at McMains she worked with children with disabilities and their families to coordinate services and provide individual counseling for children and/or their parents, social skill groups, parent support groups, sibling groups, along with providing referral information to over 1000 people per year. Her many activities at the Center include co-creator of the popular annual McMains Canoe Trip to Tickfaw State Park; assisting with design and use of adapted gardens; obtaining adapted bikes for children through McMains’ Wheels-To- Succeed program, co-directing the summer Capable Arts camp; developing Summer Steps, a Summer Reading and Math program; overseeing high school volunteers who volunteered for service hours at the Center and in its numerous programs, coordinating several Christmas programs to provide children and their families Christmas presents, and any other need that may arise for the children and their families who attend McMains. She also wrote several grants to support various activities and programs at the Center. In October 2013 she was promoted to Director of Programs and Services at McMains. In this capacity she supervised 14 therapists and support staff. In all she served for 28 years at the McMains Children’s Developmental Center.
May 2016 began a new chapter for Anne when she began working at Aetna Better Health Care, a new managed care options for Louisiana. In her new job she oversees 14 Aetna representatives as they assist people with Medicaid to obtain the best possible options for their health care.
While she has moved on to Aetna, Anne continues to be associated with the McMains Center where she will conduct monthly evening parent support groups, continue a six-week social skills group for children, and co-coordinate the annual canoe trip. She is also busy supervising the current social worker at McMains, while she seeks to obtain her Licensed Clinical Social Worker certification.
Anne has demonstrated time and time again the very lesson we aim to teach at LYS: that leadership isn’t a position, it’s honing in on your unique skill set to enable those around you to reach their fullest potential. Our world is a better place because of her.
If you know of someone who deserves the honor of receiving the Roddy Richard award, please email us your nomination at: lys@louisianayouthseminar.org.
We also recognized three individuals who have served LYS for at least 10 years. Jeanne Amy, Lauren “LJ” Johnson and Alyssa Mitchell will each be inducted into the LYS Hall of Fame at a reception later tonight. Jeanne, LJ and Alyssa- thank you for your dedication and service!
After the banquet concludes, it’s time to blow off some steam and put on our dancing shoes. See you on the dance floor!