Christy Harasimowicz, a case manager for the Otsego County Office for the Aging, has been named recipient of the 2025 Community Champion Award at USAging’s 50th Annual Conference and Tradeshow in Chicago, Illinois. The award was presented by Mom’s Meals®, the provider of the most comprehensive food as medicine solutions nationwide, and USAging, the national association representing and supporting the network of Area Agencies on Aging and advocating for the Title VI Native American Aging Programs.
This award is presented annually to a case manager who provides exceptional services to their clients. Through their work, case managers promote awareness of the importance of nutrition in overall health to help individuals who want to age at home and to support the management of chronic conditions.
According to Tammie Reed, Director of the Otsego County Office for the Aging, who nominated Harasimowicz, she has exceptional dedication to helping older adults in her community access the support and services they need to maintain their health, independence and quality of life. Widely respected for her meticulous and compassionate approach, she is known for building strong relationships with clients and ensuring that every individual’s needs are met with care and dignity.
“Christy sets a high bar not only for herself, but for our entire team,” said Reed. “She consistently goes above and beyond by helping clients navigate complex systems, advocating for underserved populations and contributing to agency-wide planning and professional development.”
In addition to her direct client service, Harasimowicz has played a key role in promoting training and awareness in areas such as trauma-informed care, mental health challenges and caregiver support. Her leadership and deep understanding of community resources have made her a trusted guide not only for older adults and caregivers, but also for colleagues within the agency.
“Case managers like Christy are central to improving quality of life in communities across the country,” said John Phillips, Vice President, National Program Development at Mom’s Meals. “We are proud to recognize her commitment to person-centered care and her impact on helping individuals remain healthy and independent at home.”
“Christy Harasimowicz exemplifies the dedication and compassion at the heart of the Aging Network,” said USAging CEO Sandy Markwood. “Her tireless advocacy and responsiveness to the needs of rural older adults reflect the best of what our network strives to achieve. We are honored to celebrate her as this year’s Community Champion Awardee.”
Six case managers have previously won the Community Champion Award. Previous winners can be found here.
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About Mom’s Meals
Mom’s Meals provides the most comprehensive food as medicine solutions nationwide and is setting the standard in the food as medicine space with real-world results. Our nutrition solutions are designed for all ages to bring comfort and inspire confidence in people seeking to live healthier, manage chronic conditions, recover from illness, continue to live independently. Our integrated solutions include medically tailored meals, produce and pantry boxes, oral nutrition supplements and shelf-stable, kosher, and halal meals, backed by nutrition education and counseling. At Mom’s Meals, our mission is to improve lives through better nutrition at home through our long-term care, condition management, post-discharge and nutrition insecurity programs. For more information, visit www.momsmeals.com.
About USAging
USAging is the national association representing and supporting the network of Area Agencies on Aging and advocating for the Title VI Native American Aging Programs. Our members help older adults and people with disabilities throughout the United States live with optimal health, well-being, independence and dignity in their homes and communities. For more information, visit www.usaging.org and follow @theUSAging on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.
About the Community Champion Award
The Community Champion Award, presented by Mom’s Meals and USAging, applauds case managers for raising awareness about nutrition in their local communities and among the clients they serve. Nutrition is crucial for managing chronic health conditions, living independently at home and reducing the impact of social drivers of health. To learn more and to nominate a case manager, go to MomsMeals.com/communitychampion.