“Standing Ovation Award” … and it goes to …

The amazing staff members and community partners of Thrive Support & Advocacy exceed our expectations and set a high bar for care and compassion every day. That drive, empathy, and dedication are ingrained into the Thrive culture. Occasionally, however, we see those who exceed these goals and go above and beyond to demonstrate what it truly means to be a Thriver. These people profoundly affect the lives of others.

In 2020 and moving forward, Thrive will recognize these beacons of light with our annual Standing Ovation Award. This award will go to an individual or team within the organization, as well as a partner from outside the organization, who deserve a resounding standing ovation from the Thrive community. We are pleased to announce that this year’s Standing Ovation Award recipient is Michelle Lariviere, Pleasant Street Residential Program Director, and community partner SLH Medical Supply in Webster, MA. Here are their stories.

Michelle has been with Thrive for almost thirty years as program director at our Pleasant Street residence. She oversees thirteen of our residential participants and fifteen staff. To understand her impact, just ask her team, “Michelle is like a second mother to many of our residents. She goes above and beyond to meet the needs of the residents and her staff. She is always there to listen. One day this year, she did something that none of us will ever forget!” stated Patty Durkin, Shift Supervisor at Pleasant Street.

What started as a typical Wednesday evening escalated to a life or death situation quickly. When one of the residents was having trouble descending the stairs, Michelle noticed and started to assist. Then the unthinkable happened. This individual dropped to the ground, and their heart stopped. That’s when Michelle and another staff member jumped into action, starting CPR, getting the house defibrillator, and calling 911. Thanks to their quick response, and the care of Marlborough paramedics, our longtime resident made a full recovery. For her life-saving actions, Thrive would like to honor Michelle Lariviere with the first annual Standing Ovation Award. Words cannot begin to describe the admiration and appreciation we have for Michelle’s selfless actions and dedication to her residents and the organization.

Our community partnerships are equally as valuable to us. Thrive has many vital partners that support the organization, but SLH Medical Supply stepped up this year when we needed help the most. When COVID hit, many in the Thrive residential population and staff were at risk. With Personal Protective Equipment nearly impossible to find, SLH, who previously did not know Thrive, responded to our request by supplying much-needed supplies, at an affordable price, without question. While larger agencies had greater access to these supplies, smaller ones like Thrive were left to manage independently. SLH’s support at such a crucial time saved lives. For these reasons, we proudly honor SLH Medical with the first annual Standing Ovation Award. We are excited to celebrate our new partner and thank them for their commitment to Thrive. Congratulations to both of our recipients.