The 15th annual "Tribute to Unsung Heroes" took place recently at Asbury United Methodist Church, South Whitehall.

According to the Lehigh County Office of Aging and Adult Services, these individuals have displayed exceptional generosity with their time and talents for the benefit of their community and/or to enhance the life of others.

This year 15 older adults and one group were celebrated as "unsung heroes."

Irene Alberton, of Center Valley, is involved in pastoral care. She is active in her church and helps run the community store at Sacred Heart Senior Living. Throughout the day, Alberton tends to the happiness of her fellow residents by encouraging them to actively participate in activities.

Donald Cohen, of Emmaus, is a career philatelist and an expert regarding stamps. He also served as a medic during the Vietnam War and now volunteers with Meals on Wheels. Sharing his success, he is a philanthropist promoting the welfare of others by generous donations of services and money to good causes.

"I am looking forward to many more years of giving to the community," Cohen said.

Marge Heatley, of Emmaus, is a member of the Emmaus Garden Club and five historical societies: Emmaus, Macungie, Lower Macungie Township, Upper Milford and the Shelter House. For many years, Heatley worked with the Prison Society, She is now an activist for Committee Against State Killing and for Lehigh Pocono Committee of Concern, a group working toward peace. She is especially proud of the project "Kind News" wherein she is instrumental in providing newspapers to the second grade classrooms at Macungie and Willow Lane elementary schools. Heatley is most proud of her involvement in the Emmaus Flag Day Association.

Joanne Heinrich, of Allentown, has worked for Lehigh County since 1998 and has worked part-time at Lehigh County Jail Treatment. She dedicates extra hours to D.A.R.E., a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program. Her life has been dedicated to helping those who struggle. Heinrich makes time to get to know people and listens attentively to their stories. The men she has counseled contributed to her biography with comments like, "Joanne saved my life," "Joanne is the most positive influence in my life," "Joanne is the woman in the world who has touched my life the most" and "I have never met anyone with a heart as big as Joanne's."

Gail Howell, of Allentown, has provided 30 years of service to children at-risk of abuse and neglect in the Lehigh Valley. Howell worked for the Lehigh County Office of Children and Youth Services 1985 through 2001. She has provided countless hours of case management and referral and education services to children and families needing the support of child protective services. She was nominated by the Lehigh County Office of Children and Youth Services Advisory Board and is a mentor and role model to all those in her field. Howell currently serves as administrator of the Fund to Benefit Children and Youth providing basic items and services to abused and neglected or at-risk youth. Her dedication has undoubtedly made an impact on generations of families.

Rita King, of Allentown, has volunteered at Cedarbrook for over 20 years serving on the auxiliary, running the bazaars and inspiring others to reach within themselves and be their best. According to her friends and family, King has an extraordinary ability to do what seems to be a million things to help others, but one of her greatest gifts is her compassion and remarkable ability to touch others emotionally and empower them to use their strengths to strive forward through adversity.

Nancy Michener, of Allentown, began working at Animals in Distress when it was just starting out. She was instrumental in developing an organization that initially had a capacity to care for 20 dogs and 100 cats. Today, Animals in Distress can shelter over 450 cats and dogs in need of a new home. Michener was a first grade teacher at Muhlenberg Elementary School for 35 years. She also tutored homebound students and taught adult education classes. Michener's energy and commitment never waiver.

Carol Rieder, of Allentown, is a retired teacher from the East Penn School District where she taught French 1975 to 2002. Now, she gives countless hours volunteering in various organizations. Rieder is very involved with the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees, Lehigh Republican Women and Second Harvest Food Bank, to name just a few. Along with all of her other activities, Rieder is involved with the Emmaus Public Library. She helps with Words on Wheels, a program that takes reading materials to shut-ins. Nominator and friend, Barbara Campbell describes Rieder as the "Energizer Bunny" whose energy is endless.

Flor Rosario, of Allentown, was referred to Community Exchange, a group consisting of volunteers within the community who exchange their time and talents in order to fulfill the needs of various neighborhoods in the Lehigh Valley. She has become a pillar in her own community. She has supported other people who have experienced similar medical challenges and she continuously encourages them through their setbacks.

Robert Seibert, of Allentown, has volunteered at Phoebe Home for 14 years, playing his Boomba, singing and dancing into the hearts of all. He also dresses up as Santa each year and is instrumental in coordinating Christmas gifts for residents. Seibert recently wore a T-shirt to Phoebe Home that read, "It's a tough job being Bob, but somebody has to do it." According to the folks at Phoebe, his is a very fitting statement about Bob Seibert, since only Bob can do all that he does.

Bimo Sunupoernomo, of Allentown, volunteers at CareerLink devoting three days a week to help job seekers with resume preparation and basic computer skills. In addition to volunteering, Sunupoernomo is a deacon in his church and assists with food distribution and afterschool programs. Sunupoernomo strongly believes it is important to show mutual admiration and respect toward today's children, because they will someday replace his generation.

Pat Yost, of Allentown, is a vibrant, happy-go-lucky and caring 87-year-old woman who is very enthusiastic about life, the church and the community groups in which she participates. She is always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone, anywhere and at any time. Yost is the president of Jordan Peace Garden, a project she proudly admits is very close to her heart. Yost is a graduate of Penn State and loves Penn State football. She even drives a blue and white car. Yost does not believe she is special or unique, but simply a person who lives by the Golden Rule. She treats people as she wishes to be treated by others, lives each day to the fullest and does what she loves to do.

If you know an older individual who is making a difference in the lives of others, it is easy to nominate that person as an unsung hero. A nomination form can be printed from the Lehigh County Aging and Adult Services homepage at www.lehighcounty.org or by calling 610-782-3034.