Finalist for Citizens Service Before Self Award

In April 2011 Fellowship Place founder Phyllis McDowell was selected as one of 20 finalists for the Citizens Service Before Self Award, for her efforts to develop a social program for people with serious mental illness that eventually evolved into Fellowship Place, an agency that provides a broad range of support and rehabilitation services, including housing, vocational services, case management, and counseling to adults recovering from mental illness. Citizen Service Before Self Honors are given out by the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, to individuals who have demonstrated courage and selfless service in their civilian lives, a nominee’s actions must epitomize the concept of “service before self and must be performed “above and beyond” one’s professional area of responsibility or conduct. Hundreds of nominations were received from all over the country. McDowell has devoted her life to the organization which today, in its 50th year of existence, serves more than 600 individuals per year. McDowell continues to be an inspiration and a credit to the state of Connecticut and to her fellow Americans.