September 25, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) Center for Aging will announce dual winners of the 2008 McCallum Award at the seventh annual "A Celebration of Life" awards reception, 2 - 4 p.m., on Sunday, Oct. 19, at the UAB Highlands Hospital.

The reception and awards recognize the tremendous contributions of older adults to society as a whole and serves to thank those who have helped support research, education and service programs of the Center for Aging.

The winners of the 2008 McCallum Award are Jean B. Morris and the Evelyn McKnight Brian Research Foundation.

Morris, a Birmingham resident since 1960, has been an active volunteer with St. Vincent's Hospital, the Crisis Center Rape Response, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and the American Cancer Society. She is a member of the UAB Spain Rehabilitation Women's Committee. She assisted with the establishment of the Catholic Cable Network, EWTN, and met Mother Teresa in Calcutta while on a mission trip.

The Evelyn McKnight Brain Research Foundation was created by Mrs. Evelyn F. McKnight and her husband William L. McKnight, who were interested in the effects of aging on memory and were generous benefactors of research in this area. After William McKnight's death, Evelyn continued to support his interest in brain research. Before her death in 1999, she established the Foundation to provide support for medical research of the brain to accomplish alleviation of memory loss in the aging, including making grants to charitable organizations involved in such research.

The McCallum Award, named for former UAB president and current mayor of Vestavia Hills, Charles A. (Scotty) McCallum, Jr., D.M.D, M.D., recognizes an individual or organization that has demonstrated outstanding leadership and service on behalf of the Center for Aging and its mission.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the UAB Center for Aging in honor of the recipients may send it to the UAB Center for Aging, 933 South 19th St., Suite 201, 35294.