The award will be given annually to someone who has shown by their actions that they serve as Emmaus co-founder Ken Wagner served, without judging others or thinking of his own needs and wants. Someone who never stops giving of themselves, as Ken never stopped giving of himself.

The award, established in 2011, will honor Ken’s name perpetually and be an annual reminder to the Emmaus of the future of the Emmaus of the past. It is a past that exemplifies total giving of self for the service of others from a man that showed through his actions that we all are one, with different gifts and abilities, to be given one to another.  

The award itself is beautifully symbolic of a life of service. Consider the position of your hand as you reach out to bring someone else up. This is that picture, and it presents as though joined with Ken’s, so that as the winners see the award, they are reminded they are not alone. Others, like this great man, join with them along the journey of a life of service.

Nomination criteria:

-Nominees should exemplify the life of service Ken Wagner lived as described above.

-A life of service to people with intellectual disabilities and autism is recommended but not necessary for the awardee. Anyone who has shown self-giving the way Ken did is eligible.

-Any individual may nominate a potential awardee.

-Emmaus Board members and Emmaus employees are not eligible for this award.

The form should be submitted no later than 2/24/2020. The Ken Wagner Award selection committee will decide on the recipient. The awardee and the Wagner family will be notified. The winner will be invited to the Emmaus Roarin' 20s Gala on April 25, 2020 at the Pittsburgh Westin, where the award will be given, and the winner will receive a complimentary table.