Local Certified Nursing Assistant Selected For State Award Marjorie Wiles of Ashe Living Center has been selected by the North Carolina Health Care Facilities Association as one of the state’s outstanding health care givers. Photo by Fawn Roark By Fawn Roark Marjorie Wiles has been selected by the North Carolina Health Care Facilities Association as one of the recipients of the 2004 “Fabulous Fifty” Awards. Every year, NCHCFA recognizes outstanding health care givers throughout North Carolina. Wiles has been employed at Ashe Living Center in Jefferson for 10 years. She is a CNA II, which a certified nursing assistant with additional training. Wiles says she enjoys her work and “just loves to help people.” She was selected by the NCHCFA after she was nominated by Director of Nursing Karen Rice of Ashe Living Center. Rice said they are very proud of Wiles’ award and that she is a great worker. “She is so dedicated. She just always jumps right in there and does whatever is needed. She is one of those jolly people who is always happy. She is just a wonderful person and a very dedicated worker,” Rice explained. At the formal banquet in January, Wiles and the other award winners will be recognized with a lapel pin, a monetary award and a certificate signed by the governor. “I think I get rewarded every day and I don’t feel like I deserve this. God rewards me every day with the people I help take care of,” Wiles said. “I just feel very honored. This is kind of overwhelming to me. There are so many good nursing assistants around. This is a great facility to work in and I just love my job. I’ve done this for 20 years. The first day I went to work doing this job, I went home and told my husband there was no way I could do this kind of work,” she continued. “He said, maybe I could try it one more day. I went back and that second night, I just fell in love with the people. The families trust you to take care of these people here and I think we have to honor that trust. This is something I do for God and I really enjoy it. Every day something new happens. I feel like I am rewarded every day because I am doing something good for others. I feel very honored.” The North Carolina Health Care Facilities Association (NCHCFA) was organized in 1956, and represents approximately 90 percent of the licensed nursing homes in North Carolina. Through government relations, continuing education, trade shows, community service projects, quality assurance, publications, and research, the NCHCFA focuses attention on the evolution of the long term health care profession and keeps its member facilities updated on the latest developments. The NCHCFA is committed to providing quality health care to the more than 40,000 patients served by its member facilities, while pioneering the growth, development, and improvement of long term nursing care in North Carolina.