An Infectious Spirit: When people think of Sarah West, they think of someone who thinks of anyone but herself

Cambridge Dictionary defines a volunteer as “a person who does something, especially helping other people, willingly and without being forced or paid to do it.” Meanwhile, one of LeadingAge Pennsylvania’s annual Distinguished Service Awards is the Volunteer of the Year Award, which “recognizes an individual or group that enhances the quality of life for older adults through volunteer work.”

Both of these definitions are particularly embodied by this year’s award recipient, Sarah West. She has lived a life full of teaching and serving, and that did not stop when she got to Cathedral Village. She remains committed to helping fellow residents within her Philadelphia community extend their quality of life, along with creating a warm and inviting environment within the community.

“Sarah is an exceptional human who has been honored by PSL as their 2023 Altruism Award Winner,” Presbyterian Senior Living said. “Also awarded the Presidential Volunteer Award for over 5,000 hours of lifetime service. She is a volunteer and steward of the environment with her service with the Friends of the Wissahickon. She spends countless hours helping her neighbors and fellow residents at the Cathedral Village community as meeting note taker, educator, friend, confidant, notary, support, creative mind, and lending hand.”

The crazy part is, while she has been recognized many times throughout the years, that is not why West does it. She does not do it for the accolades or to act all high and mighty. Instead, she does it because she loves her community and she loves helping create a great atmosphere for her fellow residents/friends.

She also does it because someone has to, right? If she is not going to do it, then who else is going to step in? Rather than making her fellow residents feel obliged, West just volunteers in any way she can to fulfill any role needed.

“For nearly two decades, Sarah West has risen to the challenge to help spearhead quality-of-life offerings throughout the community,” Vice President of Purposeful Living Alicia Fenstermacher said.

One thing that remains on West’s heart is longevity. She believes that all her fellow seniors can have long, health-sustainable lives ahead of them, and that all starts with the environment around them. Because they all feel welcomed and they all feel as though they live in a community that cares, it really helps the mindset of many of these seniors.

And while West is not the only reason why Cathedral Village is the type of community it is, she definitely plays a big part in it.

“Sarah always takes the needs of others before her own,” Presbyterian Senior Living said. “She thinks bigger than just her own needs and was a founding member and creator of the PSL Thrive Wellness culture. The Thrive Wellness culture that Sarah helped to create is based on resident feedback across 14 Lifeplan Communities. She worked tirelessly for a year with a group of peers to create the mission and charter: Thrive Wellness creates a culture of wellness, engagement and purposeful living; empowering all individuals to live their best lives.”

West is an advocate. She is an advocate for her fellow seniors and her friends, and she is an advocate for the people who do not believe there are better days ahead. She believes in the power of positivity and the importance of health and wellness, and through her volunteer work she helps spread her mission.

“Sarah was a founding member of Cathedral Village’s Thrive Committee and worked hard to gain acceptance of the initiative,” Fenstermacher added. “She assembled the committee, conducted focus groups with residents, identified their needs, and worked with the Residents Association and Cathedral Village management to bring recommendations to fruition.”

West is not afraid to take initiative, and that has been proven time and again. That is why she volunteers so much time and is always willing to do the tasks that no one else really seems to want to do. She just loves the volunteer work and the ability to be part of something so positive.

“Sarah has been an integral member of the community, serving as a faculty member of Village College for over 15 years,” Cathedral Village Executive Director Charles Gergits said. “She has been teaching widely popular courses for residents on various topics such as ‘The Lenape Civilization Along the Delaware River,’ ‘Lesser Known Heroines to be Remembered’ and ‘Wissahickon Rocks,’ which shared her knowledge of the Wissahickon. As a Trail Ambassador for the Friends of the Wissahickon, Sarah’s knowledge of the Wissahickon Valley Park is unmatched and has sparked an interest in the local park for many residents over the years. Sarah is also currently serving as Secretary for Village College.”

There is something about West’s mind and the way she presents things that draws people in. She is able to interest people in just about anything, and she is able to spark initiatives along the way.

“As a result of Sarah and the Thrive Committee’s efforts, new committees were formed to provide a variety of activities for residents to enjoy in the evening and on weekends, which were lacking previously,” Gergits said. “The need for more meeting spaces and areas to gather was also identified and led to the addition of a pub, meeting spaces in our new construction project, as well as the hugely popular Coffee Clutch in the lobby. Due to the recommendations identified by Sarah and the Thrive Committee, the lives of Cathedral Village residents have improved greatly and are forever changed for the better.”

Thanks to West, senior care living can be a blast. It does not have to feel like an end-of-life experience, but an experience that makes your golden years truly enjoyable.

“Sarah impacts everyone’s lives and has touched every person’s life not only at Cathedral Village, but across PSL,” Presbyterian Senior Living said. “Her impact is greater than she will possibly ever realize. Anyone and everyone who has ever met Sarah leaves with a smile and has nothing but the kindest things to say about her. She makes you feel heard and at home.”

“Sarah’s love of life and CV is infectious, so she is always able to get others to work with her in her various endeavors,” Libby Browne added. “Through all these efforts (and in spite of health challenges), she has given her time and her talent in abundance to make Cathedral Village a lively, productive and vibrant community.”

“Despite her dedication to volunteerism, Sarah is quick to turn the spotlight on those around her,” Fenstermacher also added. “When she accepted the award at a Residents Association meeting, she pointed out that any number of residents should have received the honor.”

West is a woman of the people and someone who is truly so selfless. She makes so many sacrifices, and is about everyone and everything but herself. That is why she is deserving of this amazing honor, the 2024 LeadingAge PA Volunteer of the Year Award.