Tim Rodden named United Way of Delaware 2016 Volunteer of the Year
The Rev. Tim Rodden, MDiv, MA, BCC, FACHE, director of Pastoral Services and system coordinator of LGBTQ health initiatives at Christiana Care Health System, has been named United Way of Delaware’s 2016 Volunteer of the Year for his work with UWD’s PRIDE Council. Michelle Taylor, president and chief executive officer, United Way of Delaware, presented the award at UWD’s annual celebration on June 16.
“Tim’s service to the LGBTQ community and United Way’s PRIDE Council has been an inspiration to me personally,” Taylor said. “Our volunteers are the backbone of our work in the community, and Tim has helped us to truly live into our commitment to diversity and inclusion, and his work has been instrumental in improving the lives of LGBTQ Delawareans.”
Rodden has been a steadfast supporter of PRIDE’s Delaware Anti-Bullying/Gay Straight Alliance Summits. As co-chair of United Way of Delaware’s PRIDE Council’s Delaware LGBTQ Health Equity Task Force, he met one-on-one with the Delaware hospitals that hadn’t participated in the Healthcare Equality Index and was instrumental to eight Delaware hospitals being named 2016 Leaders in Healthcare Equality by the Human Rights Campaign.
He also has developed and presented training for health care professionals in the culturally competent care of those identifying as LGBTQ at several national conferences.
“I am honored and humbled to be recognized in this way,” Rodden said. “This recognition will serve to highlight the importance of the work we all do to improve the lives of LGBTQ Delawareans as it relates to surviving adolescence, getting best practice physical and mental health care, and for workforce inclusion. A lot has happened in Delaware in the last five years and United Way of Delaware has been at the forefront in a lot of these initiatives.”
The PRIDE Council’s mission is to organize community resources, including corporate, education, health, government and religious organizations, to improve the lives of Lesbians, Gays, Bi-sexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) youth and adults in Delaware.