Richard Money, executive director of Friendship Village Sunset Hills is the recipient of the 2011 Employee of the Year – CEO/Executive Director award presented by LeadingAge Missouri.

This award will be presented to Richard at the LeadingAge Annual Conference in September held at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Money was selected for his passion and dedication to the success and well-being of Friendship Village Sunset Hills and its residents, according to a news release.

He has been at the community for 27 years and has risen to the rank of cxecutive director with a dedication and intent that is noteworthy, the release stated.

Money oversees more than 520 residents and 330 employees. He garners high ratings from both resident and employee populations, according to the release. Money has been instrumental in major campus expansions and the community has enjoyed enviable financial health under his direction, earning the organization the distinction of being the only single site CCRC to achieve an A+ rating from Fitch.

Money also models a philosophy of giving to the broader community and is generous with his time and expertise in many community, state and national organizations serving the long term care industry, according to the release.

The Employee of the Year award is presented to an individual employee in a management position who has made an outstanding contribution to the mission and philosophy of a LeadingAge Missouri aging services member and/or has demonstrated unusual commitment to preserve the dignity, well-being, and independence of older Missourians and/or adults with disabilities.

LeadingAge Missouri is an association of organizations dedicated to providing high-quality care, housing and community services for the elderly.