Alice Robbins, of Pinehurst, has received the North Carolina Association of NonProfit Homes for the Aging (NCANPHA) Trustee of the Year Award.

It was presented at the association's 2009 Awards of Excellence luncheon during the 53rd annual conference/trade show at the Grove Park Inn and Spa in Asheville. Jeff Hutchins, CEO of Penick Village, nominated Robbins for the award.

"Alice has a great history with Penick Village," Hutchins said. "Most notable are her positions of responsibility she has held at Penick Village which have paved the way for many of the successes Penick Village sees today."

Robbins was president of the Penick Village Board of Directors in 2001, a year in which Penick faced challenges in both a leadership transition and a dire financial situation, a news release said. She addressed the situation head on, marshalled resources within the board, worked with attorneys, and as a result of her guidance, Penick was able not only to weather those storms but to begin preparing for its long-term future, a spokesman said.

Since completing her term as president of the Board in 2004, Robbins has continued as a leader of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. She was instrumental in the creation of a long-range plan to include a new expansion of 69 independent-living apartments, a community center, and a small-home model of care to replace the existing assisted-living and skilled-nursing areas at Penick Village. She was also an integral part of the re-creation of the Penick Village mission and vision statement.

"Alice is a great board member because of her amazing character," Hutchins said. "Her values, integrity, leadership, kindness, compassion, humbleness, and dedication always come through. Alice has had the experience of a family member that lived in all levels of care here at Penick Village.

"So, she isn't just a board member, she is a family member who totally gets it and realizes how important the board's role is in creating the best environment to love and care for our residents."

In addition to being an active member of the Board of Directors, Robbins has also been an active trustee on the Penick Village Foundation board since the inception of the foundation in 2005.

"I am deeply honored, most grateful, and extremely humbled to be given this award," Robbins said at the ceremony. "However, Jeff Hutchins is such an amazing CEO that he can make anyone he works with look good."

NCANPHA is the state association of not-for-profit providers dedicated to providing quality care, housing, health, community and related services to the elderly.