The PennZone

GREENSBURG, Pa. - PennZone -- The team at Newhaven Court at Lindwood knows it can count on Ryan Hershey, whose smiling face and willingness to help others are intangibles the senior living community has come to appreciate over the past 14 years.

Hershey, 32, is a dining experience server and a porter at the community located in his hometown of Greensburg. Since 2008, he's been part of the team at Lindwood, which is operated by Pittsburgh-based IntegraCare.

He's also an important part of another team, the Westmoreland County Wolverines basketball program, which represented the region in the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Summer Games recently held at Penn State University in State College.

"Ryan is such an inspiration to all of us at Newhaven Court at Lindwood," said Lori Grant, Executive Operations Officer at the senior living community. "Ryan inspires others because of his dedication and the years of service he's put in at Lindwood. He has excellent attendance and does a great job in the kitchen. Our residents and team members really appreciate him."

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All five Westmoreland County Special Olympics basketball teams earned either gold, silver or bronze medals during the statewide competition held early in June.

The Westmoreland County Wolverines program puts in work throughout the year and earned a spot in the state event by advancing through the Western Regional held at Carnegie Mellon University in April. Preparation for the Summer Games began in November and paid off in April and June.

Two of the five-on-five teams earned gold medals and another took a silver medal. The three-on-three teams produced one gold and a silver. Hershey is a member of a five-on-five team.

"Special Olympics is such a great organization that accomplishes an important mission," Grant said. "The Lindwood team appreciates everything Ryan does not only on the basketball court but especially here in our community."