Friendship Heights Neighbors Network President, Constance Row, Selected as GROWS Humanitarian Award Recipient

The Board of Friendship Heights Neighbors Network (FHNN) congratulates FHNN President, Constance Row, who on December 2 was named the recipient of the GROWS Debra Levy Humanitarian Award. This award is given each year from GROWS to an individual whose work is concentrated in Montgomery County and is focused on enriching or improving the lives of seniors in a positive way through volunteerism, mentoring, and similar activities. 

Row co-founded FHNN in 2016 and currently is its President. FHNN serves the seniors located in the high-rise buildings in Chevy Chase, MD which has many individuals over age 65. Row and other FHNN founders assembled an active board and community representatives from the high-rises. She secured grant funding and recruited volunteer coordinators to manage events and volunteer services. During the pandemic, social programming doubled and direct services continued including on-line grocery ordering and rides to vaccination sites and doctor appointments. In her 80s, Row has served as Board President, Co-Executive Director, Grant Writer, Newsletter Editor, and Transportation Volunteer. For FHNN’s 5-year anniversary, she led the production of FHNN’s YouTube video (see this link or below).

A retired hospital and health systems CEO, Row became involved in the aging field while serving as the long-time Executive Director of a national nonprofit working to bring medical house calls to the frail elderly, the American Academy of Home Care Medicine. FHNN is one of 41 Villages in Montgomery County and one of 75 in the Washington, DC area, all of which provide volunteer services and activities which enable seniors to age in place. There are non-profit, non-governmental Villages across America staffed primarily by volunteers.

Established in 1989, the Grass Roots Organization for the Well-being of Seniors (GROWS) provides a platform for networking, education, and advocacy for senior service professionals. GROWS is the leading organization dedicated to the well-being of seniors in Montgomery County.