ATLANTA--HomeCare is pleased to announce three recipients of the 2005 HomeCaring Award, given in recognition of distinguished service to the home medical equipment industry: Rita Hostak, vice president of government relations for Longmont, Colo.-based Sunrise Medical; Michael Marnhout, president and CEO of Bluegrass Oxygen, Lexington, Ky.; and Randy Wolfe, president and CEO of Lambert's Health Care, Knoxville, Tenn.

Co-sponsored by Medtrade, the awards were presented at the industry trade show last week during a Tuesday night reception at the Georgia World Congress Center. Jack Evans of Malibu, Calif.-based Global Media Marketing served as master of ceremonies for the event, which honored individuals and companies whose work in HME has elevated them to the highest level.

The 2005 recipients were chosen from nominees submitted by HomeCare's readers--from all aspects of the industry--and judged by a panel of seven industry professionals.

"HomeCare is proud to acknowledge those whose tireless efforts further the goals of the industry in serving the nation's home-based patients," said Editor-in-Chief Gail Walker. "The HomeCaring Awards are only a small token in recognizing the contributions of so many individuals whose exemplary service has made the entire home care community a better place and who challenge the rest of us to do better ourselves."

Medtrade donated proceeds from the reception in a $5,000 check to Atlanta's Shepherd Center, the country's largest catastrophic care hospital specializing in the treatment of people with spinal cord injury and disease, acquired brain injury, multiple sclerosis and other neuromuscular disorders and urological problems.

Look for profiles of the 2005 HomeCaring Award recipients in upcoming issues of HomeCare magazine.