Gulf Coast Village Pastor Receives Volunteers of America’s ‘Leadership in Ministry’ Award

The Rev. Tom Hafer, director of spiritual services for Gulf Coast Village, has received national recognition as recipient of the Volunteers of America Leadership in Ministry Award. Rev. Hafer was nominated by his colleagues at Gulf Coast Village and will be honored during the Volunteers of America (VOA) national convention on June 29.

Every year during its annual convention, the VOA honors exemplary ministers and staff members whose hard work, loyalty and dedication exemplify the highest ideals of the organization, which employs 16,000 people. In addition to honoring Rev. Hafer as recipient of the prestigious Leadership in Ministory Award, the VOA will recognize three other leaders in the areas of administration, direct client services and program management.

Rev. Hafer is an ordained minister with VOA. In addition to his pastoral duties at Gulf Coast Village, Rev. Hafer’s hosts a weekly interdenominational worship service that is streamed live from Gulf Coast Village every Sunday at 11 a.m. to the Volunteers of America organization at voa.org.
“We are so pleased and proud that Rev. Hafer has received this honorable award,” said Kevin Ahmadi, executive director of Gulf Coast Village and regional director of VOA. “Rev. Hafer has continually displayed the many praiseworthy qualities that are of high value to Gulf Coast Village and we are fortunate to have his talents and leadership at Gulf Coast Village and within the VOA organization.”

Rev. Hafer received his Bachelor’s degree from Florida A & M University in Physical Therapy and has been a licensed Physical Therapist in Florida for over 25 years. He attended the Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia and received a Masters’ degree in Religion in 2006. Rev. Hafer has authored three books: “Faith & Fitness,” “Well Planet: Fitness as a Spiritual Discipline” and “Aging Grace: The Journey to a Healthy 100.” For the past six years, Rev. Hafer has been traveling and speaking to groups and workshops across the country.

Founded more than 25 years ago, Gulf Coast Village is the premier Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Cape Coral, Florida. Residents enjoy active independent living in an unparalleled lifestyle of comfort and convenience with a rich array of services and amenities that are focused on living well. The community also offers the security of knowing there is the full continuum of care when needed including: assisted living, skilled nursing, specialized memory support, home health and outpatient services. Gulf Coast Village is located at 1333 Santa Barbara Blvd., Cape Coral, FL 33991. For more information call 239-772-1333 or visit www.GulfCoastVillage.com.

Gulf Coast Village is sponsored by Volunteers of America, a national non-profit faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need rebuild their lives and reach their full potential. Volunteers of America was founded in 1896 and is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit providers of quality, affordable housing for seniors and a provider of professional long-term care including assisted living, home health care and nursing home care.