2026 Raker Spirit Award Recipient Is A ‘True Inspiration’

When the smiling group showed up, unannounced, in the basement of Good Shepherd Home – Raker Center in Allentown earlier this month, Tammy Kissel was confused. Then, she was speechless when she heard the news.

Good Shepherd Rehabilitation is honored to announce Kissel as the 2026 Raker Spirit Award recipient.

Now in its 22nd year, the Raker Spirit Award recognizes Good Shepherd employees who demonstrate compassionate care and/or service to patients, residents, their families, clients or the community; leadership by working cooperatively with others to meet current challenges and future needs; service to a wide variety of people, groups and cultures; and advocacy for marginalized members of society to help them be as independent as possible.

Each year, colleagues submit nominations, with a committee comprised of past Raker Spirit Award winners reviewing and ultimately selecting the newest recipient.

A group that included Good Shepherd President & CEO Michael Spigel, PT, MHA, surprised Kissel (pictured above, center) in late February with the special news as Raker Center teammates and long-term care residents witnessed and cheered.

‘A True Inspiration’

Kissel is a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA) at Raker Center, which is home to 99 residents with disabilities, such as traumatic brain injury, advanced multiple sclerosis, spina bifida or quadriplegia. Kissel has been a Good Shepherd team member for 29 years and in that time, she has impacted many.

One colleague’s nomination described Kissel as someone who is “a true inspiration to every person she comes in contact with. Her philosophy of life is that true kindness and love are the greatest gifts you can bestow upon one another by lending a helping hand without the expectation of something in return.”

Other excerpts from Tammy’s nomination included:

Compassionate Care: “She is compassionate with her coworkers, every year doing something different; bringing in homemade lunch, celebrating the therapy staff’s birthdays with gifts, purchasing theme shirts for them, randomly handing out candy to employees and spreading cheer with her positive comments to everyone she sees.”

Cooperative Leadership: “Tammy helps to train and educate students and volunteers by taking them under her wing.”

Service with Diverse Groups of People: “Tammy goes beyond the call of duty in pursuing excellence by building a welcoming culture and developing relationships with the certified nursing assistants, registered nurses and the therapy team.”

Advocacy of Those in Need: “Tammy is the No. 1 advocate for our residents and has done presentations to the Women’s Giving Circle to get funding to purchase essential oils and diffusers to support our residents’ health.”

Benevolent Volunteer Activity: “For many years, she has volunteered outside of work hours for both Long-Term Care resident balls, Raker Stock and Sheppapalooza.”

Kissel will be recognized officially at Good Shepherd’s Annual Celebration of Employees (ACE) Awards on March 26, 2026, at ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks in Bethlehem.

Raker Spirit Award

The Raker Spirit Award extends from Good Shepherd’s founders, John and Estella Raker, and their son Dr. Conrad Raker. The Rakers guided Good Shepherd with qualities and values including:

• Compassionate care and community service given to clients, patients, residents, their families, and/or the community
• Setting an excellent example of leadership by working cooperatively with others to meet our present challenges and future needs
• Ability to both serve and work with a wide variety of people, groups, and cultures
• Advocating for those less fortunate to help them be as independent as possible
• Benevolent volunteer activity of faith, or neighborhood or civic organizations