The USC School of Social Work hosted its annual awards gala, "A Celebration of the Heart," on April 1 at The Beverly Hills Hotel, honoring outstanding achievers in academia and community service for their contributions to scholarship and volunteerism that have positively and immeasurably changed the lives of others.

Kevin J. Mahoney, professor at Boston College Graduate School of Social Work, was awarded the 2007 Flynn Prize for Research, an internationally competitive prize that recognizes a scholar whose research has achieved high social impact and shaped modern policy. Mahoney is the national program director of Cash & Counseling, a program that has revolutionized personal care options for the disabled and elderly receiving Medicaid.

"It is particularly meaningful to be recognized for research with an impact on public policy," he said. "I am so pleased that our team's research empowering the elderly and people with disabilities to direct and manage their own home and community-based services is getting such national attention."

Keeping with tradition, Mahoney, as the Flynn Prize winner, gave the 15th Annual Sarnat Endowed Lecture at the school the following day. In his presentation, "Research Affecting Policy: The Case of Cash and Counseling," Mahoney talked about his project comparing counseling versus cash in the use of long-term care services. The Sarnat Endowed Lectureship was created in 1986 by Rhoda G. and Dr. Bernard G. Sarnat to expand and broaden the frontiers of social work knowledge through the presentations of nationally known, interdisciplinary presenters.

This year's Crystal Heart, the school's highest honor for community service, paid tribute to Abby Levy. The consummate volunteer and community leader has helped raise millions for Los Angeles-area institutions, including Westlake School for Girls, Women's Guild of Cedars Sinai Medical Center and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Under her leadership, the Women's Guild has raised the largest pledge of any Cedars support group in history, which will endow the Women's Guild Pulmonary Disease Institute. She frequently is acknowledged for her exceptional fundraising skills in support of women's health and the arts.

Barbara J. Solomon was presented the W. June Simmons Distinguished Alumna award for her research and advocacy on behalf of veterans, children, the mentally ill, the elderly and the dispossessed. The USC School of Social Work professor emerita, vice provost emerita and first African American to hold a deanship at USC was also recently honored with the USC Faculty Lifetime Achievement Award.

The school also named Magdalena Sunshine Serrano, a second-year MSW student enrolled in the health concentration, the Abby Levy Scholar. Serrano is currently completing her field practicum at the UCLA Ted Mann Cancer Center and recently co-authored an article with Professor Brad Zebrack on how adolescents and youth cope with cancer, which will be published in the national cancer patient magazine Coping.

Proceeds from the evening fund scholarships for students pursuing graduate study and careers in social work at the USC School of Social Work.