ANCOR Names Dungarvin’s Earlean Rivers DSP of the Year for North Carolina

When Earlean Rivers was a young girl growing up in Warsaw, North Carolina, she observed the compassion and concern her mother had for her family and beyond. Oftentimes, her mother would go the extra mile to help people.

“I saw my mom being that nurturer, and I was sometimes telling her, ‘Mama, you can’t save the world,’” said Earlean, a Direct Support Professional (DSP) for Dungarvin North Carolina. “But, apparently, whatever she was doing rubbed off on me. I just love to help people, and I love to make a positive difference in their lives.”

That desire to help improve the lives of others, especially the individual she supports, prompted ANCOR (American Network of Community Options & Resources) to name Earlean DSP of the Year for her state. She accepted the award, along with six other Dungarvin peers, during the ANCOR Connect ’25 conference in San Diego, April 7-9.

When asked about her DSP career, Earlean is thoughtful in pointing out that she’s never considered it a “job.” For her, it’s actually a calling.

“For the work that we do to help these individuals, you cannot put a price tag on it,” she said. “If you’re just going into it for a paycheck, it’s the wrong field for you. You got to have a passion for what you’re doing.”

Earlean has supported Lenard, a 37-year-old man with mild intellectual and development disabilities, for 16 years. A big part of her work with Lenard has been to guide him in managing his health issues so he can realize well-being and a happy, fulfilling life, said Earlean’s supervisor Kimberly Morton-Berry, a Service Coordinator in North Carolina.

“Earlean supported him to complete a course that educated him on managing his diabetes, adapting the curriculum to a level that he could understand and remember,” Kimberly said. “She helped him participate in a healthy cooking class and took him shopping for kitchen supplies to keep track of his food intake.”

Kimberly said Earlean has a gift for connecting with people. “While society often builds walls, negatively impacting those with disabilities, Earlean works tirelessly to build bridges,” she said. “One of the most inspiring ways she accomplishes this is by encouraging those she supports to volunteer in their communities.”

In fact, Earlean has encouraged Leonard to volunteer for a nonprofit very dear to her, Diversity Nurtures Achievement Community Youth Center, an after-school program she launched in 2014 in Warsaw. DNA, as it’s known in the area, provides enrichment opportunities and educational support for youth who are struggling in school.

Dungarvin North Carolina is lucky to have Earlean on the team, and all of Dungarvin is very proud of her accomplishments and ongoing dedication to the people we support. Congratulations, Earlean!