UNSUNG HEROES: Julie LaFontaine  and Kevin P. Norton  are this year’s recipients of North Shore United Way’s  leadership awards.

The award acknowledges outstanding commitment and tireless efforts to meet the needs and challenges of building a healthy community and dealing with a changing health care environment.

LaFontaine and Norton are being honored Sept. 28 at the Live United leadership award breakfast sponsored by Addison Gilbert Hospital at Cruiseport  in Gloucester.

LaFontaine is executive director of The Open Door in Gloucester. Margo Casey, executive director of North Shore United, said LaFontaine “has revolutionized food pantry work with her introduction of Mobile Markets and her relentless campaign to end hunger and build healthy lives on the North Shore.”

Casey added that The Open Door, with LaFontaine at the helm, “has expanded its traditional hunger-relief programs and created new programs that treat food security as a public health issue . . . Julie’s extensive background in nonprofit work has brought innovative growth, stability, and diverse funding to The Open Door, which has gone from feeding a few to feeding a few thousand.”

Norton is president and chief executive of Northeast Behavioral Health,  a nonprofit provider of addiction and mental health treatment.

“In an era of belt tightening, maximizing economy of scales, and repositioning in changing behavioral and health care environments, Kevin’s work as CEO of Northeast Behavioral Health — spawned from the merger of CAB Health and Recovery and Health and Education Services — has been truly masterful,” Casey said.

She added that in 2010, Norton “successfully led the merger of CAB with Health and Education Services to become Northeast Behavioral Health, including the integration of administrative, financial, clinical, and business processes for the multisite agency and its 1,500-plus member staff.”

“Both recipients of this year’s award are exemplary leaders,” said Casey. “We are thrilled to honor both community partners.”

The breakfast runs from 7:30 to 9 a.m. The event also is the launch of the United Way’s 2012-2013 annual campaign. Tickets are $50. Call 978-922-3966, e-mail clippie@nsuw.org, or visit nsuw.org. 

SPORTS FOR ALL: Endicott College  in Beverly is hosting a Sports Awareness Day on Wednesday that will highlight the challenges disabled and special needs athletes face in their daily lives and sports endeavors.

All events are free and open to the public. 

Guest speakers will discuss adaptive sport, competitive sports for all, and dealing with physical challenges in the sports world.

A highlight of the event is the Will Power Wheelchair Basketball Game, featuring the New England Blazers  and teams comprising Endicott students, coaches, and faculty.

The game is named after Will Archibald, an alumnus of Endicott who was paralyzed in a 2009 motorcycle accident and inspired many by his willpower in the face of adversity. A resident of Cape Cod, Archibald graduated from Endicott in 2004 with a degree in sport management. He died in January of cardiac arrest. 

A scholarship fund is being set up in Archibald’s memory, and corporate and individual donations are being accepted.

The event was organized by professor Dina Gentile  and students in sport management, physical education, and athletic training. The Positive Coaching Alliance  also helped plan the day.

On Nov. 4, Endicott College will host a Youth Sport Summit on campus with the Positive Coaching Alliance for volunteer sports organizations and coaches.

Wednesday’s event runs from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Call 978-232-2430, e-mail dgentile@endicott.edu, or visit endicott.edu. 

WHO’S WHAT WHERE: Ray Novack  has joined the Glen Urquhart School  in Beverly as band director. Novack recently retired from Beverly High School after 35 years as a music teacher and director of instrumental ensembles. He also held leadership roles in the International Association for Jazz Education and as the guest conductor of the Eastern District Jazz Bands. In 2001, Novack received the Outstanding Education Award from the Salem State Alumni Association, and for his service to the community he was named as the 2007 Beverly Rotary Club’s Distinguished Citizen. Novack also performs on keyboard, accordion, and bass in Horizon & The Horns, his own seven-piece band . . . Three employees of Hospice of the North Shore & Greater Boston  have been named ambassadors for the organization’s 25th annual walk, which is Sunday at St. John’s Prep in Danvers. They are Amy Gray  of Newburyport, admissions liaison; Cynthia Ayoub  of Methuen, director of home care; and Nate Lamkin  of Stoughton, social worker.