A Legacy of Compassion: Rosalee Sites Receives the Kathy Whitaker Excellence in Aging Service Award

Rosalee Sites proudly holds an award alongside Angie Gwaltney (left), Kathy Whitaker (right), and her husband Bruce Sites

Rosalee Sites was honored with the Kathy Whitaker Excellence in Aging Service Award on April 28, 2026 at the FTAAAD Annual Conference on Aging  in recognition of her decades-long commitment to improving the health and well-being of individuals and families across the region. The First Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability (FTAAAD) was honored to present this award to Sites, recognizing a lifetime dedicated to service and compassion.

Sites’ impact on the Kingsport community is both profound and far-reaching. A founding board member of Friends in Need, she was instrumental in identifying and addressing critical gaps in healthcare access for the uninsured and underinsured. Her vision and leadership helped bring Friends in Need Healthcare to life—an organization that continues to serve thousands each year. In 2025 alone, the Friends in Need Medical and Dental Clinic provided care to nearly 6,000 patients, a testament to the enduring legacy of her work.

Throughout her career, Sites has consistently demonstrated a passion for service, particularly for older adults and vulnerable populations. As a leader in emergency services at Holston Valley Hospital Medical Center, she established a culture grounded in compassion, dignity, and high standards of care. She later expanded her impact by helping establish Parish Nurse programs in multiple churches, creating a “canopy of care” that supports entire congregations—especially seniors needing additional attention and access to services.

Her dedication extended into volunteer leadership roles across numerous organizations, including First Broad Street United Methodist Church, the Children’s Advocacy Center of Sullivan County, and the Contact Concern 2-1-1 Board, where she helped ensure daily welfare checks for seniors. Through these efforts, she has connected countless individuals to critical resources and compassionate support.

Sites’ influence has also shaped the broader nonprofit landscape. During her involvement with United Way of Greater Kingsport, she played a key role in advancing the organization’s Community Impact model—bringing a systems-level perspective that strengthened collaboration and long-term outcomes across agencies.

Her contributions have earned widespread recognition over the years, including the United Way of Greater Kingsport’s Live United Award in 2017, designation as a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary International Foundation, and the Appalachian Highlands Nurses Honor Guard Living Tribute Award in October 2025.

In recognition of her extraordinary legacy, Friends in Need established the Rosalee Sites Award, which honors individuals who demonstrate the same selfless commitment to expanding human care services in the region—further underscoring the lasting imprint of her work.

From organizing volunteers and building sustainable programs to delivering simple acts of kindness—like bringing Sunday altar flowers to hospitalized seniors—Sites has devoted her life to helping others live healthier, more connected lives.

The Kathy Whitaker Excellence in Aging Service Award celebrates individuals whose service exemplifies compassion, leadership, and meaningful community impact—qualities that Rosalee Sites has embodied throughout her lifetime.