A Berks County couple were honored this week by Caron Treatment Centers for their impact on the nonprofit and the Berks community.
Michael and Diane Duff were presented with the Richard J. Caron Award of Excellence during Caron’s 35th Annual Richard J. Caron Award of Excellence Celebration on Wednesday night.
The award is presented annually to an individual or couple who, in the estimation of Caron’s board of trustees, demonstrates the same spirit of caring and compassion exemplified by Caron’s founders, Dick and Catherine Caron.
The Duff’s, longtime residents of Lower Heidelberg Township, have been active members of the community.
Michael is vice president of community engagement for Penske Transportation Solutions, following a distinguished legal and executive career at the company. Diane, a former educator, is a committed community volunteer who has given her time and talents to organizations such as Caron, the United Way of Berks County and the John Paul II Center for Special Learning.
The couple have supported numerous local nonprofits through board involvement and philanthropic support.
That includes at Caron. They were the inaugural co-chairs of Caron’s Central Pennsylvania Advisory Council, and Michael now chairs Caron’s Greater Pa. Regional Advisory Board.
“Michael and Diane embody the values and spirit that define this award: steadfast commitment, compassion and a deep-rooted desire to serve others,” said John Driscoll, CEO of Caron Treatment Centers. “Their leadership, volunteerism and advocacy have left a meaningful mark on Caron and countless other organizations across Berks County. We are honored to celebrate their decades of dedication to improving lives and strengthening our community.”
Also at Wednesday’s event, Benchmark Construction was honored with the 2025 Partner in Recovery Award for its ongoing support of Caron. The company and its leaders have been pivotal in making Caron’s prevention program for athletes, Peak Performance, available to school districts in Lancaster and Lebanon counties.
In addition, Benchmark led the construction of the Fran & Doug Tieman Research Center and the Neag Medical Center on Caron’s Wernersville campus and The Keele Center on Caron’s Florida campus.
Source: Berkshire mont