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The Shores’ Michele Musto Honored with Excellence in Community Service Award

The Shores is excited to share that Michele Musto, our Volunteer Coordinator and External Marketing Lead has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 LeadingAge New Jersey & Delaware Excellence in Community Service Award. This honor recognizes individuals whose service extends beyond the walls of their organization and into the broader community—something Michele champions every single day. Her work has become a cornerstone of The Shores’ identity, enriching the lives of residents, families, volunteers, and community partners throughout Cape May County.

Michele has built programs and partnerships that provide critical support for caregivers and create meaningful opportunities for residents to engage with their community. Her leadership in developing The Shores' Memory Café and Dementia Caregiver Support Group has offered comfort, education, and connection to countless families. Michele’s outreach extends into schools, universities, local nonprofits, and faith communities, where she collaborates on initiatives that educate people about aging, dementia care, and community wellness.

“Michele has an extraordinary gift for bringing people together,” said Jim Zauner, Executive Director of The Shores. “Her energy, kindness, and forward-thinking approach have created environments where people feel seen, confident, and valued. We are thrilled to see her receive this recognition—it reflects the genuine impact she has made at The Shores and throughout our wider community.”

About UMC

For over a century, UMC has compassionately served senior citizens at facilities across New Jersey. Our full service communities are modern, beautiful assisted living communities with a huge infrastructure of aides, medical experts and equipment to serve seniors of every need. Whether you simply desire the joy of community with others, or the security of assisted living as you needs progress, UMC has a setting that beautifully balances your level of independence, and your security.