The treasures of ACHA are the volunteers and supporters who give generously of their time, talents and financial treasures. Each year ACHA honors some of these treasures.

Mr. and Mrs. Andy, owners of Washington Penn Plastics, Inc. in Washington Pennsylvania , are founders of the ACHA charity. They inspired other community leaders to get involved and the result is a charitable organization that will benefit communities in need and improve their quality of life for generation to come.

2007 Audia Treasures Awards were presented to:

Lifetime Achievement Award: Mr. Joe Negri

Joe Negri is one of the most recognized names in Pittsburgh and is, without a doubt, one of the finest jazz guitarists in the country. Joe is the recipient of several prestigious awards.
Joe’s career has spanned several decades. He appears frequently as a guest with the Pittsburgh Symphony and the Pittsburgh Symphony Pops with Marvin Hamlisch. He has performed with such luminaries as Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett, Andy Williams, Wynton, Bradford, Ellis Marsalis, and Yo Yo Ma.

Joe has served as musical director at WTAE-TV for more than twenty years. He has produced and performed as Handyman Negri for over thirty years on Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood.

He currently teaches Jazz guitar at the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University and his alma mater, Carnegie Mellon University.

He has recorded several albums of instrumental guitar music. He has also written a book for guitar, “A Common Sense Approach to Improvisation”.

Joe resides in Pittsburgh with his wife Joni. They have three daughters and three grand-daughters.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Charles Tripoli

Dr. Charles J. Tripoli is a native of Derry, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Derry High School in 1948, as class valedictorian. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Saint Vincent College, where he was on full academic scholarship. He graduated in 1952 and went on to the University of Pittsburgh Medical School earning his M.D. in 1955.
Dr. Tripoli served in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps, active and reserve, from 1957 to 1968, earning the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

He is a Eucharistic Minister at Immaculate Conception Parish, a member of the Knights of Columbus, 4th Degree, member of the Catholic Medical Association, and the Sewickley Senior Men’s Club. Dr. Tripoli has received many awards over his distinguished career.

He has served on medical missions to Guatemala, Haiti, Mexico and Honduras. On a recent rescue mission he brought a child from Amman, Jordan to the United States for life saving surgery. Tabby and her father stayed with the Tripoli’s for 6 months.

He and his wife Rita have seven sons, six daughters and sixteen grandchildren.

Founder's Award: Dr. Michael Bonidie

Dr. Bonidie grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Pittsburgh for undergraduate education, where he graduated, Summa Cum Laude in 1988. He was awarded the prestigious University Scholar Award in 1987, which is given to the top two percent of undergraduate students. After a standout academic career, he matriculated at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, graduating in 1992. During his medical school career, he received an award of excellence in research at the 1991 UPMC Student Scientific Day.

Currently, Dr. Bonidie is the Director of the Division of Urogynecology at the Western Pennsylvania Hospital. He is also the Ob/Gyn Residency Program Director. He has on four occasions during his time at Western Pennsylvania Hospital been named Teacher of the Year by the Ob/Gyn Residents.

Dr. Bonidie has been a part of the Audia Caring Heritage Association family for many years. He was a part of the CT scanner “ribbon cutting” trip to San Giovanni in Fiore in 2002. He helped to host four physicians from Italy in 2004. He also arranged for several physicians and health care administrators from San Giovanni in Fiore to participate in a living donor liver transplant in Pittsburgh in 2006.

Dr. Bonidie resides in Pittsburgh with his wife, Dr. Marianne Bonidie, and their two sons.