A Norwich-based social services agency will honor the president of Three Rivers Community College next month with its 2009 Palmer Davies Leadership Award.

United Community & Family Services will honor Grace Sawyer Jones, who heads the Norwich community college, with its annual award given to an individual who has fostered an environment of community spirit and who reflects the mission and values of the agency.

Deborah Monahan, who was last year's Palmer Davies honoree and is on the nominating committee, said Jones was the perfect choice for the annual award.

"Dr. Jones is an exceptional community leader who educates our future leaders, our work forces and for some of us, our children," said Monahan, who is the executive director of the Thames Valley Council for Community Action.

Jones will be honored during the United Community & Family Services annual meeting on Thursday, Oct. 8, at 5 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Norwich.

The Palmer Davies Leadership Award is named for Fannie Palmer and Emily Davies, who more than a century ago discussed developing an association in Norwich that would help those in need. That idea became the foundation for the United Community & Family Services agency.

The Palmer Davies award was created four years ago by the agency, which has been providing various health-care and community services to Norwich and its surrounding towns since 1877.

a.cronin@theday.com