PHOENIXVILLE COMMUNITY HEALTH FOUNDATION

Phoenixville Community Champions Honored

Phoenixville, PA – What does it take to become a Community Champion? It takes a long term commitment to volunteerism for the betterment of the greater Phoenixville area. The Phoenixville area has a great tradition of community giving. Four individuals, who exemplify such a giving spirit, were honored by the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation as “Champions of the Community”.

The Champions of the Community Award Program was created by the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation in the year 2000 to honor area citizens – unsung heroes – who freely give their time, talents and resources to make our greater Phoenixville communities better places to live, to work, to play and to raise a family. Since that time thirty-five people have been recognized as Champions.

This year nominations were received from within the greater Phoenixville area. An independent selection committee chaired by Lynn Pike Hartman, Foundation Senior Program Officer, gave consideration to each nominee and chose four as 2009 Champions of the Community. As a part of their award, each Champion receives a $2,000 donation, made in their name, to the charities of their choosing. These Champions, as well as all the 2009 nominees, were honored at a luncheon on November 13th, held at the Phoenixville Country Club.

Chuck Benz was nominated for his commitment to the people of the greater Phoenixville area. He serves, or has served, as chairman of the Board of Open Hearth, Inc., President of the Phoenixville Regional Chamber of Commerce, President of the Friends of the Phoenixville Public Library, President of the Phoenixville Rotary Club, a member of the Board of Directors of the Association for the Colonial Theatre, and the Executive Committee of the Phoenixville Relay for Life.

Lynne Hesselbacher was nominated for tenaciously overcoming obstacles. She wages an on-going struggle with chronic debilitating pain due to a degenerative neurological illness. She has also taken a life-long journey for mental health recovery. She volunteers to help others with their mental health journey through Chester County Compeer, the Chester County Community Support Program and the Chester County Peer Support Services Steering Committee.

Kathe Spohn was nominated for twenty-two years of faithful volunteer service to St. Mary’s Franciscan Shelter – a homeless shelter for families. Spohn also volunteers with Orion Communities, the North Coventry Food Pantry and with Angel Food Ministries, bringing a caring heart and warm congeniality to all of her volunteer work.

The Reverend Marie Swayze was nominated as one of the original founders of The Clinic in Phoenixville – offering free primary health care to uninsured people. She has continued to volunteer through the years doing what is necessary to help keep patients, staff and visitors happy and things running smoothly.

Other nominees who were acknowledged at the award luncheon were Bruce Beatty for his work with the Freedom Valley YMCA; Jack Ertell for his work with the Historical Society and the Kiwanis; Mariann Horan for her unselfish giving to those in recovery from mental illness; Dr. Edward Kienzle for volunteering medical services to the Clinic; Irene Lisinski for her commitment to the community through the Social Concerns Committee and Diversity in Action; Michelle Long for being a socially committed merchant in downtown Phoenixville as the owner of Irish Joe’s Café; and Doreen Pasekoff for her leadership with the Phoenixville Community Garden and the Phoenixville Dog Park.

Louis J. Beccaria, President and CEO of the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation said, “The Foundation also strives to be a champion of community health … physical, mental, social, economic, and health through cultural diversity. Each year we search for those ‘unsung heroes’ of our community – those who are often overlooked for their efforts to make the greater Phoenixville area a better place. We feel privileged to be able to honor them”.

Hartman added, “In every segment of our Phoenixville community people are reaching out. Each year we reach deeper into our greater Phoenixville community and the deeper we go the more treasures we find.”