PHOENIXVILLE COMMUNITY HEALTH FOUNDATION

Phoenixville Community Health Foundation Honors 2007 Champions of the Community

Phoenixville, PA – The Champions of the Community Award Program was created by the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation in 2000 to honor community volunteers. Since that time twenty-eight people have been recognized as Champions. They were honored for giving of their time, talents and resources to help make the greater Phoenixville community a better place to live, work and play.

This year twenty-three 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 three as 2007 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 2007 nominees, were honored at a luncheon on November 16th, held at the Phoenixville Country Club.

Wendy Kelly who describes him as “Phoenixville’s Mayor of Community Service” nominated Donald J. L. Coppedge. He has given tirelessly to organizations such as the Social Concerns Committee, the Kiwanis Club of Phoenixville, Grimes AME Church, and Phoenixville Homes.

Citizen Advocacy nominated Johanna Gilbert for fifteen years of volunteer service. Alicia Warner of Citizen Advocacy shared, “She is a humble, hard working, generous and earnest person who holds a strong conviction that we can all make a difference”. In addition to Citizen Advocacy, Gilbert also volunteers with the Community Coalition, and St. Ann Catholic Church.

Jan Swarr was nominated by Connie Bretz for leading the annual Phoenixville Holiday House Tour for over fourteen years saying, “Her energy and enthusiasm for helping others is boundless”. In addition to the house tour, Swarr also volunteers in a leadership role with Nicotine Anonymous, the Forge Theater, and the Kiwanis Club of Phoenixville.

Louis J. Beccaria, President and CEO of the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation said, “The Foundation strives to be a champion of community health … physical health, social health, economic health, and health through cultural diversity. Our search for those ‘unsung heroes’ of our community, who are often overlooked for their efforts to make the greater Phoenixville area a better place, has been successful”. Hartman added, “Phoenixville is a very caring community. In every segment people are reaching out and giving back. As we received this year’s nominations we were awed buy the commitment of so many people who quietly give of their time and talents day in and day out.”