Debbie Price remembered a time during her childhood when her father was ill and couldn’t work, leaving her family’s bills unpaid until help was provided by the former Community Chest organization, the predecessor of the United Way.
On Thursday, Price, one of the recipients of the United Way of the Bradford Area 2019 Red Feather Recognition awards, shared her early experience with the agency during a celebration at the Bradford Club. Also honored with the Red Feather award was Jim Wiseman of the Beacon Light agency.
In her opening comments, Karen Costello-Pecht, president of the United Way, said the board was pleased with the agency’s new executive director, Paige LaBrozzi, and Sarah Lonzi, administrative assistant.
“These two ladies are doing a phenomenal job — both obtained these positions in the midst of our 2018 campaign season,” Costello-Pecht said. “The board is very excited to see the direction these two talented women will be taking the United Way going forward.”
During her comments, LaBrozzi said she was pleased with the large crowd at the event and has a vision to build the donor base and branch out to new agencies that need the United Way’s help.
“But especially this evening, we are here to highlight exceptional volunteers in their work throughout the community,” LaBrozzi said in reference to Price and Wiseman.
In his comments, Wiseman said that when LaBrozzi called him several weeks ago to inform him he was selected as the Red Feather recipient, his first question was “Why me.”
Wiseman, who is the executive director of Beacon Light Adult Residential Services, has been described as a dedicated member of the United Way’s board of directors the past 10 years.
When his tenure ended in 2018, Wiseman continued on as an active volunteer with the agency.
“At the end, the United Way of the Bradford Area has given me much more than I gave it,” Wiseman said. “It’s been a wonderful 10 years … and over the years it became less of a work commitment and more of a joy.”
During her comments, Price, executive director of Evergreen Elm residential services, thanked the board for honoring her with the agency’s Excellence in Representation award. The award was created to recognize an outstanding agency representative who best exemplifies the United Way’s mission within their organization.
Price said the United Way not only helps a multitude of agencies in the community, but has also been a big help in funding programs at Evergreen Elm.
Price said her admiration of the United Way stretches back to her childhood when her father, suffered a heart attack and was unable to work and pay the family’s utility bills.
“There were many nights my mother sat by my father’s hospital bed and wondered how she would pay the bills,” Price recalled. She said her parents were absolutely relieved when they had a visit from a representative of the former Community Chest organization, now the United Way, who gave them a check to pay all their utility bills.
“I think that’s where my love (for the United Way) comes from,” Price shared with the audience.
