During her childhood, Karen Costello-Pecht was raised in a large family by parents who instilled the values of community involvement — a trait she believes helped pave the path to being named the 2019 Leader at Thursday’s Bradford YWCA Leader Luncheon.
The 22nd annual event, attended by more than 170 people at Frame-Westerbergs Commons at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, also honored Lauren Luther as the 2019 Rising Leader.
Prior to the meeting, Vanessa Castano, executive director of the YW, said the event continues to attract large crowds because of the lovely venue, organized by Angela Erway, YW administrator, and the nature of the celebration.
“People like to celebrate women who are deserving of the honor,” Castano said, adding the YW
always receives a “hardy group” of nominations, which makes the final selection challenging. She said the event does generate some revenue for the YW, which is used for programs and services.
“But it’s not intended to be a large fundraiser, it’s really intended to honor women who are deserving of the honor,” she explained.
During her comments about Luther, whom she nominated for the honor, Bryn Manion said she had grown up with Luther and the two attended the same Sunday school. Manion, who was recipient of the 2017 Rising Leader award, said she also knows Luther to be a “kind soul” as well as one who displays generosity along with community service.
In commenting on the honors, Luther said the extended community — family, teachers, professors, friends and others — have impacted her life.
“You have rendered a desire in me to discover, to challenge, to love, to help …” Luther said. “My promise to you is cultivate in others what you have given to me.”
Luther, the daughter of Kris Tate-Luther, a 2010 Leader honoree, and Richard Luther, currently attends St. Bonaventure University as a health science biomedical major. She has been named to the Dean’s List at St. Bonaventure and is also an Army ROTC Scholarship Awardee and belongs to the Army ROTC Gold Bar Club. She hopes to attend graduate school to become a physician assistant.
In their comments about Costello-Pecht, Christine Tyler and Nathan Lawyer offered similar sentiments.
Lawyer said he first worked with Costello-Pecht during last year’s Pumpkin Fest and saw her tireless volunteer work with that community event. Lawyer then listed a long list of Costello-Pecht’s volunteer work with numerous agencies in community.
“And this is just what she does in her free time,” Lawyer added, before noting Costello-Pecht works professionally for Control Chief in the role of human resource manager and web-based marketer.
Tyler later noted Costello-Pecht attended and graduated from college as a single, working mother of a child and followed this by mentoring other students.
“Her hard work and persistence are inspirations to other women who believe you can do anything you set your mind to,” Tyler said.
For her part, Costello-Pecht said she was very pleased to be selected for the honor that was achieved by so many other women of distinction. Costello-Pecht told the audience that she grew up in a household of eight children and her parents did an outstanding job instilling timeless respect and love for others.
“My father died at a young age … but I know he’s looking down” with pride, she said. “He was always so proud of his children.”
Costello-Pecht then thanked her mother, Susan, who was in the audience, for all of the values she had given to her. She also said she was grateful to her husband, Ed, daughter, Meghan, and other family members who have helped her along the way.
“I pray my doors will continue to open so I can continue to serve,” Costello-Pecht remarked.
