Thursday’s Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting & Awards at the Pennhills Club celebrated the very best the area has to offer.
Patrons gathered to celebrate the five 2024 award winners — The McKean County Community Foundation (Exemplary Business Award), Small Town Girl Boutique (Small Business Award), The Friendship Table (Community & Spirit Award), Pure Tech (Director’s Award) and Episcopal Church of the Ascension (Legacy Award).
“As we look forward to tomorrow, embrace the idea of giving oneself,” said Bob Esch of the McKean County Community Foundation. “It really does matter. Our sincere thanks goes to the chamber as well as everyone for their support and your work on behalf of the community.”
The McKean County Community Foundation was founded in 2017, and its mission is simple — to create a stronger community and improve the quality of life in the communities they serve.
It’s a mission that all the award winners on Thursday have accomplished.
“Tonight is an important reminder of the dedication and commitment necessary to build a strong and vibrant community,” Esch said. “And It’s a reminder of how successful we can be when we come together. There’s a lot of positive energy here. Let’s continue to capture that.”
The Friendship Table certainly exemplifies everything that Esch spoke about, and is a perfect representation of the Community & Spirit Award, having served over 800,000 meals since 1997 to those in need.
“Anyone who is a part of a volunteer organization knows our community can’t function without volunteers,” said retired pastor Lee Beckes, who serves as vice chair of the Friendship Table. “A country, a community, a city is no stronger than the depth of its concern for its most vulnerable members and citizens. When we started, no matter who you are, or where you’re from, if you’re hungry, this is where you can eat. And from there, you can begin to build your life. It’s as simple and as basic as that.”
A community is also strengthened by the hard work and dedication of its employees, something Pure Tech LLC owners, brothers Rob and Shawn Huber know better than most.
“We’ve had a lot of success, and I truly believe that all of them are due to our employees,” Ron Huber said. “We have the most dedicated employees of anyone in the area. I truly believe that. We accept this on their behalf. We’re very honored and could not do this without them.”
Small Town Girls Boutique, like many small businesses, started out as a dream that became a reality, thanks to the dedication of good friends Stephanie Weinberg and Kristina Luzzi.
From a simple dream, it has become a go-to spot for women of all ages in Bradford and the surrounding area.
Wineberg was unable to attend, as she was en route to Florida to attend her son’s college graduation. Her mother, Kathy Paterniti, said a few words on her behalf.
“Small Town Girl Boutique is a labor of love,” Wineberg shared. “I truly cherish the connections I make at our store with our beautiful community members every day. Thank you to our customers and to my business partner, Kristina, my ride or die, as well as my mom for her tireless support and for my husband, for believing in the City of Bradford the way I do.”
The theme of community and humility was prevalent throughout the night, and was perhaps summarized best by Stacy Williams of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, a fitting winner of the Legacy Award.
“I’d like to give a shoutout to our church community for their support and their commitment,” Williams said. “Without that, we couldn’t do what we do for the community. We’re very honored and humbled.”
