United Way honors trio
CRANBERRY TWP — The United Way of Butler County on Thursday night honored three individuals whose personal stories inspire others to never give up hope.
The third annual Heroes of Hope Award winners were named at the organization’s annual campaign kickoff at the Pittsburgh Marriott North hotel.
The winners are nominated by partner agencies of the United Way and are selected by the organization’s board of directors.
Richard Crawford of Butler, Lauren Spagnolo of Rochester, Beaver County, and Ronald Rose of Butler Township are the honorees.
Crawford never lost a positive perspective, even after an apartment fire displaced him nine months ago.
Crawford, who previously had both legs amputated below his knees, was in the hospital due to an illness at the time of the fire in his Liberty Street apartment in Butler. After learning of his story, the United Way and the American Red Cross worked together to get him prosthetic legs, which allowed him to walk again.
Crawford said he is honored to help inspire others through his story.
“I’m amazed,” Crawford said of the help he received since the fire. “For as much as (the organizations) have done for me, I want to do anything I can to help.”
He was nominated by Cindy Skiles with the Red Cross.
Spagnolo was battling depression when she sought help at Staunton Clinic, Rochester’s crisis department.
The single mother of three found the help she needed through Glade Run Lutheran services. She now is working on her GED and aims to encourage others by talking about her own journey.
“I’m blessed and honored to be here,” she said.
Spagnolo hopes to encourage others to get help for their problems.
“That’s the most important thing,” she said.
Spagnolo was nominated by Mary Winters with Glade Run Lutheran Services.
Rose, who is an Army veteran, had hard times upon his return to Butler from the service.
After battling addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder, he has been working through veterans services and the CompeerCorps Vet2Vet program to improve his life.
He is taking classes at Butler County Community College and hopes to find a career in building maintenance.
Rose was nominated by Daniel Stevenson-Fleet with CompeerCorps Vet2Vet, Mental Health Association of Butler.
