Brenda Shaffer, pictured with her husband, Phillip, is the Victim Outreach Intervention Center's 2014 Hestia Award winner. She was honored at a luncheon Saturday at BC3.

BUTLER TWP — Brenda Shaffer, associate chief of nursing primary care at the VA in Pittsburgh, was named Victim Outreach Intervention Center’s 2014 Hestia Award winner Saturday at brunch at Butler County Community College’s Founder’s Hall.

The award is named for the Greek goddess of the hearth, “whose appointed task was to guard the fires of the city so that they would never be extinguished ...” said Heidi Artman, executive director at VOICe.

“This award gives us a chance to honor an outstanding woman in the community whether it be volunteer or philanthropic. It just fits so nicely with our philosophy and mission.”

According to its literature, VOICe “is a system change organization that provides free and confidential services to individuals and families who are victims of violent crime. VOICe works within the community to provide survivors with the resources, tools, and options that allow them to assert their personal power and self determination skills.”

However, the nominees for the award do not have to be active in the area of domestic violence.

In addition to her career and raising four children, Shaffer is involved at her church as a CCD teacher, lay minister, lector, and fundraiser. She also is involved with youth sports.

Receiving the award, she thanked her husband, Phillip Shaffer, who not only has supported her career but also nominated her for the award.

“Without my husband, I never would have had the opportunities I’ve had,” she said.

Other nominees were:

• Former Butler County Commissioner Joan Chew. Chew has been active in issues relating to education, politics and community betterment.

She supports numerous organizations, including the Butler Public Library, BC3 and Slippery Rock University. She serves on numerous boards and campaigns, including the Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Addiction Center, the BC3 trustees, Community Center for Resources (CCR), the American Cancer Society, and the Save the Hospital Campaign.

• Marsha Wagner is the prevention, education and outreach coordinator for CCR. She also has worked with the YMCA and Irene Stacy. She’s involved with the Suicide Task Force of Butler County, does mental health first aid trainings, and is a comprehensive crisis management trainer.

• Cecelia “Cece” Foster is the executive director of the Community Health Clinic of Butler County.

Foster has been working/volunteering for nonprofits in the county for more than 30 years, beginning with ARC, Irene Stacy, The Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Center, and the Lighthouse.

Now she leads the health clinic and is on the county Chamber of Commerce board, the Butler County Healthcare Consortium and the Butler County Suicide Task Force.

• Retired teacher Mary Jo Grinder is a member of her church’s pastoral council, lector, and altar sacristan and she volunteers with Connecting2Tomorrow.

She is the producer/director of the Butler County Distinguished Young Women. She a member of the Butler chapter of Soroptimist International.

Margaret Irvine Weir, former president of NexTier Bank, was the keynote speaker at the event, which was attended by about 40 people.