Tammy Elder, of Butler, has been selected as the Butler area's 2019 annual Steel Magnolia Award honoree, the Middletown Community Foundation announced.

The award honors women who have overcome obstacles to positively affect the community. The program is administered by the Middletown Community Foundation and funded by the AK Steel Foundation.

Nominated by her son, Brandon Russell, Elder lost her husband to cancer in 2006. She was left to raise her son alone and worked full time. Since that time, she also returned to school and received her master's degree in science, majoring in psychology with a specialization in drug addiction.

According to Russell, Elder wrote a book titled “Together We Can Make a Difference.”

“It's about overcoming addiction from my perspective as a therapist,” said Elder, who works as an independent living coordinator for JusticeWorks Youth Care in Butler, increasing the skills of young adults to be able to live on their own.

She also participates in “Riding for the Cure” to help raise money for local cancer patients.

Elder will receive $2,500 from the AK Steel Foundation for her charity of choice, “Riding for the Cure.”

Speaking of her award, Elder said, “I am honored. I am truly honored. It wasn't expected.”

Regarding the time she was working and going to school, she said, “I didn't think they were obstacles at the time when you are going through them.

“No one expects to be a widow at 37. I was just trying to set a good example for my family,” she said.

She said she takes part in “Riding for the Cure” in honor of her late husband, John, who died after a three-year battle with acute lymphocytic leukemia.

“The AK Steel Foundation is proud to sponsor the Steel Magnolia Awards to honor women who have overcome adversity and serve as shining examples to others giving back to the community,” said Roger K. Newport, chief executive officer of AK Steel.

Elder doesn't feel that she's done giving back.

“My goal is to open my own drug and alcohol facility. That's my goal. That's my dream,” she said.

Traci Barnett, Middletown Community Foundation's executive director, notes that judges traditionally have a difficult decision in selecting recipients.

“As happens each year, our independent judges review public nominations of many outstanding women who have overcome adversity and have contributed immensely to their communities,” she said. “Each nominee is very deserving of recognition.”

The Steel Magnolia Award honors women of all ages who face personal adversity and have shown exceptional strength, courage, compassion and leadership through their work in support of their communities. Nominations by essay were solicited from the public in each of the 13 communities where AK Steel operates a facility. Nominees were required to live near an AK Steel facility.

Nominators and nominees did not have to be associated in any way with employees of AK Steel.

Nomination forms for the 2020 Steel Magnolia Awards will be available in summer 2020.