Women's Leadership Council celebrates three awardees
CRANBERRY TWP — Three women were honored Thursday evening during the United Way's Women's Leadership Council (WLC) spring mixer.
The mixer, which included both WLC and prospective members, aimed to celebrate Butler County business women.
“Time, talent and treasure,” said Amy Franz, Butler region director for United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania. “The idea is that women can support where they work, support where they live.”
“(We're) a different kind of support group than you find in mixed company,” said Wendy Sciullo, who co-chaired the event with Debbie Hopper. “I think it's especially important for women to know there's other women out there like them.”
This year's WLC honorees were U.S. District Court Judge Marilyn Horan, UPMC Passavant President Susan Hoolahan and Jean B. Purvis Community Health Center of Butler County founder Jean Purvis.
Franz said all three women have given their time to promoting the health and well-being of Butler County residents.
“It's quite coincidental,” Franz said. “And providential.”
Without referencing the coronavirus, she told visitors Thursday night the mixer might be the biggest group gathering anyone will have for some time.
The Jean B. Purvis Community Health Center is affiliated with the national organization Volunteers in Medicine. Purvis said she started the clinic after seeing how much another one helped people who didn't have health coverage.
Purvis, who is a doctor's widow, said there was a time when health insurance didn't exist. Doctors covered costs associated with given care themselves.“And then health insurance came in,” Purvis said. “And there was a bunch of people left out.”Since 2008, the Purvis clinic has helped about 10,000 people and given out millions of dollars in prescriptions. Clinic representative Linda Thoma said the clinic gave out $210,000 in free prescriptions in 2019.Hoolahan said her work began with her nursing. As she rose through the ranks of medicine, she said she learned the importance of having a community and supporting those in it.“Everyone is equal,” Hoolahan said. “And everybody should be valued.”“It's important to show you can do good for the community,” Hopper said.For Purvis, volunteering isn't just about helping people: It's also about working with others.“That has been one of the nicest things about volunteering,” Purvis said. “You do meet great people.”“Take time to share your stories,” Horan said. “You never know where the steps you take today will lead you tomorrow.”
