September 10, 2008, LORAIN, OHIO – Seven local women have been selected as the first recipients of the Women of Compassion Awards, a joint effort by The Community Foundation of Lorain County and Lorain County Community College to celebrate women and the behind-the-scenes work that they do to make a difference.  Thirty-four nominations solicited through a community-input process were reviewed by a volunteer committee that selected the following recipients:

              
   Denice Anderson     Sister Mary Berigan         Lori Campana            Tracy Isenberg

     
   Pastor Tina Kayatin               Dawn Prokop                 Alicia Phillips
                                                                                         Rising Star Award

Denice Anderson – Denice is a registered nurse at Fresenius Medical Center which specializes in dialysis services.  Denice was nominated by many co-workers and patients for providing a light-hearted touch with jokes and smiles while at work, and for assisting patients outside of work with rides to physicians’ appointments, providing meals to frail, elderly neighbors and volunteering for the Lorain County Free Clinic.

Sister Mary Berigan – Sister Mary is truly a beacon of safety for children.  She is the founder and Director of Blessing House, a children’s crisis care center, volunteers with the Voices for Children program, and is involved with Catholic elementary schools.  Sister Mary works long, tireless hours to help parents find food, transportation and shelter so that their children can remain in a safe, loving environment.

Lori Campana – Lori is the woman behind the Soul to Sole program.  A devoted mother to two daughters, Lori helps less fortunate children fit in by outfitting them with stylish Starbury shoes.  Last year, Soul to Sole put shoes on 6,000 feet belonging to 3,000 local Boys and Girls Club members.  Lori has also volunteered for St. Joseph’s Hospital, St. Peter’s Church, and Lorain and Elyria Catholic High Schools.

Tracy Isenberg – Tracy is a loving mom who goes above and beyond to help the children of Irving Elementary in Lorain.  Tracy has raised money to buy school supplies, arranges for a Santa Shoppe that allows all students to purchase holiday gifts, and even raised funds to purchase a washer and dryer for the school so that she personally could wash dirty coats while the children attend class.

Pastor Tina Kayatin – Pastor Tina founded the Joshua Kids program in 1992 to help at-risk children ages five through twelve who reside in low-income areas.  The program helps children with issues like peer pressure and decision-making while providing a safe and loving environment.  The Kids program eventually grew into a Joshua Teens program which addresses drug/alcohol abuse and teen pregnancy.  Pastor Tina is also an advocate for children placed in foster care and is a founder of an orphanage in Haiti.

Dawn Prokop – Dawn has changed lives through her work with the Wesleyan Senior Living ministry to older adults.  Dawn brought the Second Wind Dreams project to the center, which helps improve quality of life by helping seniors achieve their lifelong dreams.  Dawn’s efforts, even dancing the hokey-pokey with a wheelchair bound resident, helps these seniors stay young and active.  Dawn is also active in her church, Church of the Redeemer, where she has served on many committees.

Alicia Phillips – Alicia was selected as the Rising Star recipient, a young woman under the age of twenty-five working to make a difference.  Alicia is a recent graduate of Open Door Christian School where she volunteered to tutor students after school, served as a bell-ringer for the Salvation Army, organized blood drives and served as Key Club President.  Alicia even traveled to Louisiana to assist in rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Katrina.  Alicia is currently a student at Lorain County Community College.

The recipients will be recognized at a gala luncheon to be held on Thursday, October 16, from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM at the Spitzer Conference Center on the campus of Lorain County Community College.  Brooke Taylor, morning-drive host on the FISH 95.5 FM will serve as emcee, and sponsors include KeyBank, Lorain County JVS, Nordson Corporation, and Vandemark Jewelers. Tickets are $35 apiece or $250 for a table of 8 and may be purchased online at http://www.peoplewhocare.org or by calling 440.277.0142 or 440.323.4445.  Proceeds will benefit The Community Foundation’s Women’s Fund and the Women’s Link program at LCCC.