Howard Center friends and staff gathered November 2 at the Pizzagalli Center at the Shelburne Museum to present the organization’s first “Help is Here” award to Shelburne resident Lisa Steele. The award honors an individual whose contribution personifies the agency’s mission and demonstrates a passion for helping the individuals and families served by Howard Center. In accepting the award, Steele said, “I am deeply touched and grateful for this recognition. For 150 years, Howard Center and its staff have played a vital role in our community. They change and save people’s lives by helping them regain their dignity, hope, and independence. I am truly honored to be a supporter of their work.”
Former Governor Madeleine Kunin joined Gretchen Morse, former United Way executive director, and Catherine Simonson, Howard Center chief of client services, to present the award. In presenting the award, Simonson said, “Lisa has been a long-time friend of Howard Center, and we appreciate her support of our programs that provide much needed services to Vermonters. We are grateful to be able to present our first Help is Here Award to an individual who has contributed so much to Howard Center and to our community.”
Steele, the president of Main Street Landing, also serves as chair of the board of Shelburne Farms. She works with a variety of non-profit organizations, and her background reflects her strong interest in education, farming, environmental preservation, and sustainable development. Her philanthropy reflects her commitment and passion for helping people by supporting sustainable and innovative programs. Such programs include health and human service initiatives that assist individuals and families in accessing needed services, empowering them to live the lives they choose.
The awards event, hosted by Howard Center Board President, Gail Stevenson, also included a timeline highlighting Howard Center’s 150-year history within the Burlington community and introduced the Purple Legacy Society. The Society, named after John Purple Howard and his sister Louisa Howard, honors those who care deeply about the people served by Howard Center and want to make gifts of lasting value through bequests and other planned gifts.