Women Making History 2019 Honorees

M E R C Y CENTER FOR WOME N PR E S E N TS

WOMEN MAKING HISTORY •

2019 HONOREES

Julie Chacona nominated by Jessica Gray ♦ Director of Development at Edinboro University ♦ Serves on Erie Philharmonic Board of Directors, is active in other arts agencies ♦ Active member of Athena

Nichole Schreiber nominated by Erica Jackson ♦ Lead Pastor of Erie First Assembly of God

♦ Credentialed Minister and first

woman to be lead pastor in the history of Erie First

♦ Volunteers at her daughters’ schools, the Erie City Mission, Convoy of Hope, and other local outreaches

Nicole Reitzell nominated by John Persinger ♦ Vice President for Community Engagement, Erie Downtown Development Corporation

♦ Oversees programming activities such as the Flagship City Book Fest, Holiday Village and

is taking the lead on coordinating a public art program.

♦ Serves as ‘the voice for women’ in discussions about downtown security, and is working on an initiative that will help struggling individuals find a pathway to self-sufficiency

Heidi Parr Kerner nominated by Linda Laird Staszewski ♦ Self-employed, founded Coffee Club Divas (women empowerment/growth) and Heidi

Inspired, a new radio show emphasizing women’s empowerment

♦ Licensed psychoanalyst, group facilitator and marketing consultant

♦ Positively changed the lives of hundreds of women

Nancy Morris nominated by Almi Clerkin ♦ Instructor at Gannon University developing future educators

♦ Developed Integrated Crayons for Adaptive Needs (I-CAN), a crossdisciplinary community effort to recycle used crayons into usable

crayons for preschoolers at the Barber International Institute

♦ Board member of The ARC of Erie County

♦ Active in Erie CAPT Task force, a child abuse prevention group

Nancy Marchini nominated by Laura Lewis ♦ Retired nurse

♦ Volunteer receptionist and honorary grandma at Mercy Center for Women for more than 18 years

♦ Member of the Mercy Center Board of Trustees ♦ Also volunteers for her church and other agencies

Renea Kovski nominated by Amanda Post ♦ CEO of New Blossoms New Life Foundation ♦ She experienced major fertility

problems, finally conceiving their

daughter Maggie by IVF. Tragically

Maggie drowned in a friend’s pond at age 2.

♦ Created New Blossoms New Life in Maggie’s memory, to date more than 80 couples have been assisted by

NBNL grants and emotional support, with 58 babies born so far.

Sr. Phyllis McCracken SSJ nominated by Sr. Mary Herrmann SSJ ♦ President and CEO of Saint Mary’s Home of Erie ♦ Sister of Saint Joseph

♦ BS in Nursing, MS in Nursing Administration

Phyllis DiNicola nominated by Mercy Center for Women Program Staff ♦ Teacher Facilitator for Gaudenzia for past 20 years

♦ Retired Case Manager/Advocate for Mercy Center for Women for past 20 years

♦ Has helped hundreds of women and their

children achieve good health and self-sufficiency

Amanda Burlingham nominated by Tracy Dailey ♦ Public Relations Consultant/Freelance Writer ♦ Supportive & active volunteer of the Erie School District

♦ Founded and manages Erie City Moms ♦ Volunteers for Emma’s Footprints helping women with pregnancy or early infancy loss

♦ Fostered then adopted two teenage girls ♦ Small business owner, long career in business and non-profit world

Malinda Bostick nominated by Fr. John Jacquel & Sr. Michele Schroeck RSM ♦ Retired Erie School District principal ♦ Very active volunteer at Holy Rosary including child care for the Listening

Hearts program for women coming out of prison

♦ Teaches Religious Education to 9th and 10th graders ♦ Serves on the House of Mercy Advisory Board and the Eastside Grassroots Coalition

♦ Benedictine Oblate

Mary Jo Anderlonis-Fulton nominated by Sherry Maxwell ♦ Retired nurse

♦ Serves on the Board of Directors of the Community Blood Bank and St. Paul’s Neighborhood Clinic

♦ Serves on the Parish Council and Finance Committee at her church

♦ Volunteers for Connecting Hands

Linda Althof nominated by Pat Tracy

♦ Special Education Assistant in Autistic classroom Belle Valley Elementary School

♦ Runs the Gliding Stars ice skating program for children & adults with disabilities

♦ Very active member of First

Presbyterian Church of the Covenant including ushering & volunteering at Sunday Supper for the homeless

♦ Volunteers at Our Neighbors’ Place overflow shelter