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Bob and Susan Gadomski, Olympus Corporation of the America’s Inc, and The Knit Wits to be honored at annual fundraising event.
Bethlehem, PA, September 26, 2019 – Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley (MOWGLV) announced today the awardees to be honored at the organization’s 19th annual fundraising event, the Bountiful Bowl. The event will take place at DeSales University on November 8, 2019 at 6pm.
Bob and Susan Gadomski will be awarded with the 5th annual Bob Wood Legacy Award. The awardee is an individual or family that demonstrates vision and serves as a catalyst to create Valley-wide systemic change around a particular community issue. By focusing on the root causes of problems and involving numerous organizations and systems, they improve the quality of non-profit services to people in need. The Bob Wood awardee has strengthened MOWGLV’s services as part of their broader work on pressing issues. Bob and Susan Gadomski, have been long-time supporters of MOWGLV as well as numerous other organizations through out the community. The couple played an instrumental role in the merger of Meals on Wheels of Northampton County and Meals on Wheels of Lehigh County in 2018, and their continued support has aided in the growth of MOWGLV.
Olympus Corporation of the Americas (OCA) is being awarded with the inaugural Corporate Partner Award. This award was created to recognize a company who has supported MOWGLV over an extended period of time, not only through monetary donations, but through volunteerism and other altruistic acts. The Corporate Partner Awardee works to promote social reform and takes actions to improve the well-being of human kind.
The Knit Wits are being awarded with the first Volunteer Award which highlights an individual volunteer or volunteer group that encompasses generosity in all forms and who takes actions to improve the well-being of human kind. The Volunteer Awardee has dedicated a significate amount of time to MOWGLV and through selfless acts have helped to improve the welfare of MOWGLV clients.
Mission of Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley
The mission of Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley is to provide homebound seniors and adults with disabilities with freshly prepared nutritious meals, wellness checks and social visits so they can eat well, stay socially connected and remain living independently for as long as they can. https://mowglv.org/about-us/
Susan and Bob Gadomski have lived in the Lehigh Valley since 1970 and have raised three children here.
Bob was a top executive at Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., retiring as Executive Vice-President in 2004 after 34 years of service. In 2007-2009, Bob was Chairman and CEO of Taylor Wharton International, LLC. Bob has served on numerous boards of directors including Quality Distribution Inc., Reeb Millwork, Taylor Wharton International, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, Historic Bethlehem Partnership, Dean’s Advisory Counsel for the Krannert School of Business at Purdue University, Minsi Trails Council Boy Scouts of America, Saucon Valley Country Club, St. Luke’s Health System, Lafayette Ambassador Bank, Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Health Network, Leader Lehigh Valley, and the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation. Bob currently serves on the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley’s endowment fund raising committee.
Susan was a highly regarded educator and speech pathologist in Indiana, Illinois, New York and Pennsylvania. Susan has served as a volunteer and officer at the Allentown Art Museum’s Society of the Arts and Keneseth Israel’s Temple Sisterhood for many years. She has volunteered at numerous charities including the Ecumenical Food Bank, Lehigh Valley Cancer Support Group, United Way, Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley, and the St Luke’s Annual Ball Committee. Susan has served on the Dean’s Advisory Committee at Lehigh University School of Education, the Board of Trustees for Keneseth Israel Temple, and Board President of the Repertory Dance Theatre. She is a current executive board member of the Allentown Art Museum and recently began a term on the Dean’s Advisory Board for the School of Health and Human Services at Purdue University.
Bob and Sue have been recognized for their service and philanthropy by the Historic Bethlehem Partnership, Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Health Network, the St Luke’s Annual Ball, the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Purdue University, and the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the Association of Fund Raising Professionals.
Olympus Corporation of the Americas’ “True to Community” volunteer program offers all OCA employees paid time off each fiscal year to volunteer throughout the community. With a team of 40 employees, OCA have dedicated over 6 years of volunteer service to MOWGLV by delivering meals twice a week to home-bound individuals. MOWGLV is proud to acknowledge Olympus as they celebrate 100 years of making people’s lives healthier, safer, and more fulfilling around the world.
Formed in 2013, the Knit Wits, a group of eight women, joined together because they wanted to provide more than just a meal to MOWGLV clients. These women decided to knit useful, hand-made items to be given to clients during the holidays, for birthdays, or as a welcome gift. Over the past seven years, the Knit Wits have donated over 4,200 hand-made items to MOWGLV clients.
Information Provided By:
Keri Young
Communications Specialist
Meals On Wheels of The Greater Lehigh Valley
4240 Fritch Drive, Bethlehem PA 18020
www.mowglv.org
