(PHOTO SUPPLIED)
CHICAGO HEIGHTS–(ENEWSPF)–September 4, 2014. Peg Donohue, a member of the Prairie State College Board of Trustees, recently was named the 2014 Abby Woman of the Year by the Abby Foundation. She received her award during the recent Women Together award luncheon.
Donohue was nominated by Diane Bedrosian of the South Suburban Family Shelter and Judy Pedgrift, an Abby Foundation member.
“Peg is the gift that keeps on giving to the South Suburbs,” Bedrosian and Pegrift said in their nomination. “She has been unique in combining her professional education administration career, community activism, and elected offices, and using them to be a role model and tireless advocate for women.”
“The history of the Abby Foundation lists Peg’s name as instrumental in its beginnings, and her story of continued leadership, activism, and concern for the community should be rewarded with its singular honor,” Bedrosian and Pedgrift concluded.
In addition to serving on the PSC Board of Trustees, Donohue has been involved with many southwest suburbs organizations. She has worked with the Community Children’s Theater in Park Forest, the South Suburban Council on Aging in Harvey, the South Suburban Family Shelter, the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra Board, the Tallgrass Arts Association, and the Park Forest Library Board.
Donohue also worked full time at Governors State University, coordinating their off-campus programs. She is credited with starting, organizing and then serving as executive director for the South Metropolitan Higher Education Consortium that comprises representatives from 10 colleges and universities that meet regularly to collaborate on mutual issues.
The Woman of the Year award recognizes successful women whose presence and efforts have made a difference towards enhancing the role of women and benefitting children in the south and southwest suburbs. Women from the area are nominated for the award by having an individual or group submit a one page nomination letter. After board review, the winner is selected and announced at that year’s luncheon.
Since the award was established in 1988, women have been honored for their outstanding volunteer work at churches, schools, local, state and national nonprofit organizations that help women and children, hospital, hospice and other health organizations, schools and other educational boards, as well as local established clubs and organizations whose work and service in the South Suburbs benefit women and children.
PSC President Dr. Terri Winfree applauded Donohue’s selection.
“Peg Donohue is so deserving of this prestigious honor,” she said. “We are so proud of her and all of her contributions to the region, and are pleased that she is serving as an important part of our institution.”
Source: prairiestate.edu
