Since 1947, Junior League of Stark County has been shining a spotlight on women in our community – the difference makers, leaders and heroes – who have shared their time, talent and resources to help the underserved, improve our communities and inspire other women to achieve their greatest potential.
Each year, award recipients are chosen by a panel of community leaders and past award recipients. This year’s winners will join an elite group of women who have made a lasting impact on our community.
Please join us in congratulating Lorraine Murphy, Junior League Woman of the Year Community Award winner, for her unique and lasting volunteer contributions in many parts of the greater Stark County community. And, Judy Provo as our Junior League Woman of the Year President’s Award winner for her significant volunteer contributions in one area of the greater Stark County community.
Considering the uncertainty regarding the COVID-19 virus and social distancing orders for large gatherings that are in place, the 73rd annual Women of the Year luncheon initially scheduled for Thursday, May 14, 2020 has been rescheduled for Thursday, October 8, 2020. The luncheon will take place at the Historic Onesto Event Center with doors opening at 11:00 am and the program starting at 11:30 am. The cost for the luncheon will be $38.00/person.
Ticket information will be mailed and posted on-line in August.
If social distancing orders are still in place during the month of October, we will honor our 2019 Women of the Year and 2020 Women of the Year honorees at a luncheon in May 2021. Questions regarding the event can be directed to Women of the Year chairperson, Faith Barbato, at [email protected] or 330.312.1693.
Lorraine Murphy
Community Award Winner
Lifting spirits and impacting the lives of others with dignity, kindness and respect. That is the recurring theme in the life of Lorraine Murphy.
Lorraine Murphy has and continues to volunteer and make significant contributions within the Stark County Medical Society Auxiliary (SCMSA), Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) of Northern Ohio and Christ Presbyterian Church. She has volunteered extensively with PAL Mission and Canton Country Day School for many years as well. “From the
16 year foster child transitioning to adulthood, to the homeless and underserved of Canton, to the people diagnosed with cancer, she does it all with true passion and kindness,” according to Carol Bonavita, past President of the SCMSA. Lorraine’s support of many peoples’ emotional, social and spiritual needs across a broad spectrum is why she is being recognized as the 2019 Community Award winner.
Lorraine has been an active member of the SCMSA for the past 30 years, holding multiple leadership positions within the organization, including President (1999-2000). In 1999 and 2000, Lorraine was instrumental in establishing the SCMSA as a 501.c3 organization to create a Charitable Fund in order to better serve the community. Most recently, Lorraine organized and directed a free Health Fair to help the underserved in our community by providing a forum where they could ask questions of medical professionals in a relaxed and non-threatening setting. The forum has been
held each year since 2017.
PAL Mission was a residential program that aided young women as they prepared themselves from emancipation from foster care. Lorraine volunteered for several years by teaching the segment on nutrition and healthy eating skills. Her contribution and volunteerism at Canton County Day School from 1996 – 2006 included being on the Executive Board
for 6 years, 3 years as Board Chair and chairperson of their major fundraiser multiple times. Lorraine also volunteers and is on the Executive Leadership Committee of LLS of Northern Ohio. This is a personal cause for her since her son, Ian, was diagnosed, treated and currently is in remission from cancer. Following his treatment, Lorraine actively sought
out LLS to explore how she could help others facing cancers. She has raised money, mobilized resources, and continues her involvement in any way she can to advocate the mission of the LLS. Lorraine is currently the coordinator of the food, clothing and prayer ministry at Christ Presbyterian Church in downtown Canton. Through her leadership and involvement since 2012, the church has transformed their ministry from a more rigid give-away program into a multi-service distribution with fellowship.
Thank you, Lorraine, for your leadership and commitment to being meaningfully engaged in multiple organizations in our community and for your empathy and compassion that comforts always and empowers many.
Lorraine was nominated by Carol Bonavita and Carman D’Agostino of the Stark County Medical Society Auxiliary.
Judy Provo
President’s Award Winner
Judy Provo has devoted her talents, enthusiasm and calm leadership to numerus organizations in Stark County such as Girl Scouts, the Jewish Center, Junior League, United Way, the Canton Art Institute, Canton City Schools and the YMCA just to name a few. It is her steadfast devotion to the Aultman Women’s Board and the Compassionate Care Center, where patients receive end-of-life care and their families are comforted in their most trying times, that Judy Provo is being recognized as the 2019 President’s Award winner.
Judy has been an active member of the Aultman Women’s Board since 1979, serving on numerous committees during that time. Currently, Judy is serving with her husband, Frank, as Honorary Co-Chairs of the Timken Family Cancer Center Campaign Cabinet. The Provo’s are instrumental in helping the campaign reach the $28 million goal to build the comprehensive center that will transform cancer care for Stark County.
Since the Compassionate Care Center opened in 2011, Judy was inspired to do more than just helping to raise funds for the Center. She began preparing food and baked goods to take to the Center to share with community members coping with the loss of a loved one. For the past five years, Judy has been volunteering at the Center several days a week, serving the families, guests and staff. She oversees the open family kitchen where hot soups, fresh snacks and baked goods provide nourishment in a warm atmosphere while allowing anxious family members to relax and feel
comforted during their grief. Judy also organizes traditional holiday meals during Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas morning for families whose loved ones are receiving care in the Center before celebrating the holidays with her own family.
In the words of St. Francis of Assis, you “Start by doing what is necessary; then, you do what is possible; and, suddenly, you are doing the impossible.”
Thank you, Judy, for doing what is necessary in order to achieve the
impossible for our community members when they are facing their most challenging circumstances imaginable with so much compassion and kindness.
Judy was nominated by Lori Martino, President of The Women’s Board of Aultman Hospital.