The Pallottine Foundation of Huntington’s grant and community partners gathered Dec. 5, 2024, for A Celebration of Service at Marshall Health Network Arena in Huntington to honor their collective impact on health in the Tri-State community and recognize the Foundation’s first five years of grantmaking.
The event provided an opportunity for guests to meet and hear from the Pallottine Missionary Sisters whose decades of service to the community allow the Foundation to continue their ministry of caring.
Sister Danuta Przybylek, chairperson of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees and Provincial of the Pallottine Missionary Sisters, reflected on the Sisters’ legacy and shared words of support for the Foundation’s partners.
“We Sisters are honored to be part of this work of healing and hope for generations to come. We want to celebrate with you to see how your work makes our community a better place to live. We want to share with you the most precious treasure we have — faith in God’s love that wants to use our hearts and hands to touch people’s lives, make them smile, and rediscover hope. We wish you to be instruments of mercy because those caring for the needy do divine work, no less than that.”
During the program, a partner from each of the 20 counties the Foundation serves shared what they love most about their community. Each representative then placed a wooden puzzle piece in the shape of their county onto a service-area map handcrafted by Bear Wood Company in Hurricane.
Two videos highlighted several Foundation partners that are taking steps to improve health in their communities.
The first featured three organizations doing innovative work to increase access to healthy foods in the Fairfield Neighborhood of Huntington. Together, they demonstrate the magic of collaborative efforts that are deeply rooted in community.
The second video featured a cohort of four youth prevention groups from throughout the Tri-State region that began meeting with the Foundation’s program team in 2023 to learn from one another, share ideas, and discover opportunities to partner. Footage includes a gathering of the group’s youth participants in October 2024 for a day of fun and community at Carter Caves State Resort Park.
The Celebration of Service event concluded with a beautiful video message of prayer and blessing from the Pallottine Missionary Sisters — written and read by Sister Joanne Obrochta. Each attendee received a wooden plaque engraved with Sister Joanne’s words.
The Pallottine Foundation team would like to thank the Pallottine Missionary Sisters, the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, volunteers from Huntington Addiction Wellness Center, and the many local businesses that helped make the event a success.
