Posted 11:36 am Thursday, September 15, 2011
Speaker Calls Gertrude Windsor ‘Street Saint' At PATH Week Dinner
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By REBECCA HOEFFNER
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
Gertrude Windsor was a "street saint," keynote speaker Barbara Elliott said at the annual People Attempting to Help's PATH Week Dinner.
"Gertrude Windsor said, 'When I help people, I feel it's love and not charity,'" Mrs. Elliott said. "I love that."
Mrs. Elliott is the author of the book "Street Saints" and has studied the success of faith-based nonprofits for more than 14 years.
The dinner was part of the organization's weeklong celebration of the three women of the Windsor family who founded PATH: Mrs. Windsor, her daughter Gertrude Ann Windsor Richardson and her granddaughter Gertrude "Trudy" Richardson.
"The Windsor women were women of faith, vision and commitment to helping others," executive director Christina Fulsom said.
Two annual awards were given out at the dinner: the Stone Soup award and the Gertrude Windsor award.
The Stone Soup award was given to a longtime volunteer -- Ovada Horne -- who is known for giving in-kind gifts to every one of PATH's drives.
"I'd like to thank everyone who's provided as much as I have and more," she said as she accepted her award. "If you ever want to volunteer, I know a great place."
The winner of the Gertrude Windsor award was C.C. Baker, who has volunteered as fundraiser and board member with the organization since its foundation 26 years ago.
"Nothing means more to me than the work of PATH," he said. "It's so symbolic of a great community."
To serve more than 26,000 in need, it takes more than 400 volunteers, Mrs. Fulsom said.
The Faith in Our Future campaign was announced a year ago at the last PATH dinner. The goal was to raise $1 million for an emergency fund that PATH could dip into in the case of an influx of need. More than $500,000 has been raised a year later, Baker announced.
As a stark contrast against the glittering room, the meal was simple rice, beans and cornbread.
"Some of you are looking at your plate, saying, 'Where's the meat?'" Mrs. Fulsom explained. "So many of the families we serve live on beans and rice."
The organization saved $2,000 by providing the simple meal -- that's emergency services for 156 people or coats for 335 children.
The audience cheered at that announcement.
