Eileen Frank learned several weeks ago that she was being honored at this year’s Benedum Fellows Banquet.

 

That event takes place tonight at Bridgeport Conference Center and Frank said she is pleased and excited to be recognized for her work with the Benedum Festival.

 

“I’m able to reach a lot of people in the community – people of different backgrounds and different faiths,” she said. “This is a community-sponsored event and that’s what I enjoy doing.”

 

Frank and her husband Artie relocated from Long Island, NY 20 years ago – just about the same time that the city’s annual Benedum Festival was founded.

 

Having a background in ballroom dance, the couple began teaching classes at the Benedum Civic Center and was soon approached by the festival committee. The original inquiry, Frank said, was for the couple to organize a dance for the festival. That idea never really took off, but Frank soon found her niche in her new city’s signature festival.

 

“They needed someone to do publicity so I started writing their press releases,” she said. “At that time, emails were just becoming popular, so I would drive from the Times West Virginian to the Exponent Telegram to the Shinnston News – telling them what I wanted to put in the newspaper.”

 

As the years went on, Frank served as secretary/treasurer and she continues to serve in the latter capacity. She also does a variety of other duties associated with the festival. Today, she is at Bridgeport City Park helping to organize vendors for this weekend’s festival.

 

Festival co-founder and committee member Ruth Allen said Frank is well deserving of special recognition for her time and dedication to the festival.

 

“Eileen has been with our festival from the very early days and she – and well as her husband – has helped a lot at the beginning and through the years,” she said. “Anybody who has devoted that much time over the course of20 years is certainly deserving of recognition.”

 

Allen points out that Frank, as well as Judi Giffen – also being honored tonight for her years of service – work entirely on a volunteer basis. All committee members of the Benedum Festival do the same, she said.

 

“These people deserve a little bit of recognition,” Allen said.

 

Eileen Frank is a substitute teacher in Harrison and Taylor counties. Artie Frank is retired from Aurora Flight Services. He was actually transferred to Bridgeport through his work, which was then with Northrop Grumman.

 

The couple has taught beginning, intermediate and advanced ballroom dancing over their course of 20 years of residency in the city.

Countless individuals have been introduced to the world of ballroom dance through that instruction.

 

“People from Bridgeport – as well as Fairmont, Philippi and other surrounding areas - come up to us all the time who say they took lessons from us 10 or 15 years ago,” Frank said.

 

The Franks are also involved in work with the All Saints Catholic Church Parish, Grafton Historical Train Club and various other community organizations. Eileen Frank said her recognition is to be shared with her husband.

 

“He’s always there to back me up,” she said. 

 

Giffen and Frank will receives plaques of appreciation at tonight's dinner. The guest of honor is 2014 Benedum Fellow LuAnne Bush. 

 

Editor's Note: Pictured are Eileen and Artie Frank. Look for photos and coverage of the 2014 Benedum Fellows Banquet to be posted to Connect-Bridgeport this evening.