Betty Waddy, President of the Progressive Women’s Association has announced that Rhonda Holyfield-Mangieri will be delivering the Keynote Address at the Women of Distinction Luncheon to be held Friday, Feb. 23 at noon.

 

The luncheon will be honoring 10 African American women from the area who have excelled in volunteer service to our community. This event is held in connection with Black Heritage Month, which is observed in February and is sponsored by Davis Funeral Home.

 

Mangieri is a former Clarksburg resident who attended Washington Irving High School and graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College. She is the daughter of the late Rev. Paul and Mavis Holyfield.

 

Recently, she was awarded the AARP’s 2021 Ohio Andrus Award for Community Service, which only enforces her presence at this event. She will deliver a message emphasizing the importance of volunteerism in the community. As has been said she not only “talks the talk but she has walked the walk.”

 

She has supported many non-profit organizations and has given her time and expertise to many groups. For over 20 years she has volunteered at the Ronald Mc Donald House and has largely been involved with the homeless population. She created the Rev. Paul Maurice Holyfield Endowed Scholarship in honor of her father. She credits her father for inspiring her in her endeavors and the chosen path of her life.

 

She will be announcing her plans to sponsor a special event honoring the Young Progressive Women’s Association to be held in April.

 

This event is open to the public. For reservations and info contact Elinda Carson at 304-624-6881.

 

And on a side note:  Plans have been completed by the PWA for the American Sign Language Classes. The instructor will be Janel St. Martin. The classes will start on Friday Feb. 9 and will continue for an eight-week period.

 

They will start at 3:30 p.m. with a snack and continue for one hour of instructions. The classes are free and are open to children from 10 to 17 years of age. All classes will be held at the Uptown Event Center in Clarksburg. This event is sponsored by the Sacred Heart Grant Program. To enroll or for information call 304-624-6881. This is a community service of the Progressive Women’s Association.

 

Get involved, stay healthy and until next week “Now You Have Heard It Through The Grapevine.”