Cluster Community Award
Valerie Arkoosh, MD, MPH
Chair, Montgomery County Board of Commissioners

As Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, Dr. Valerie Arkoosh is dedicated to creating vibrant, sustainable, connected communities in Montgomery County, her long-time home. 

Val is bringing innovative reforms to county government. She is improving services for children, Veterans, and seniors while ensuring an effective, transparent, and fiscally responsible government.  She has led the efforts to eliminate street homelessness of veterans, streamline delivery of human services, increase repairs for county roads and bridges, and open 10 new miles of trails across the county.  

Val serves as the first female Chair in the County Board’s history and is currently one of the highest-ranking female elected officials in Pennsylvania. 

Val chose to step up and serve in her first elected position because she believes that a healthy community is one where we all do better — where good jobs, healthy neighborhoods, and first-rate schools are available to everyone.

Cluster Community Award
Kenneth Lawrence, Jr.
Vice Chair, Montgomery County Board of Commissioners

Ken Lawrence was appointed to the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners in January 2017.

His career, which began at the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce as a Public Policy Representative performing policy development and analysis, grassroots outreach and lobbying on regional business issues, has been diverse, expansive, and challenging.  Following his experience at the Chamber of Commerce, Ken moved on to Merck & Company where he handled public relations, product support, community relations, corporate contributions, crisis communications, issues management, government relations and media relations.

Building a career can give a person tunnel vision, where nothing else matters.  Not with Ken.  He has always been involved in the community.  Currently, he is on the boards of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Independence Region; James A. Finnegan Foundation; and, the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation.  In case you were wondering about his commitment to these boards, Ken wasn’t just on the board of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, he WAS a big brother.​

This body of work and commitment to improving his community has not gone unnoticed.  Ken has been the recipient of several major awards including the 2016 Philadelphia Tribune: Most Influential African Americans, the 2005 Philadelphia Business Journal: 40 Under Forty Award, and the 1999 Big Brother of the Year (North Central Philadelphia).

Helping Hands with Heart Award
Barbara Cooper
Volunteer, Community Meals

Barbara is proud to be the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities' Community Meals Program Coordinator for Trinity Reformed United Church of Christ for the past 14 years. Every Tuesday morning, Barbara and her husband pick up the bread and baked goods donation from Wegmans that will be offered to those who attend the dinner meal every Tuesday at 5:00 pm.

Barbara loves seeing Trinity's guests every Tuesday, and is honored when someone wants to share a life event with her. She recalls that someone once suggested she should keep a notebook about her volunteer work at the Tuesday Community Meal as it would be very moving to look back at the lives she touched over the past 14 years.

Barbara also volunteers with Colebrookdale Railroad, and is a member of the Homemaker’s Country Quilter’s Quilt Guild, and her hobbies include sewing, crafting, and gardening.

She lives with her husband in Lower Pottsgrove Township. They have three children and four grandchildren, and both work third shift at Superior Tube Company, and are looking forward to retiring next year. 

Helping Hands with Heart Award
Dr. Myra Forrest
Volunteer and Supporter: past Board Member; Community Meals; past fall fundraising event Chair and member

Dr. Forrest has been active with the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities (PCRC) for many years: she served on the Board of Directors from 2000-2006, and once again from 2012-2014; was chairperson of the Fall Fundraiser Committee in 2012, 2013, and 2014, during which time over $100,000 was raised; and participated in the Community Meals program with her church, First Baptist Church of Pottstown, for many years.

Dr. Forrest served as superintendent of the Owen J. Roberts School District from 2005-2009. Formerly, she was a teacher, principal, director of curriculum, and assistant superintendent in the Pottstown School District, and a teacher in the Pottsgrove and Spring-Ford School Districts. She was a professor at Eastern, Cabrini, and Immaculata Universities. Her last position was as Executive Director of the Foundation for Pottstown Education.

She currently serves as Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation and Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Pottstown Hospital-Tower Health. She is a member of Draw the Lines, a statewide bi-partisan committee to educate the citizens of Pennsylvania on the serious and detrimental practice of gerrymandering.

Dr. Forrest received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Indiana University, Bloomington Indiana, a Master’s Degree in Education from Cabrini University, and her doctorate in Educational Leadership from Widener University. She is married to John Forrest, and has a daughter, Christina, married to Rodolfo, and two granddaughters, Breanna and Alexa, and a son, William, married to Andrea Reish Forrest.

Event Details

WHAT?
“Celebrate Service with Heart” during an evening of fine food (hearty buffet dinner), awards, inspirational stories, entertainment, FUNraising and fellowship,and more!

WHEN?
Thursday, September 26, from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm

WHERE?  
The SunnyBrook Ballroom
50 Sunnybrook Road
Pottstown, PA 19464

WHY?
All proceeds support PCRC’s mission to provide tangible services, support, and spiritual guidance to address the basic needs of persons within and beyond the Greater Pottstown area, coordinating programs and referrals to help clients improve their overall stability.

You just GOTTA Have Heart for the greater Pottstown area! Hope to see you there...

Be sure to RSVP today. We're excited to see you there!