President
Christ Receives Top Honor from United Way
President
Christ recently added another honor to the many she has received
during her Smith tenure. Christ this week was presented with
the Hennessey Award, which is given annually by the United
Way of Hampshire County to an individual who, through exemplary
leadership, service and dedication, made the greatest impact
on the current campaign.
Christ has consistently been
both a generous contributor to the United Way through the
annual Smith United Way campaign, and a leader in her support
of the local United Way. Smith has long been among the leading
institutional contributors to the United Way’s
annual LIVE UNITED campaign, accounting for more than 10
percent (more than $150,000 a year) of the drive’s total,
which this year exceeds $1.2 million. During the course of
Christ’s presidency, Smith has contributed $1.83 million
to United Way of Hampshire County.
Christ accepted the Hennessey
Award on behalf of the Smith community during the United
Way campaign year-end luncheon celebration on May 29 at the
Hotel Northampton. Several current and former Smith United
Way campaign volunteers attended the event.
“The United Way is deeply grateful
for President Christ’s institutional and personal
leadership within the United Way campaign,” said Peter Jessop,
co-chair of this year’s United Way LIVE UNITED campaign,
in presenting the award. “President Christ’s
membership in the United Way’s Leaders Circle
as well as its Alexis de Tocqueville Society
through her loyal and generous giving expresses a confidence
in the United Way that inspires others both within Smith
College and among the larger community to follow her lead.”
Jessop also cited Christ’s ongoing support of and involvement with the local
community. “Her championship of Smith College’s community development efforts
in the area of civic engagement, affordable housing, sustainability, community
service and leadership, and historic preservation, has also helped to ensure
optimal success for our Hampshire County community.”
President Christ was also honored
recently with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree
from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and with a special
reception celebrating her contributions to Northampton, Hampshire
County and the Pioneer Valley, hosted by the Greater Northampton
Chamber of Commerce, the Hampshire County Regional Tourism
Council and the Hampshire Regional Chamber of Commerce. |
