{"id":95513,"date":"2019-09-18T21:29:06","date_gmt":"2019-09-19T01:29:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=95513"},"modified":"2019-09-18T21:29:06","modified_gmt":"2019-09-19T01:29:06","slug":"women-united-honors-ashley-russo-as-the-2019-betsy-torrence-philanthropist-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=95513","title":{"rendered":"Women United Honors Ashley Russo as the 2019 Betsy Torrence Philanthropist of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Allentown, PA, September 17, 2019 <\/strong>\u2013 United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley (UWGLV) Women United will honor Ashley Russo with the 2019 Betsy Torrence Philanthropist of the Year Award, the group\u2019s highest honor.<\/p>\n

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Members will present Russo\u2019s award at the Women United Annual Meeting 2019 on Thursday, October 10. Sponsored by Lafayette Ambassador Bank, Capital BlueCross and St. Luke\u2019s University Health Network, the event will take place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Saucon Valley Country Club and features a keynote address from humanitarian, activist and entrepreneur Khine Zaw. The Betsy Torrence Philanthropist of the Year Award is presented to a Women United member who demonstrates a personal commitment of time, talent and treasure to philanthropic causes in the Lehigh Valley.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI deeply admire the work of Women United and United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and the impact they have in our community,\u201d says Russo. \u201cIt is humbling and a great honor to be a small part of that story across our region.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Regarding this year\u2019s recognition, Laurie Siebert, President of Women United, noted, \u201cMaya Angelou wrote, \u2018Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.\u2019 Every day, more women are standing up and being recognized. Collectively, we nurture positive outcomes for ourselves, our children, families and community.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Russo, a twenty-year media veteran, graduated from New York University\u2019s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute and currently holds the titles of president of ASR Media Productions and executive producer and host of The PEAK TV and St. Luke\u2019s Health Now. Additionally, she is the creator and host of Unscripted with Russo, a weekly podcast during which she interviews successful leaders about the often-winding path of success. Russo is a lifetime horse enthusiast and multi-time American Saddlebred world- and national-titled equestrian.<\/p>\n

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Currently, Russo serves on the boards of UWGLV, Wildlands Conservancy and Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Governors. She is also an active committee member supporting Women United, NCC Foundation, Equili-brium, Lehigh<\/p>\n

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Valley Food and Wine Festival and American Heart Association. Additionally, she donates her time and talent regularly as an emcee and auctioneer for numerous events across the region.<\/p>\n

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UWGLV\u2019s Women United is part of a global network of more than 70,000 women in 165 communities across six countries – all dedicated to improving lives and creating stronger communities. The organization supports signature community projects including:<\/p>\n