2004 Award Winners

Hannah Webster Honored for Extraordinary Commitment 
to Community Service 

In recognition of her outstanding achievements in and out of the classroom, Hannah Webster, a freshman at Montana State University-Billings, was selected as a National Winner of the 2004 Spirit of Women Awards in the Youth-At-Large category.  Webster received the award during the Spirit of Women Foundation's 6^th Annual National Awards celebration, held at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando, FL. 

The Spirit of Women Regional and National Awards honor ordinary women who do extraordinary things.  Often faced with great personal loss or physical challenges, these women represent unsung heroes of American society. 

Hannah Webster was selected from a pool of regional nominees.  Nominations were available at the 130+ hospitals and health systems that comprise the Spirit of Women network.  Hannah represents St. Vincent Healthcare, the exclusive Spirit of Women health system in the state of Montana. 

Read more about Hannah's extraordinary story: 

Hannah’s dedication to community began in her preteen years through her volunteer work at a local nursing home where she helped the elderly with daily chores and companionship.  Throughout her young life Hannah has tended to the needs of others.  Hannah’s recent activities include: 

• Teaching at Vacation Bible School
• Organizing food drives at Billings Senior High School
• Volunteering at the Broadwater School as a 3^rd Grade classroom assistant
• Mentoring youth on the importance of education and of avoiding alcohol and drugs through the Trading Cards program
• Traveling to Guatemala to volunteer in impoverished communities.

Some say the true mark of character is seen through the eyes of adversity.  When Hannah’s father unexpectedly died of a heart attack in 2002, she demonstrated her incredible character by supporting her family and friends.  As the tragic news of her father’s death spread throughout the community, Hannah was placed in the role of hostess, caregiver and surrogate mother and her compassion greatly assisted the sorrow of her younger brother, grandparents, neighbors and friends.  Later during the year, Hannah was able to utilize this experience to assist other local youths suffering through the death of a parent.  Now in college, Hannah’s spirit only grows stronger. 

Bonnie Hartman Arkus Honored for Extraordinary Commitment to Community Service 

In recognition of her outstanding achievements in community service, Bonnie Hartman Arkus, the founder and executive director of the Women’s Heart Foundation was chosen as a National Winner of the 2004 Spirit of Women Awards in the Healthcare Provider-At-Large category.  Ms. Arkus received the award during the Spirit of Women Foundation's 6^th Annual National Awards celebration, held at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando, FL. 

The Spirit of Women Regional and National Awards honor ordinary women who do extraordinary things.  Often faced with great personal loss or physical challenges, these women represent unsung heroes of American society.

Bonnie Hartman Arkus was selected from a pool of regional nominees.  Nominations were available at the 130+ hospitals and health systems that comprise the Spirit of Women network.  Ms. Arkus represents Robert Wood Johnson University Health System, the exclusive Spirit of Women health system in Central New Jersey.

Read more about Ms. Arkus' extraordinary story below: 

Bonnie Hartman Arkus is Executive Director and founder of the Women’s Heart Foundation, the only women’s heart organization dedicated solely to improving women’s survival and quality of life by implementing heart wellness programs.  The Foundation also conducts professional medical conferences to raise awareness of the critical differences in cardiovascular disease between women and men. 

Ms. Arkus is a registered nurse who received her training at the Washington Hospital Center School of Nursing, an affiliate of the American University, Washington, D.C.  Her nursing experiences have varied over the past thirty- five years and have included: 

·        Charge nurse of a Neuro-surgery unit, Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, VA

·        Charge nurse of a satellite hemodialysis center, part of Salem Veterans Hospital, VA

·        Charge nurse at St. Lawrence Rehabilitation Center, Lawrenceville, NJ

·        Nurse consultant at Catholic Charities Guidance Clinic, Trenton, NJ

·        Visiting nurse at Mercer Street Friends, Trenton, NJ.

Ms. Arkus’s interests became focused on the cardiovascular needs of women in 1986 after her mother’s unexpected death following coronary artery bypass surgery.  Since that time, she has dedicated herself to developing new wellness, education and health systems to address disparities in women’s cardiac care and outcomes through the Women’s Heart Foundation.

The Women’s Heart Foundation designs and implements educational programs that better meet the needs of women.  In the past six months, the Women’s Heart Foundation has successfully raised more than $250,000 in grants and contributions.  New programs introduced in the past 12-months include:

·        Gender Care - A Continuing Education program targeting nurses

·        Women’s Wellness Wednesday - A twelve-week risk assessment program for women.  

Dr. Marilyn Robinson Honored for Extraordinary Commitment to Community Service 

In recognition of her outstanding achievements in community service, Dr. Marilyn Robinson, the founder of the Carver Community Center in Escambia County, FL, was chosen as a National Winner of the 2004 Spirit of Women Awards in the Community-At-Large category.  Dr. Robinson received the award during the Spirit of Women Foundation's 6^th Annual National Awards celebration, held at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando, FL. 

The Spirit of Women Regional and National Awards honor ordinary women who do extraordinary things.  Often faced with great personal loss or physical challenges, these women represent unsung heroes of American society. 

Dr. Marilyn Robinson was selected from a pool of regional nominees.  Nominations were available at the 130+ hospitals and health systems that comprise the Spirit of Women network.  Dr. Robinson represents Sacred Heart Health System, the exclusive Spirit of Women health system in Pensacola, Florida. 

Read more about Dr. Robinson 's extraordinary story below: 

Dr. Robinson has made a huge difference in her community with her tireless efforts to help the youth and elderly in Century, a small community in north Escambia County, Florida that is struggling against poverty, unemployment and drug abuse. 

Raised in Century, Dr. Robinson attended local schools and graduated from Florida State University with her PhD in biology and genetics.  After graduate school, Dr Robinson returned home to care for her dying father and took on the challenge of starting a community center to serve the people of Century.  When Escambia County was planning on tearing down an old Elementary School, Dr. Robinson fought to save the building and to achieve her goal of creating a community center for children to gather and play away from their drug-infested neighborhoods. 

For the past six years, Dr. Robinson has server as director of Carver Community Center and has successfully developed dozens of effective community outreach programs.  Community outreach programs available at Carver Community Center include:

·        After school tutoring

·        GED preparation

·        Educational field trips for underprivileged children. 

According to a Century resident, “Dr. Robinson’s unselfish love and concern for others has definitely made this world a better place.  She is always the one that anyone in Century (who is in any crisis situation) calls upon.  She is always on the way out to take someone to the store or the to doctor, go pick up someone’s medication, going to the hospital to visit the sick and aged, going to pick up the children for after school tutoring . . . The list goes on and on.” 

Another local admirer said, “Dr. Robinson stands alone in her community as a glowing example of goodness, diligence and humility.  With a heart of gold and spirit of faith, she guides a troubled community towards a brighter future.”

Congratulations Spirit of Women award-winners for the inspiration and leadership you bring to your communities in your work promoting life, health and healing. You can see photos and read more about the achievements of these women by clicking here.

It's time to begin our search for the 2004-2005 nominees in your backyard who exemplify the spirit of "ordinary women doing extraordinary things". Check back for details for this year's nominating procedures.

Our appreciation to the following sponsors and organization for making this year’s Spirit of Women Awards a resounding success: