Middletown, Ohio — Eleanor “Elle” Berry has been selected as the Ashland area’s inaugural Steel Magnolia Award honoree, the Middletown Community Foundation has announced.
Women who have overcome obstacles to positively impact the greater Ashland community have the opportunity each year to earn recognition as Steel Magnolia Award recipients in a program funded by the AK Steel Foundation.
Nominations by essay were solicited in the spring from the public in each of the 10 communities where AK Steel operates a facility. Volunteer judges from the various communities reviewed the essays of those who agreed to be considered for the award, and one honoree in each community was selected based on the judges combined scores.
Berry worked for many years with 4-H youth, traveling across the country, but moved to Ashland after marrying her husband, Tony, who worked for Ashland Oil. As she battled her own cancer in recent years, she also served as her husband’s caregiver because of his medical problems.
Even so, she remained a tireless volunteer for the Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital Auxiliary, serving three terms as its president, working the hospital front desk, delivering papers to rooms and organizing fundraisers.
“Elle is a special lady — full of energy and joy,” wrote her nominator, Larry Jones. “She is an absolute delight to be around and to work with.”
Each recipient is able to designate an eligible charity of her choice to receive a $1,000 donation in honor of her selection. Berry chose the OLBH Foundation.
The Steel Magnolia Award honors women of all ages who face personal adversity and have shown exceptional strength, courage, compassion and leadership through their work in support of their communities.
“Strength in times of hardship and adversity are the hallmarks of a strong company and a strong community. In honor and respect for women who have succeeded in spite of adversity, The AK Steel Foundation is proud to support the Steel Magnolia Award.” said James L. Wainscott, chairman, president and CEO of AK Steel.
“The Middletown Community Foundation received such moving and inspiring essays detailing the struggles and successes of so many amazing women in these communities that I sincerely wish we could have honored them all,” said Middletown Community Foundation Executive Director T. Duane Gordon. “I hope that those who nominated the outstanding women who were not selected for this year’s award will submit their stories for consideration again next year.”
Nominees were required to live in the vicinity of an AK Steel facility. Nominators and nominees did not have to be associated in any way with employees of AK Steel.
