Fran Gregory is more than a cancer survivor, she is a source of support and advocacy for others who are facing this disease.
Because of her dedication to others, Gregory is also the recipient of the 2007 Blanche W. Grady Community Service Award.
The long-time volunteer with the American Cancer Society and other local community service programs was honored Tuesday evening with the award that recognizes “unsung heroes” in this community.
The award was presented during a special dinner and ceremony hosted at the General Morgan Inn by Laughlin Memorial Hospital.
The award has been presented each year since 1996 by the Laughlin Health Care Foundation, the philantrophic arm of the hospital, to honor persons who have quietly, but consistently, performed outstanding volunteer service for the local community.
The Blanche W. Grady Award was established, along with the Laughlin Health Care Foundation, by the family of Greeneville businessman and philanthropist Scott M. Niswonger to honor his mother, Sharon Niswonger, and to recognize their close friend, Mrs. Grady, a retired educator and long-time community volunteer.
Niswonger Praises Gregory
In presenting the award to Gregory, Niswonger said he could think of no one more deserving of the honor, calling her “the perfect example of an unsung hero.”
“She is a soft-spoken person who is seldom seen in the spotlight,” he continued.
Her service, however, plays a vital role with “so many important programs serving our community,” Niswonger added.
Niswonger was on hand at the award ceremony with his wife, Nikki, and his mother, Sharon, along with several past recipients of the Blanche W. Grady Community Service Award.
Due to declining health, Mrs. Grady was unable to attend the event, but she was fondly remembered by those in attendance.
The master of ceremonies of the event was Terry Bellamy, president of the Laughlin Health Care Foundation and the 1999 recipient of the Grady Service Award.
“God has a plan for all of us in life and his plan for Fran is service to others,” Bellamy said.
The recipients of the annual award represent “a broad spectrum of individuals” across the community. All, however, are persons who have demonstrated “leadership, courage and service and have worked in ordinary ways to accomplish extraordinary good in the community,” the evening’s program explained.
Niswonger said that Gregory became a community volunteer early in her life. Some of the programs that she has served with through the years include: the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, the American Red Cross, the Andrew Johnson Club, and, when her children were in school, she took “a very active role” in their school’s Parent/Teacher Organization, he said.
Aid To Cancer Victims Cited
But perhaps the organization dearest to her heart has been her involvement with the American Cancer Society and the programs that it provides to cancer survivors, such as herself.
“Instead of remaining just a victim and a survivor of cancer, she chose to become actively involved with helping others who have faced this tragic illness,” Niswonger said.
Gregory is an active volunteer in the Cancer Society’s “Look Good, Feel Better” program, which provides a free service to female cancer patients to help teach them ways to enhance their changing appearance while they are coping with the rigors of cancer treatment.
The local “Look Good” program is held monthly at the Laughlin Center for Women’s Health, and Gregory is always there to share her knowledge and lend support to the women who attend, Niswonger said.
“Other groups that benefit from our recipient’s time, energy and dedication,” Niswonger said, “are: the Bosom Buddies program that brings hope and support to breast cancer patients and their families; the Greene County Relay for Life, an event that generates donations and support for cancer research, and Reach to Recovery, another cancer support program.”
“Our recipient doesn’t just serve cancer patients, she remembers their families and those who have been served by the cancer support programs, offering comfort and encouragement to those who have lost loved ones,” he continued.
Gregory’s nomination was among 16 received by the Foundation for consideration for this year’s award. She was nominated for the Grady Service Award by her friend and fellow cancer survivor, Sandra Ricker, who was last year’s honoree of the award.
“I know there are more people out there who are more deserving of this award than I am,” Gregory said after being surprised by the honor.
“But I thank you and I will try to live up to this honor,” she added.
Each year, the Niswongers present a sizable contribution to the Laughlin Health Care Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Laughlin Hospital, in order for the annual Grady Award recipient to designate funds toward a health-care-related service or educational program.
As last year’s award recipient, Sandra Ricker chose to designate funds for the creation of a community health fair to benefit area veterans.
The event was held earlier this year at the Greene County Fairgrounds and was attended by several hundred veterans, according to Noah Roark, human resources and marketing director at Laughlin Hospital.
A video presentation of the health fair was shown during the awards banquet.
Previous recipients of the Grady Award include: the late Adelle Haynes (1997), Della Malone (1998), Terry Bellamy (1999), Tyre Culbertson (2000), Bruce St. Laurent (2001), Fannie R. Henderson (2002), the late Ann Huntsman (2003), Richard McKinney and his son, Richie McKinney (2004), Frances Taylor and Barbara Barner (2005), and Sandra Ricker (2006).
