DelVal Hosts a Community Celebration

From Annmarie Ely, Delaware Valley College

Leaders from not-for-profit organizations, health care and education came together on Delaware Valley College’s Doylestown campus April 4 for Welcoming New Leaders to Bucks County: A Community Celebration.

"There is a movement going on in Bucks County and you're seeing it in this room today," said DelVal alumnus Jamie Haddon at the event.

Speaking at the event were:

James Brexler, President and CEO of Doylestown Hospital
Dr. Rodney Green, Superintendent of Central Bucks School District
Magne Gundersen, Council Executive of the Bucks County Council, Boy Scouts of America Jamie Haddon, a class of ’95 DelVal alumnus who is President and CEO of the United Way of Bucks County Lisa Tremper Hanover, Director and CEO of the James A. Michener Art Museum Jeffrey Marshall, President of the Heritage Conservancy Zane Moore, President/CEO Central Bucks Family YMCA Dr. Stephanie Shanblatt, President of Bucks County Community College.

DelVal honored one of the guests, Elizabeth Gemmill, with the first ever Helen and Kenneth Gemmill Distinguished Philanthropy and Service Award. The award, which is named for her parents, will be given each year to a person following in the footsteps of Kenneth and Helen by making an outstanding contribution to Bucks County. The award honors a person who demonstrates leadership and has given time and service, plus financial contributions to improve Bucks County.

Kenneth and Helen Gemmill gave millions to organizations in Bucks County including DelVal, the James Michener Art Museum, the Mercer Museum, Doylestown Hospital and the Heritage Conservancy during their lifetime.

After they passed away, Elizabeth Gemmill continued their legacy as president of the family’s Warwick Foundation. In 2010, the Foundation gave the College a transformational gift valued at $30 million. That gift is helping the College move forward with its goal of becoming a university.

County leaders from a variety of organizations came together to plan the event and the event will continue to involve collaboration between various groups in the county in future years.