Their stories differ from one another, but the 2016 Women of Inspiration finalists each faced and overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles to build better lives for themselves and those around them.
On Feb. 5, the United Way of Williamson County (UWWC) Patricia Hart Society will honor these women and announce the 2016 Woman of Inspiration at the annual HeART to Heart Luncheon.
The event, which will be held at Embassy Suites Cool Springs in Franklin, opens at 11 a.m. with a silent auction featuring items such as gift cards, themed baskets and tickets to Tennessee Performing Arts Center performances. During the luncheon, which begins at 12:10 p.m., guests also will learn more about each of the 2016 Women of Inspiration Finalists.
About the finalists
Christy Webb of Franklin was nominated by Waves, Inc. and Mid-Cumberland HRA Meals on Wheels. Webb, who faces developmental challenges, experienced several periods of upheaval, including a period of homelessness, before finding her place at Waves in a supported living home. Since arriving at Waves, she has thrived, joining in Franklin Day Program outings and activities and becoming a valued volunteer at Mid-Cumberland Meals on Wheels and a part-time employee at The Arc Williamson County.
Rena Booker of Brentwood was nominated by The Arc Williamson County. Booker is the mother of an 11-year-old son and a 13-year-old son, both with autism. She has provided them with the support needed to become successful young men while she dealt with her own personal mental health issues. In May 2010, the Booker family lost most of their possessions in the historic floods that hit the region. She has taken control of her life, though, and is now back in school at Belmont, working part-time on a degree in social work.
Sheila Robb of Thompson’s Station was nominated by Tucker’s House. Robb is a single mother of three whose youngest child, Ella, faces profound delays/special needs. After Tucker’s House remodeled Ella’s bathroom for better accessibility, Robb became the board secretary for Tucker’s House. Additionally, Robb recently founded a website called WheelsGoRound.org, which allows families to donate their child’s gently used medical equipment to another family to help one more child.
Tickets to the event are $50 and are available now at uwwc.org or by contacting Debby Rainey at 615-771-2312 or [email protected].
Funds raised by the event go directly to UWWC-funded programs. The Patricia Hart Society was founded by local women who wanted to use their strengths, experiences and resources to engage women in improving lives. Society member Patricia Hart lent her name to the organization because she believes that “extraordinary things happen when women come together.” In 2014-2015 alone, UWWC-funded programs provided more than 92,000 health and human services to people living in Williamson County.
Sponsors for this year’s HeART to Heart Luncheon include Nissan North America, Ford Motor Credit Company, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee, Fifth Third Bank, Fox Run Studios, Atmos Energy, Community Health Systems, LBMC PC and LBMC Employment Partners.
About the United Way of Williamson County Patricia Hart Society
The Patricia Hart Society is a group of dedicated women in Williamson County who support the needs of the community and have joined together to encourage women of all ages and backgrounds to help in the work of United Way. The vision of the Patricia Hart Society, named after Williamson County community volunteer, philanthropist and advocate Patricia Hart, is to create an opportunity for women to take a leadership role in positively impacting the community. To find out more, please visit uwwc.org/patriciahart or call 615-771-2312.
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