State Representative Tarah Toohil of the 116^th Legislative District has been selected as the recipient of the 2020 Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce Athena Award, sponsored by Community Bank, N.A.

Representative Tarah Toohil is serving her fifth term as a State Representative in the 116 ^th Legislative District in Luzerne County. Her work has focused on property tax relief for area taxpayers and furthering the growth of and establishing stablility for small businesses to create jobs and stimulate the local economy.

She authors a weekly column in the Standard Speaker, as well as a monthly piece in the newspaper's Senior Scene. Representative Toohil has been a strong proponent for revitalization of downtown Hazleton and has been in the trenches with graffiti clean up crews and a key person in eliminating the Minsec Correctional Facility. Representative Toohil’s experience makes an impact on her committee assignments, which include Children and Youth, Human Services, and Judiciary and Professional Licensure and Rules Committee.

On March 20, 2020, she helped create the Greater Hazleton COVID-19 Task Force, as well as facilitated many bi-lingual town halls over the past few months. During the challenging times that the pandemic brings to our community, Tarah has been a tireless leader in getting answers and communicating the needs of her constituents.

Community service is a key component of the Athena Award. Tarah belongs to many fantastic community organizations, such as the like Elks Lodge, Hazleton Rotary Club, Circle 200 Women of Northeast PA, AAUW Breaking through Barriers for Women and Girls, Hazleton POWER, and an alumnus of Leadership Willkes- Barre. She also serves on The Pennsylvania Children’s Trust Fund, and Supreme Courts Language Access Advisory Groups. Her work has brought her recognition, including the Champion of Children Award from PA Partnership for Children, Angels in Adoption Award , Distringuished Citizen of the Year Award fromAnthracite District of Boy Scouts and YWCA P.E.A.R.L. Aaward, to name a few.

An internationally-recognized award, The ATHENA FOUNDATION and the awardees are invested in the work of mentoring the next generation of leaders. Representative Toohil is a role model for all in this ATHENA attribute as well. The best example is is in her role as co-founder of Brandon's Forever Home, a charitable organization created to raise awareness about children in foster care and their need for permanent and loving homes. The stories of inspiration, along with the other adults she has encouraged to assist in mentoring these youngsters, has made a difference that will last a lifetime.

Representative Toohil is a proud graduate of Hazleton Area High School. She did her undergraduate studies at Northeastern University, achieving a dual major of political science and sociology. She then went on to obtain her Juris Doctor degree from Penn State’s Dickison School of Law in 2008. Prior to attending law school, she was a paralegal for Attorney Matthew Cartwright. She currently lives in Drums with her husband, Scot, and their five children, Dylan, Alexandra, Dalton, Jacob and Blaise.

The Athena Award, presented each year to a Hazleton Area businesswoman for "outstanding professional achievement," will be presented at the 128^th Annual Meeting of the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce. We are happy to have Community Bank, N.A. as a sponsor of this year’s award. Barbara Maculloch, Community Bank, N.A. PA President and 2017 ATHENA winner for the Greater Wilkes- Barre Chamber noted, “The Bank is proud to sponsor the Hazleton Chamber award and continue the recognition of female leaders making a difference in their profession and communities.” Maculloch also appreciates that a key component of the award criteria is mentorship. “Building the next generation of leaders in our area is critical for success,” she noted.

The award has been presented since 1988. The annual meeting is the largest event on the annual chamber calendar and will take place at Louis Schiavo City View Park on Thursday, September 10^th. The event will initiate our fun new format, including an outdoor barbecue with our showcase of our chamber members in the Business Exposition, entertainment and culminating with the presentation of the 2020 Athena Award. Due to restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be no admittance allowed without an invite. No walks in are allowed and tickets must be purchased in advance. Masks or face coverings must be worn at all times during the event.

Representative Toohil joins a long list of distinguished women who have won the Athena Award in its thirty-four year history. Past winners include: Lillian Paternoster (1986); Lorraine Piehota (1987); Donna Jean Yannuzzi (1988); Mary Bollman (1989); Patricia Werner-Savage (1990); Theresa Raffety (1991); Martha Herron (1992); Jo-Ann Yannuzzi (1994); Ruth Wimsat (1996); Molly Blasko (1997); Bettie Sitoski (1998); Linda Schreiber (1999); Cathy Gallagher (2000);Mary Jane Saras (2001); Attorney Sharon Evans (2002); Dr. Geraldine Shepperson (2003); Mary R. Malone (2004); Attorney Elizabeth Maguschak (2005); Jennifer Sloot (2006);Paula Sagan Hahn (2007); Lonnie Polli (2008); Terry Moran Bauder (2009), Dr. Deb Carr (2010); Nancy Stasko (2011); Jeannine Lesante Mazurkiwecz (2012); Kathleen Benyo (2013); Donna Palermo (2014); Elaine Judd (2015); Jane Danish (2016); Carla M. Thaller (2017), 2018 Krista L. Schneider (2018); and Donna M. Barna (for 2019) . There were no recipients chosen in 1993 and 1995.

To make a reservation to attend the Chamber’s Annual Meeting on Thursday, September 10^th, please contact the Chamber office at 455-1509 or at .

CAPTION:

Pictured in the photo at the top are, from left: Alison Zurawski, Community Relations Manager for Community Bank, N.A., Barbara Maculloch, Community Bank, N.A. PA President and Mary Malone, President Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce.