Good evening.

This is the 2022 PBS 39 Good Neighbor Awards.

The Good Neighbor Awards are given each year in the spirit of Fred Rogers honoring those living his legacy of education, community and compassion, Rogers believe you should always look for the helpers.

So tonight we honor Lee A. Butz, chairman of the Alvin H. Butz Board.

This is going to provide them and their parents with the knowledge and the incentive to do better in school.

Esther Lee, President of the Bethlehem NAACP.

We learn till we die.

You know, growth doesn't stop we continue to grow.

We continue to learn.

And the Hispanic Center, Lehigh Valley.

Here is by knowing that we get to improve their quality of life.

That is the most rewarding experience.

And just born quality confections.

Being a good corporate neighbor means that you know that you can't do it alone.

You need partners and you're better together.

Plus, we take a look at what the Good Neighbor Fund has accomplished over the last year and what is to come And now live from the Steal Stacks Campus.

Please welcome your host Stacey Stauffer and PBS's 39 CEO Tim Farley.

Thank you for.

Well, welcome and good evening.

What a feeling to be in this room together.

Such great energy here all together.

How cool.

I know.

And a big round of applause, please, as a thank you to Groove Merchants for the live music that they provided here tonight.

We have so many inspiring stories to share with you this evening, stories of people and organizations doing so much for others right here in the Lehigh Valley.

They truly live the spirit of Fred Rogers.

They are the helpers.

Yes, they are, Stacey.

Something else that Fred Rogers said, the world needs a sense of worth and it will achieve it only by its people feeling that they are worthwhile.

Our honorees tonight see the worth all around them.

They know how to get other people to realize their own worth.

And that is what will make our communities even stronger.

We are so proud to share their stories tonight.

This is really exciting.

Now let's get this show started.

Thank you, Tim.

Enjoy the show.

Thank you.

Much.

I'm We begin tonight with a third generation family owned candy company.

Coming up on its 100th anniversary, it employs nearly 600 people.

24 hours a day at a factory right here in Bethlehem.

The company is front and center at the best family friendly party.

Every new Jersey, the legendary peep fest.

And in between all of that, they make five and a half.

Million.

Peeps a day.

That's 2 billion a year.

That's enough to circle the Earth twice, two and a half times, actually.

But one of the company's favorite things of all is its role in the community.

Just born quality confections.

Loves delivering grants to local organizations, coordinating candy, donations to nonprofits, and working with local community school programs.

Community schools offer more than just academics.

They are a place where schools, families and corporate partners are connected to provide resources and services to help students thrive.

PBS's 39 had the chance to speak with one of the schools about just how sweet it is to have just born on your side.

We know that supporting education is going to make the real change in our community, and to do that means supporting it financially, but also supporting it with volunteer time.

So you have a flourishing company.

The neighborhood needs to be flourishing as well.

We really are a staple in our community, in the Marvin Pembroke community.

Just born was connected with local community schools through a United Way initiative, and it was a perfect fit from the beginning.

The kids are so excited when we come to see them, just like we're so excited.

Sometimes I wonder who's more excited to see who.

They love our kids.

I know they love it and they care so much about our kids.

Cesar Cordova became the Marvin Elementary School coordinator five years ago.

Just mornings one of our partners and we can always count on them.

His job includes working with corporate partners like Just Born to Fill the unmet needs of the kids and families in the school community.

Things that could prevent the children from succeeding, from situations such as not having access to essentials like food and clothing to needing services.

All our goals are connected to trying to have the kids to improve their academics.

Right?

We can expect the kids to learn if they're hungry, if they didn't sleep well.

And all the while, there's a huge focus on getting kids exposure to arts, sports and more through enriching afterschool programs.

Also made a reality with the help of corporate partners.

We know there are a lot of programs, but the programs for that that offer these kind of things, they're not available in our neighbor.

And the parents don't have the the money to pay for.

So the kids are not going to have maybe exposure to something.

And what is happening at Marvin's afterschool is changing what is happening during school.

And with the activities.

We basically have the kids engagement, like, do you want to be part of the basketball team?

We need you in the school.

We need you in time.

All of that helps us like change the school culture so that kids feel welcome They want to be here.

If you're having a place, you're going to try harder, right?

We have seen like enormous change in the coming mix and also in the in the attendance.

Hi, everybody.

Good morning.

When kids return to school after the height of the pandemic, the needs grew across the board.

They went from providing food pantry services for two families to more than one every week.

The afterschool program grew from having 50 kids participating to almost the entire school.

That's nearly 400 kids.

The school is able to step up programs, expanding the number of clubs from eight to 32.

I would like to look back and think that we came back stronger from the pandemic and that we can rethink everything we do to do it better, that we can do it like thanks to all the help we have out on this whole.

One of the most popular afterschool programs, the Marvin Theater Company.

Job.

These are Wolf or Marvin Theater Company that started 2017.

And he was the first one they did.

They were just like having so much fun.

And I can actually see in the first row here a lot of our fifth graders now that we're like the supporting crew of the of the play.

So all of them, they are sitting there like so tiny amount.

But now they're learning that in the main role of Frozen and Just Born, they pay for that.

They have been so supportive of everything we have done so far.

We're going to need a new wolf to put all of them in there.

My the students current production of Frozen will hit the stage this June It's free to attend with about 300 people expected.

Teachers and administrators add to set pieces and one makes all the costumes.

Academics are important, but there are like so many more things that you're going to learn in the school that are going to change your life as an adult.

One of the things I really love about the community in the Valley is that there's so many corporations and companies and individuals that are always willing to give more and just to support the schools.

We want the students in the Marvin Pembroke and the Broncos schools to know that we care about them genuinely, to know that we want them to be successful because they're smart, bright, helpful, kind individuals.

And we see that every time we go into the schools.

Marvin Elementary recently became a blue ribbon school, which essentially means they.

Just improved across the board on a bunch of different categories.

And it's awesome for us just to play that small part in that with our.

Relationship with them, and it's.

A small part of leaving our legacy on the community You are all set.

Thank you.

Our purpose is to bring sweetness to people's lives.

Thank you.

We really do believe that.

We really do mean that it's not just writing on the wall for us.

It's something that we believe in our hearts and our associates believe in our hearts, that owners believe in their hearts and it's the right thing to do.

It's the right thing to be a good neighbor.

It's a right thing to be a good community steward, to invest in your community.

And the people that live in it.

We want everyone to be successful.

We want everyone to thrive.

Doing that is the easy decision to say yes.

To the thank you.

Such great work.

We mentioned in the story how this amazing partnership between just born and community schools like Marvin all grew from a United Way initiative.

And here to talk more about that is Marcy Lesko, executive vice president of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.

Thank you United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley launched the community school model with the goal of turning neighborhood schools into neighborhood hubs, offering education alongside much needed social and health services.

This was because we know that so many things happen outside the classroom, influence a child's experience in school.

So is the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley started the journey to offer community schools.

Our very first corporate partner, 16 years ago was just born.

Today we support 19,000 students at 31 schools in the Allentown, Bethlehem, Bangor and Eastern Area School Districts.

It is my honor to present A to 22,020 to Good Neighbor Award to just born here to accept here to accept the award are their corporate affairs team and my friends Meg Dowd, Courtney Engle and Matt Pye.

And who is speaking.

You are All right.

Well who's going to go see frozen at Marvin's it's free and is our does a really great job so of applause.

Lots of good shows.

We really do love being your neighbor it's really great to be just literally around the corner from you.

Mr. Rogers said that there are three ways to ultimate success.

The first is to be kind.

The second is to be kind.

And the third is to be kind.

For nearly 100 years, kindness, or as we like to call it, bringing sweetness to people's lives at just born has been our ultimate success.

Thank you to everyone in our community who has invited us into their lives and who have been wonderful neighbors to us.

We love being your neighbor, your friend, your partner.

Here's to many more years of kindness, sweetness and compassion with the Lehigh Valley.

Thank you again.

Congratulations.

And thank you once again to Marci Lesko and Meg down, Courtney Engle and Matt Pye.

The Good Neighbor Fund was created in 20, 21 to give a financial boost to so many of the outstanding educational initiatives that PBIS 39.

The goal is to serve more kids, more families and more schools.

The money for the fund is raised locally from all the good neighbors around us and it's spent locally.

Every dollar in the fund goes to create educational opportunities many times for those most in need.

Thanks to the fund, PBS 39 educational initiatives saw growth across the board this year from programing and resources for teachers to getting more than 15,000 15,000 new high quality books into the hands and home libraries of children.

And that is just the beginning.

So this is Nittany.

Nittany is a red tailed hawk.

It's made such a difference in the past year.

It's unbelievable how many pounds per square inch do you think he has in his best?

Oh.

Our total impact can be close to 10,000 reached in touched the front row seat to watch watching success just happened it's it's really wonderful.

Kate Rafe Snyder is director of education for PBS 39 she saw firsthand the rapidly changing landscape of education and the surge in requests for help over the last year.

Kids needed more books, more quality programing, and teachers could use a helping hand with new and creative lessons.

That's where the Ready to Learn initiative came in.

Hi, everyone.

That program provides evidence based free educational resources to teachers, caregivers, parents to help build science critical thinking literacy skills that educators can just lift and use.

Shift my little ramp here.

Again, make sure you're making adjustments as you go, because that's how we get the best data.

And that a gift to most teachers because, boy, there are times of the year where you just need it.

Those educators are working so hard and they really need to have that additional boost.

Just something and somebody who says, look, we've got this, it's prepared, it's ready to go, it stimulates the class and it makes for a tremendously synergetic lesson.

You actually see the students thriving and they bring more to the lesson as well as the teachers.

Smart sacks or a grab and go bag full of steam activities for younger learners ages two through eight about 3500 smart sacks were distributed up until last year.

Then that number doubled.

Those have been extremely popular families really enjoy having something that they can just pick up and engage with their kids.

The need is huge.

PBS 39 bookmarks have popped up at neighborhood health centers and community centers.

They are a great way to get new, high quality books into the hands of children across the Lehigh Valley.

The books are free and families are encouraged to take one every time they visit.

The goal is for children to build at home libraries.

I cannot tell you how surprising it was.

When we first started, one of the clinics had books literally.

We had delivered, I think, 300 books to them.

It was less than a month, and they needed more and they needed more.

And then we realized how impactful it was and how families were really relying on that space.

As a place that they could get that gift of of literacy.

Wonderful.

The Good Neighbor Fund helped us be able to say yes to that, and be able to put those resources out there and be able to put them in the offices.

Not only are those books high quality, not only are they beautiful, and not only are they meant to bring that joy to that child, but also we're making sure that they see themselves in those books.

We're making sure that we're picking up diverse collections.

We're making sure that we tell those stories of different families and countries.

It's about much more than just giving a child something special.

There's an amazing transformation when students and young children are respected and valued and they feel the power, they're empowered.

But also, we've seen a change in the way parents understand how very little it takes, very little for a parent to encourage a child.

Once the parent gives that respect to the work that they're doing, the student just wants to succeed.

We've seen it at home and we've seen it in the community and we've seen it in the schools.

So on all levels, when you're supporting children like that, you're really forming that learning neighborhood and that's really what we're working to do right now.

And the Good Neighbor Fund supports that in every way.

These are dollars well spent.

These dollars go directly to the future of our community.

That's why it's so important that people know this really does matter.

They really are making a difference.

There's wonderful things that are happening as a result of this work.

Wonderful things are happening as a result of this work.

And here with an exciting announcement is Suzy, board chair for Lehigh.

Valley Public Media.

The home of PBS.

39 and 91.3 W l VR Radio.

Thank you, Stacey.

Well, my big announcement is that I am wearing red because I am a good neighbors award winner.

Want to be Esther Lee Liebowitz.

I want to be you.

I'm going to photo bomb your red sweater picture later.

Blend right in.

Anyway, I want to as chair of the board, I want to thank all of my fellow board members that are here tonight, all of you that are watching from home and all of you that are here treating our neighbors with kindness and respect when they are in need is what our mission at Lehigh Valley Public Media is all about.

So in that spirit, here is the real announcement.

We are declaring May Good Neighbors Month.

It's not only Mother's Day.

Good neighbors month, too.

So what that means is we hope you do something a good neighbor would do and not like call the cops if your dog is barking at the cat.

This happened to me twice, and now I'm moving to be a good neighbor.

Only kidding.

I'm trying to be a good neighbor.

But it also means that we want to raise $100,000 for the Good Neighbor Fund so that Lehigh Valley Public Media can be a good neighbor to others.

As of tonight, we've already raised $80,000.

Thanks to all of you, but we need your help to reach our goal by the end of the month.

So if you can see that together, we can make a difference.

Grab your cell phone now.

Greg get it out and just call or text.

One 800 3600039.

Come on.

I want to see them out.

Use the key word fund and send any amount you can.

A dollar, $10.

$100.

$1,000.

Any amount will help.

Or you can also visit PBS's 39 mortgage fund.

Thank you again for being here.

Oh, I'll tell you in a minute.

Let me read the rest of my script.

Thank you for supporting Good Neighbor Month at Elvia.

I'll be p.m.. Stacy.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

So much.

You know, it really is amazing that so much has been raised so far.

And one of the things the funds helps with event s sue high quality fun and educational events like the Be My Neighbor Day.

Take a look.

They it's a beautiful day in this neighborhood.

A beautiful day for a neighbor.

Would you be mine?

Could you be my.

Part of PBS's 39.

Be My Neighbor Day is doing our part to give back to the community.

This year, we organized a clothing drive to collect socks for Third Street Alliance for women and children.

And I'm really proud to say that we collected hundreds of socks and donated them to the shelter last week.

I think a good neighbor is somebody who.

Puts theirs above.

Themselves.

Being kind to each other.

Helping your.

Neighbor plant your garden.

Being a good neighbors about operating in love.

This event is great too, because I can share that with my son.

We can be nice to each other and we can play with each other.

We have.

A sense of community that if I see some.

Extra garbage cans or recycling cans out.

I bring them in for my mid.

To late night.

We are making paper cards to firefighters, I believe at home we've been pretty strong off the.

Being a good neighbor isn't just limited to where you live.

People all over the world are our neighbors, too.

So we wanted to give an opportunity for families and kids to share messages of hope and support to Ukraine and Ukrainian Americans.

At Be My Neighbor Day.

And I'm really thrilled that we were able to deliver those messages to Holy Ghost.

Ukrainian Church in Eastern I think it's really important to share love with everyone, even people that you don't know.

Just brings warmth to my heart.

If we're a good neighbor in our community, then that's where the change starts.

This is an event we look forward to every year.

We'll see you next time.

Would you be mine?

Would you be mine?

Will you be my neighbor?

A great event.

Yes, a great event.

And a lot of good neighbors.

So Sue, should we give that number one more time?

Of course, Stacy.

Don't you feel that kindness energy all over the room?

So if you do grab your cell and just call or text You ready?

Write this down or get your cell phone out right now.

One 800 3600039 and use the key word fund and send any amount you can.

Thank you so much.

Don't disappoint, Sue.

Don't disappoint.

No.

Thank you so much for joining us.

Enjoy the rest of the evening.

Absolutely.

Since 1968 Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley has worked tirelessly to help lower income residents overcome many challenges that can seem insurmountable, especially to those who are new to the country or don't speak English.

Things like getting an ID, finding a job or securing housing.

Fast forward to today.

HCR law does all that and more.

Currently, it's a weak provider for Northampton County too.

And last year alone, the center had 10,000 appointments.

There's also a food bank that went from serving 800 families to more than 3000 over the course of the pandemic.

The people who run it were in no way just keeping up.

Rather, they focused on improving services with the addition of fresh produce and culturally appropriate foods.

They really have positioned themselves as a go to agency for all social service issues If they get the call, they make the connections between the right people and the right resources in times of crisis.

When the news hit that some communities of color were hesitant to get vaccinated, it was their mission to change that.

The center received a CDC Foundation grant its first national grant and rolled out a multilevel effort.

The Center ran a community forum broadcast here on PBS's 39 mobile vaccine clinics, and many social media campaigns.

And wait, there's more besides all that.

The center is a home away from home for some of Northampton County's.

Luckiest seniors, those that have a spot at the HCR Lvy Senior Center this is the Hispanic Center.

Senior Center.

There are gains.

There are fresh meals There's dancing a lot of dancing and live music.

Everyone knows the words There's the Christmas tree that never gets put away.

It just keeps getting a fresh, new look.

I've been coming here for 17 years.

And I love that.

I feel at home.

Because every day, every season, there is every reason to celebrate This place is the epitome of community.

One of the one of the here.

The moment I feel like we have a name we enjoy, be together.

The calendar is full of interesting and unique events.

We want to customize everything that we do at the Senior Center program based on what the participants feedback that we receive.

Some activities are for fun, like fashion shows or the walks with doctors addressing health concerns.

They keep us busy.

We don't be alone at home.

So we're going to be so happy to be here.

The center offers more than just good times, though.

There's plenty of that It provides freshly prepared meals providing nutrition the seniors may not get otherwise.

And milk.

The supportive and friendly environment strengthens their mental health.

The events and activities increase their fitness and physical health.

All that was at risk during the pandemic, when the center had to close.

We were all.

Praying.

Previous leaders said.

To be open, please, God, go to limited.

Space.

COVID impacted every single program of the Hispanic Center.

We had our doors.

Unfortunately, we were not able to remain open during that period.

However, every senior was engaged during the Cuban 18 pandemic.

While everything was close, we deliver home packages to the seniors twice a month They were culturally appropriate packages, and we distribute over £20,000 of food to our seniors.

This is what keeps us going.

It didn't matter whether it was raining snow when we never went out without much food.

Soon they opened the center.

Everybody was happy.

I come here.

I have lunch.

I have breakfast.

I mingle with all my friends because I know all of them for years.

So it's a family.

It's like you're coming to your family.

Being part of the senior center program.

It improves the mental health of our seniors.

They get to dance.

They get to laugh.

They get to cook.

They get to do everything they want to do in their lives, in a space where they can be themselves and they can enjoy their culture.

100%.

It helps your mind because here you're talking and you're utilized in your mind.

Like when you're home, you're just sitting down thinking about this.

Someday, not being here, I learned how to deal with the fear.

I run.

I do all the stuff that I love.

I don't even feel my age.

I love to dress.

I mean, not like a teenager.

But when I know, you know, say I need this.

Miss Honey, you see me.

Boom, boom, boom.

That's the seventh the eight year old.

And I feel great.

I do.

Since I come.

I love it.

I love it.

I hope we always have this little place.

In recent years, the Hispanic Center of the Lehigh Valley launched a major capital campaign, raising millions of dollars from local corporations, institutions and individual donors, money used to renovate and modernize their facilities, bringing all their services together on one campus.

With that, H.S.

Lee is now looking to the future with an eye on expanding services and serving more people in their journey to self-sufficiency.

Working at the Hispanic Center is a very rewarding experience.

Every day you get to interact with many different community members from donors, from clients, from many different community members that are very committed to improving health equity in communities of color and to me, the most rewarding experience is in attracting with the clients that we serve.

There's nothing more than that experience of their smile.

On how appreciated they are and knowing that we get to improve their quality of life.

That is the most rewarding experience to come and have a job like that.

Joining me to present the 2022 Good Neighbor Award to Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley is Jane Brooks from Highmark Blue Shield, the title sponsor for tonight's broadcast.

Thank you, Stacey.

It is a pleasure to be here and be able to honor the Hispanic Center of the Lehigh Valley with you, with everyone here, along with everyone watching for all of the important work they have done, and to continue to do the Hispanic Center of the Lehigh Valley is a longstanding partner of Highmark Blue Shield.

Highmark is so proud of its commitment to the growing Latino population in Pennsylvania.

The Hispanic Center says that its mission statement, their goal is to empower through self-sufficiency and promote intercultural understanding throughout the Lehigh Valley, because doing so builds a stronger society and a more vibrant economy for all.

That is so powerful and true And we had Highmark Blue Shield stand with you.

Hispanic Center, Lehigh Valley.

We are proud to celebrate you and honor you Please welcome Olga Negron and Victoria Monteiro from HCV to accept a 2020 to Good Neighbor Award.

On behalf of the Hispanic Center, Lehigh Valley Clients, Staff and Board of Directors.

Thank you to PBS 39 for this award.

It is a pleasure and an honor to dedicate this award to our community.

Special thanks to our donors and volunteer ers who support our mission.

Thank you to the Seed CDC Foundation for supporting our COVID19 efforts.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Congratulations.

Congratulations.

So well-deserved.

What?

When asked, what's your hobby?

Esther Lee said People and helping people.

And it's been that way since the 1960s.

That is when she witnessed discrimination against her children.

She moved to action, becoming a community leader.

Then working her way up to president of the Bethlehem ACP.

Esther Lee has given a lifetime to shining light on injustice advocate fighting for equality and bringing people together to make a stronger community for all citizens of Bethlehem.

I've lived in Bethlehem all my life.

When I was came out of school, you know, all we had waiting for us as little black girls was domestic.

That this baby no, no, no.

But Esther's true calling was clear.

After bearing witness to her children being discriminated against at school.

I was very conscious of everything every day.

Life afforded us to make sure things happened correctly.

Esther made her plan to be very present at school and to communicate any concerns quickly.

She says it was always easier and more effective for her to talk directly to the principal and teachers rather than make a thing about it in the community.

I was always upfront about this race issue.

Always we discussions face on, and I think we miss much Without that.

Esther joined the PTA.

As parents, we came together and talked about our children.

Then she was the first black person elected to the school board.

Think the party was ready and I was timely.

And so our PTA helped tremendously.

Esther ran for Bethlehem City Council, but was unsuccessful in winning a seat.

However, as written in a Morning Call article at the time in defeat, Esther may have won.

She went on to become a member of the board for more than two dozen different local organizations.

She hosted a show here on PBS's 39 called Black Exposure.

And she's the longtime, very active president at the Bethlehem and CP.

And every aspect of community life that I've entered into.

I was I had a positive attitude.

And although Esther didn't have the city council seat herself, she worked tirelessly to get the first black person on city council.

Earlier this year, Wendell and Enoch.

All I kept saying to people, I wouldn't tell them who it was.

I said, She's overqualified.

And I said, And it's not me.

Because it didn't take the community out to elect her.

But the board to accept it.

Esther is known to be accessible and for having several projects going at once.

I'm like a mother with a month old baby.

I can't tell day and night.

Whether it's getting calls from concerned citizens.

Too.

That's my phone call.

To promoting honoring Martin Luther King Day.

For the people that say, you know, why take a holiday, you know?

What's the good of that?

Well, with respect, but with respect, that's what it is.

Dr. King says blacks walk alongside white.

And so if we're ever to get this thing moving in place, you know, we need to start doing that together.

And I here and for talking about inequalities and race issues in schools, Esther approaches the challenges in the same manner she always has Really?

Take a step back, try to understand the situation.

You know, don't go out half cocked.

You know, I think that's all part of it.

We can't always assume that the other part is wrong.

Listen to the whole proposition and then have a discussion Everything is not a battle.

Her hope for the next generation is simple and so meaningful.

Get to know one another.

Esther has no plans to slow down any time soon.

I don't think anybody understands why I do what I do, but I'm climbing this ladder at age eight.

And I'll tell you, I don't have any I don't.

I don't look.

Back.

I look forward because the job is unfinished.

Just the best that I can analyze.

The job is unfinished.

And I get older every day like everybody else.

It is unbelievable.

I pinch myself, but I keep going, you know?

And I think as the old black folks say, I feel no ways tired.

My fight is not over.

Several local organizations are working together to archive many of Esther Lee's photographs, political fliers, and documents collected over the years of her civil rights work.

The goal is to share the untold black history of Bethlehem.

The archives will be available online as an incredible educational resource, and the physical items will be on loan to Lehigh University.

The hope is that the project will become a permanent educational resource for the community and beyond.

It will be called the Esther and Lee African-American Heritage Center Well-deserved.

Another great thing about Esther is her daughter, Jessie Just Lee has been a part of the PBS 39 family for more than 40 years as a graphic designer.

And she is hard at work right now.

And tonight's broadcast.

In the control room.

Hi, Dad.

And just happens to be a past recipient of the Good Neighbor Award.

Yes.

Yeah.

And now to help present the 2022 PBS 39 Good Neighbor Award to Esther Lee is Dr. Joseph Roy Superintend it of Bethlehem Area School District.

Thank you, Stacey.

It's my pleasure to be here tonight to roast Esther.

No, I'm sorry.

It's my pleasure to be here tonight to present this award to Mrs. Esther Lee.

Esther is an icon in the Bethlehem community.

As we saw in the story.

She has spent her whole life trying to improve the lives of all people in Bethlehem.

She has worked tirelessly for equality.

Esther encourages people to treat each other with respect and to communicate with one another.

That's what good neighbors do.

I ask that.

Everyone, please join me in welcoming Esther Lee to the.

Stage.

Malveaux's Here I am in the flesh.

I think people think when we get to this age, we should be under the sergeant.

We should be quiet.

But I'm thankful for my abilities to continue in the work of the NAACP.

And I would encourage all of you as we go through these perilous times that we come together and as has been previously stated, get to know one another.

You know, let's do more than meeting at a mall, at a mall or shopping.

But let's become a little more intimate so that our children get to know one another.

And let's remove the hate that exists within the hearts of more and more people every day.

The tide is going.

Just the opposite.

But I do encourage you, if you want to know more details of what I do, we meet the second Saturdays monthly right now, zoom.

But I NAACP is very active.

And my job is the eyes and ears of Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley.

I'll continue to do that work until God proves his these eyes.

But thank you all for this award this evening.

I've always wanted and appreciative, but I speak my mind and I if I pass you tonight, and say something, you'll be what I feel And, you know, I make no amends for what I'm thinking.

And I expect when you become realistic about what you feel, the world will get better.

But God bless you all.

And thank you.

Congratulations, Esther.

God bless you.

You know, most people in their eighties who have worked their entire lives to help build a dynasty and give generously to their community would, you know, take it easy.

We make golf, travel, napping, hammocks on the beach, but not Lee books.

No.

People who know him understand he's not most people.

His grandfather started Alvin Butz, an innovative construction management company that is one of the largest in the state.

It's a family business now in its sixth generation in the mix.

And in the 1970s, Lee helped elevate the business from construction to construction management, and it grew exponentially.

But is the mastermind behind some of Lehigh Valley most iconic buildings?

The People Center, Olympus Corporation of America's Headquarters, PBS 39 and the New DaVinci Center coming soon to downtown Allentown.

Even the building we're standing in right now, the arts center at Steel Stacks.

Now, Lee has turned his focus from building one of a kind structures to building bright futures.

I guess a lot of people wonder why an 88 year old is anxious to take on something like this.

I feel very strongly that the community has been so good to me and my company and my family that nothing is more satisfying to me than being able to pay back some of the wonderful things that have happened for us.

This is no gain, but for Lee.

But the time is now.

To bring it home for the Allentown School District.

He is rallying a team to run an innovative educational approach for ASG students.

He hopes to see better performance in schools and higher paying in-demand career path jobs for graduates So he had this idea this century promise the organization would embed career exploration of local companies and hands on prep right into the school day for kids.

Sure, similar programs exist.

But what's different here is the guaranteed job after graduation offered by the corporate partners.

A lot of people said, Are you crazy?

Nobody's going to want to provide a kid with a guarantee of employment.

And I was a little concerned about that.

But instead, Lee batted a thousand when he asked local companies to commit to the program.

And I went to see 11 different businesses and institutions, and every single one of them agreed to take part in this program.

The Board of directors is stacked with political leaders to college presidents.

The message from the companies and those committed to the board is clear.

Well, it says, number one, that they really care about the community.

That they recognize the importance of the Allentown School District and and the success of the Allentown School District.

And the least thought out use of doll to lead the century promise.

Lee Butz is the heart and soul of the century promise.

Lee wants nothing less but to change the entire system and to make sure our school districts work to support the goals, the success of our students.

And so what excites me about this opportunity in the Lehigh Valley is that the problem is complex enough where we are going to impact thousands of young people in this community.

But the communities small enough where I can get well, Lee can get all of the important people around the table and get us all rowing in the same direction.

The program will provide all the skills, big and small, needed for the job.

Plus on the job, internships.

So students are literally ready to work on day one.

It's necessary because so many of our students are graduating uncertain of what's next and how they can lever edge their degree and the experiences that they're having in school to future employment opportunities.

And it doesn't stop at the first job.

It's a pathway for a lifelong career.

We want to make sure our students are in the best position to land those those career opportunities that can lead to future growth, and that can include a college degree.

It can include, you know, very specific industry training But we want to make sure that the pathway pays off.

And we're committed to holding ourselves accountable to that.

A pilot program with a seventh and eighth graders will run first at Allen Drive and build in 21.

It's a promise by our community to our students.

But promises work both ways.

And our students are also promising to put in the work so that when they graduate, they can go and make positive contributions to these organizations.

So it's a lot of work.

It's not going to be easy.

But systemic changes is never easy.

But if it was easy, I don't think Liebowitz would want to do it anyway.

So I think Kayla, how are things going here today?

Perfect.

How's my friend Lewis doing?

Doing good.

He's a great kid.

A lot of people might have the feeling that some of the parents in the Allentown School District aren't as concerned about their kids as people in the suburbs.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Like all of us, they want their kids to do better than we did.

This will make such a huge difference in the lives of their children.

It's going to be enormously gratifying to me to see this program doing so much for these kids.

And here now to present Lee Butz with the 2022 Good Neighbor Award is a 2019 Good Neighbor Award recipient David Jindal of Jindal Farms.

Thank you, Stacey.

Fred Rogers said anyone who does anything to help children in his life is a hero.

He also said real strength has to do with helping others.

I have known looked up to and admired Lee since I first met him when I was in the sixth grade.

I had a real I have had the real pleasure of working closely with Lee over the last six years in the development and operation of the Miracle League of the Lehigh Valley.

During this time he has continued to show his love and support of children and the less fortunate.

Lee, I am proud to share the honor of this red sweater with you.

Please join me in celebrating the 2022 Good Neighbor Award recipient Lee Butts Thank you, Dave, for those kind comments.

I wanted to mention to him that I'm not so sure he should wear a red sweater around the turkeys.

Sounds a little dangerous to me.

This award means a great deal to me and on a number of levels.

One to be included in the list of people who have received this award is a real honor, as is the opportunity to share tonight with Esther Lee and the Hispanic Center and my friends at just born that means an awful lot to me.

You know, there's something special about this award in our society.

Today.

There is so much rancor and diversity and difficulties between individuals.

I don't like to call it hatred, but there is not the kind of feeling that we should have from one to another.

This is the greatest country in the history of the world.

Let's not spoil it.

Let's take this opportunity to do everything we can to be a better good neighbor.

Thank you for this wonderful work.

Wow, what a night it has been.

PBS 39 is so proud to share these unique stories of good news happening right here in the Lehigh Valley.

Sometimes big changes can take root from the effort of just one person.

Hmm.

Some of those change makers happen to be TV as 39 viewers.

Go figure And so here is a look at some of their stories.

So my name's Robert Plaza.

I am the elementary school principal here at Panther Valley School District.

Bertha Dressler has been a champion for literacy in the Panther Valley community for over 15 years.

First, I took on running the Scholastic Book Fairs during this time because there's no librarian here.

So she made this her mission to run the school book fair.

Reading did not come easy to Bertha when she was growing up, and she wants to make sure that every child here at Panther Valley is able to get books in their home so they can learn to become proficient readers In addition to this, Bertha took it upon herself to become a huge part of building a playground here at the elementary school.

And just 18 months we raised over $50,000 total to build a playground for the kids that are had a better playground here for ten years.

And she also champions other local organizations through change drive.

So she motivates the kids to bring in change to raise money for organizations such as Turn to US Guardian Angel Recovery House, a local Head Start program and so so much more.

Bertha is the definition of what it means to be a good neighbor.

She's selfless and does all she can to support the Greater Panther Valley community.

My name is Kelly.

Joseph I'm the operations and outreach manager for NAMI Lehigh Valley.

My path crossed with Michiko Rajavi and Jessica Berninger two years ago when as a junior at Parkland High School, they were seeking to create a student led mental health awareness club as part of NAMI, a national grassroots mental health advocacy and education organization.

I was very thrilled to hear of their desire and more than willing to help them.

Little did I know how much they would inspire and encourage our organization as well as myself.

They have made a valuable impact for their high school, providing fellow students support, information and resources as well as creative outlets and opportunities for giving back to their community.

Greyson just saw a need and created a solution.

One example of their many efforts was when NAMI Lehigh Valley received 150 new backpacks from Northampton County.

Ryerson just rallied their club members, and eventually the whole student body collected donations.

And then they continued with their commitment to this effort by filling and delivering the backpacks to the local homeless shelters.

The shelter representatives were so enthused by their interest in the shelters work and their desire to help further.

Fred Rogers is known for saying When scary things happened, my mom would always tell me to look for the helpers.

She said, You will always find there are people who are helping and in this way, Rish and just a good neighbors to our community by providing positivity, hope for change, and a willingness to help without expectation for reward for themselves.

I feel very fortunate to have worked alongside Rich and Jess, and I have no doubt that they will go on to forge their own unique paths and do great things with big hearts and curious minds.

PBS 39 viewers are just truly the vast.

Their spirit is energizing And we all thank you for what you do.

Finally tonight, we would like to pay homage to one of the most beloved people of the Lehigh Valley.

Father Dan Gander.

Father Gambit passed away earlier this year.

He was a good neighbor award recipient in 2018 and an incredible champion of PBS 39 since the beginning.

He was a true visionary, an incredible leader and president of Desales University for more than 20 years.

Add to that he was an extraordinary fundraiser and an education and community advocate.

Oh, and he was also a legendary joke teller with a fantastic sense of humor.

So tonight, as we join together and celebrate the good neighbors around us, his words fit perfectly.

I get to see a lot of the people in the Lehigh Valley who need help and all I can tell you is there are many of them.

They're not freeloaders.

There are people who, through no fault of their own, find themselves disadvantaged, forgotten, and kind of on the side of the road, as Pope Francis likes to say.

Those are the people that need our help.

And in my view, a good neighbor, especially one who was honored as a good neighbor like me, really must reach out to those people no matter who they are, no matter how they look, no matter what religion they are.

We need to reach out to them because they really need our help.

And that's the essence, in my opinion, of being a good neighbor and a good Samaritan.

Being a good neighbor is its own reward.

There's nothing more satisfying in this life than to reach out and be able to help someone who really needs your help.

So if you've never been a good neighbor, I would say try it.

You'll like it.

What a beautiful message, right?

Be a good neighbor.

Try it.

You will like it.

Tonight's stories are really all about collaboration.

When we work together, we accomplish more.

We are better together.

So I want to thank all of our recipients tonight, along with those joining us from years past, those here on stage and those here in spirit.

Your work makes our communities so much better, and we need your help at home.

So once again, that number to call or text your donation to the Good Neighbor Fund is one A00 3600039.

The key word for text is fund.

Or visit PBS 39 Mortgage Fund.

So let's hear from our title sponsor.

Hi, Mark.

And then Groove Merchants.

Good night, everybody.

Good evening.

I'm Kathleen Mackenzie, vice president of community affairs at Highmark Blue Shield.

Thank you for joining us for the 2022 Good Neighbor Awards at Highmark.

We're committed to being a good neighbor.

We live by the truth that we have a core responsibility to invest in our communities and to ensure our community has access to basic needs like health care, food, education, and housing.

We are proud to be the title sponsor of the Good Neighbor Awards and to recognize the outstanding achievements of tonight's award recipients.

Tonight, we honor our neighbors who immediately respond to the critical needs of our community and work every day to create a safe, healthy and vital community.

Congratulations to Esther Lee, Hispanic Center of the Lehigh Valley.

Just Born Quality Confections and Lee a puts.

You are making a positive difference in our community and we appreciate that.

Thank you for attending this evening and for your support of our community and the PD's 39.

Bond you let me hold your.

Hand on the floor of this oh this.

May not do so well may or may not we love you every day little girl.

Well for now some of them.

Don't.

Get to go.

To the halls with our crowd.

Go.

Let me take you to show I will let you all go all do anything.

Love me miss brave of you.

Let me be your love.

All there.

To.