WEST CHESTER, PA — The March of Dimes awarded three Chester County women who’ve had a remarkable impact on business, health and public service at its 33rd Annual Salute to Women of Achievement awards presentation Wednesday night at the Desmond Hotel in Malvern.
The March of Dimes says the following women have made Chester County a better place to live and work while raising funds for the March of Dimes mission to improve the health of babies:
- Brenda A. Allen, PhD, President of Lincoln University
- Stacey L. Fuller, Partner, Gawthrop Greenwood, Attorneys at Law
- Donna Sinnott, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant & Doula, Main Line Health’s Paoli Hospital
Wednesday’s formal awards presentation raised proceeds that directly support local initiatives for March of Dimes, Philadelphia and South Jersey Market.
“The Chester County Salute to Women of Achievement has raised more than $1 million to help the March Dimes fight for the health of all moms and babies. We are grateful for the hard work of this year’s honorees, as well as the corporate sponsors, generous donors and volunteers who make it all possible,” said event co-chairs Kate Ward, CEO of Ward Design; Helen Mountain, Partner at Lamb McErlane PC and Karen Kofalt, Vice President of Professional Services at Main Line Health.
Public Service Award: Brenda A. Allen, PhD, President of Lincoln University
As Lincoln University’s 14th president, Brenda A. Allen has been aggressively implementing a strategic plan designed to ensure Lincoln’s place among great liberal arts institutions. The current investments prioritize enhancing academic quality and improving operational effectiveness with projects such as revising the curriculum, increasing support for faculty teaching and scholarship, expanding co-curricular opportunities, and restructuring the administration.
Additionally, Dr. Allen has made progress on extensive renovations, upgrades and additions to the 422-acre, 56-building campus. Knowing the value of the School for Adult and Continuing Education located in downtown Philadelphia, Dr. Allen has redoubled the University’s effort to expand the programs offered. The primary focus has been on instituting a vibrant continuing education unit designed to offer adults the opportunity to earn credentials and advance their careers.
Before becoming president of the University, Dr. Allen served as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at Winston Salem State University. Dr. Allen has also served as associate provost and director of institutional diversity at Brown University and at Smith College where she served as a professor and chair of the African American Studies Department, the assistant to the president, director of institutional diversity, and special assistant to the provost.
Business Award: Stacey L. Fuller, Partner, Gawthrop Greenwood, Attorneys at Law
A partner and shareholder with the law firm Gawthrop Greenwood, PC, Stacey L. Fuller has handled some of Chester County’s most high-profile land development and zoning matters during a period of historic growth for the region, representing municipalities, townships, boroughs, planning commissions and zoning hearing boards, as well as individual developers and residents. Her work resulted in Stacey being named 2022 “Lawyer of the Year” for Land Use and Zoning Law in the Philadelphia region by Best Lawyers in America®.
Stacey also has a stellar reputation for her practice in education and special education law, as parents, public and private schools encounter a larger volume of social, economic and behavioral challenges than ever before. She represents charter and alternative schools—both in regular and special education matters—as well as serving as a parent advocate, assisting parents with securing necessary services for their children.
In 2013, Stacey welcomed her daughter Jackie, who was born six weeks prematurely. That experience led Stacey to devote countless hours to the March of Dimes, including serving on the board of March of Dimes events and serving as Ambassador Family for the 2014 March for Babies and Women of Achievement Dinner in West Chester.
Healthcare Award: Donna Sinnott, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant & Doula, Main Line Health’s Paoli Hospital
Donna Sinnott is an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant, a Certified Birth Doula and Certified Postpartum Doula. Her journey began after the birth of her first child when she struggled with breastfeeding, inspiring her work as an advocate for healthy moms and strong babies for 30 years.
At Main Line Health, “Boob Donna” – as she is fondly known for her expertise in lactation – has been successfully empowering thousands of women and families with her positive, non-judgmental educational style. When the pandemic hit, she became the lead educator of Main Line Health’s Prenatal Breastfeeding classes, in which she has personally taught over 3,000 families virtually. In 2016, she was awarded the Barbara Tachovsky 5 Star Care Award, given to only one hospital employee each year. She has been system chair of the Lactation Committee and serves as coordinator of the Keystone 10 Initiative, a Department of Health initiative aimed at improving the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding for all Pennsylvania families.
This year’s presenting sponsor is WSFS Cares Foundation. Supporting sponsors are Brumbaugh Wealth Management, Krapf Group and Oswald Building Services.
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