Each year the DuBois Chamber of Commerce holds their annual Business Bash to celebrate the accomplishments of the past year and also to recognize those who have gone above and beyond for the community. This year’s event was held at the DuBois Country Club Saturday evening.
The crowning moment each year is the awarding of the Distinguished Service Award, presented by the DuBois Area Jaycees.
Presented to someone who exemplifies service, community volunteerism and service to faith, the award has been presented to a community member since 1956.
Jaycees President Mikaela Loy said they were amazed by the candidates this year and all they have done for the community, but one name stood out above the others, someone who was a professor of physics at Penn State DuBois for 30 years and also coached women’s basketball during that time.
In 2003 he retired but kept busy, bicycling across the United States, receiving an Associate’s Degree in Wildlife Management, and volunteering for Habitat for Humanity as well as reaching out and helping wherever he could.
“He left his legacy in the lives he touched,” Loy said, announcing the posthumous award to Dr. John Farr.
Farr’s wife, Cathy, accepted the award on his behalf and said she had been crying all through the ceremony.
She said he “absolutely loved” being a teacher and over the years many students would come to him and tell him how he had impacted their lives.
Also, she talked about how important Habitat for Humanity became to him, almost a second career, “John did it all.”
“How lucky and blessed we are to have had such an extraordinary person in our lives,” she said, adding that he would have been humbled and pleased to receive the award.
Three other awards were presented Saturday evening, the Small Business of the Year Award, Community Cup Award and Greater Good Award.
DuBois Dermatology and Cosmetics revived the Small Business of the Year Award. Started by Dr. Lisa Pfingstler, who noted this is their tenth year of practice and that somehow it seemed very important to all of them.
The practice began with only nine employees and has grown to 27 full time and seven part time employees.
Pfingstler noted she was born and raised in DuBois and that she is blessed to be able to come back and provide a much needed service to the area.
She quoted Steve Jobs, “The best way to do good work is to love what you do,” and added, “and who you do it with.”
The Community Cup was presented to Lifespan Family Services which provides foster care and adoption services to Clearfield and Jefferson counties.
Founded in 2009, the organization fills a need in the area where there were very few foster homes for local children.
Since then over 2000 children have found places in local foster homes and 500 have been adopted. Currently there are eight active centers and they have working relationships with 20 Children and Youth Services offices.
Patrick Shea, who started LFS noted that 20 years ago he met two children in foster care in Elwood City who were originally from Clearfield County, and then later another living in Harrisburg, and he realized that there was a need to recruit foster families at home.
He said the General Assembly enacted legislation stating that children are to be placed in foster care near home and, whenever possible, in the same school district.
He thanked his staff for all of their hard work and noted that when employees work together, good things happen.
Shea also stated that they are facing a new crisis as it is becoming very hard to get liability insurance and he hopes this is something that can be rectified soon.
The Greater Good award was presented to DuBois Area Food Pantry, which began in 1989 on Jared Street. After a fire in 2009 they relocated to Mansell Stadium and is now located on First Street.
The pantry has 35 volunteers and provides both food and personal care items to families in need.