Community Foundation of Henderson County announces award winners

On Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 8), the Community Foundation of Henderson County hosted its first in-person Annual Luncheon since 2019 at Jeter Mountain Farm to recognize its yearly award winners. According to a press release, the event was held at Jeter Mountain Farm and was attended by nearly 250 community members.

The Community Foundation of Henderson County honored two local philanthropists — Dr. Steven Crane and Jane Davis. Crane was presented the Dot Marlow Philanthropic Catalyst Award, and Davis was given the Richard and Vina Sauer Charitable Leadership Award.

Marlow directed a "powerful philanthropic energy for positive impact in Henderson County," and to honor her and the countless contributions she made to the Foundation and the Henderson County community, the Foundation established the Dorothy Dellinger “Dot” Marlow Philanthropic Catalyst Award in 2019, the release said. The Foundation said that recipients of this award reflect her spirit to take action, begin new endeavors and commit to a project. Past Marlow Award Winners include: Kathleen Lees, Albert Lyons, and Renee Kumor.

Crane is a local family medicine practitioner and Volunteer Medical Director for 20 years at The Free Clinics. He was presented the award by Marlow’s daughters, Dottie Kinlaw and Valorie Songer, and granddaughter Rev. Julie Songer Belman.

“One of the pieces of (Crane's) mindset that reflects Dot to me is that commitment to community matters. Dr. Crane has this vision of how our community can be the best — particularly through the healthcare lens, but in a broad global lens of what will it take for us all to live and be as healthy as we can,” said Executive Director of The Free Clinics Judy Long in the release.

Named for the Sauers, the Sauer Charitable Leadership Award "exemplifies the generosity of a husband and wife team who supported many local charities during their lifetimes and then left the first $1 million unrestricted gift to Community Foundation through their will," the release said.

Davis and her late husband, Tom, moved to Henderson County in 2000, immediately immersing themselves into volunteer work, as well as setting up a Scholarship at Community Foundation of Henderson County for local high school graduates heading off to pursue their post-secondary educations. Bullington Gardens, a recipient of Jane and Tom’s charitable works, spoke to her commitment to the organization.

“Jane just totally embraces work. She just came in and was all in. Not just the donating part, but helping with the gardens and helping the organization as a whole,” said Retired Education Director of Bullington, John Murphy, in the press release. “She personally redid some of the gardens, helped with writing grants, and put on events. She even helped write the bylaws for us to become a 501 (c)(3) organization.”

Past Sauer Award Winners include Dirk and Paige Willms, Ron and Norma Rosenberger, Hall and Sonja Waddell, Grace V. Poli, Bernd and Toby Linder, Phyllis C. Rothrock, Ruth Birge, Thos. R. Shepherd, Mary R. Garrison, Dr. Stuart and Carola Cohn, Marian P. Lowry, Teddi Segal, Robert and Doris Eklund, the Dr. Kathleen McGrady Family, Jeff Miller, Duane and Peggy McKibbin, Dot Marlow, Dr. Colin Thomas, Frank Byrd, Tom and Sue Fazio, Eleanora Meloun, Marcia Caserio, William "Bill" F. Stokes, Jr., William E. "Jamie" Jamison, Kermit Edney, Morris Kaplan, Kenneth Youngblood and Frank Wyttenbach Ewbank.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Community Foundation of Henderson County announces award winners