Gaston Business Association celebrates the community
The Gaston Business Association took time at its annual meeting to celebrate some of the people who have made a difference in the community.
More than 150 people attended the annual luncheon held earlier this month at the Gastonia Conference Center. The event serves to end out the calendar year, celebrate successes, and recognize individuals in the community.
Duke Energy Leadership and Citizenship Award
The Gaston Business Association broke with tradition this year and gave the award to two individuals − Pastor Rodney Freeman and Dr. Crystal Maddox Bowe.
Freeman, pastor of the Mount Zion Restoration Church, has helped operate the Bountiful Blessings Food Pantry for 19 years with dozens of other volunteers.
The food bank was helping feed about 300 people a week across Gaston County before the pandemic. During the pandemic, that number jumped to about 2,900 a week, and has stretched its reach into Cleveland, Mecklenburg and York County, South Carolina.
It takes more than two hours to give away about 40,000 pounds of food each week, Freeman told the group.
"You know how Chick-fil-A's line works?" Freeman asked the group. "We're the the food pantry Chick-fil-A."
Freeman said the award really goes to the volunteers, and the credit goes to God.
The recently married Bowe works as a primary care physician within the CaroMont Medical Group, serving patients of all ages. In addition to her medical practice, she writes children's books, is active in the community, and a mother of two children.
She serves on the Gaston County Board of Health, and has also been active in the Covid Advisory Committee for the past two years to ensure equity in both COVID education and vaccination efforts in Gaston County.
Bowe said she was humbled and honored by the award.
"None of this could have happened without the partnerships we have in our community," Bowe said.
Bowe talked about how she has gotten to know many in the business community through their service to different organizations. She also thanked CaroMont Health for its support.
"I am so blessed to have worked with so many of you from community organizations to our community events, and I'm grateful for what CaroMont has done."
"I am so grateful they have brought me to this community to serve," Bowe said of her employer.
Aurora Award
Known as an award for young professional women, the Aurora Award went to Andrea Grenier, a scholarship and donor relationships specialist at Gaston College.
Grenier has been active with local business groups and the county and statewide Jaycees organization for more than a decade.
She thanked several different woman she credited with helping her see the value of community involvement over the years.
"To take a line from the Jaycee creed, 'Service to humanity is the best work of life,'" Grenier said.
Athena Award
Retiring Sen. Kathy Harrington was awarded the Athena Award, which recognizes outstanding women in the community.
Harrington, who retired in 2022 after six terms in the state Senate, works as a real estate broker. She volunteers in schools and has served on several community boards, including the Gaston County Board of Realtors Legislative Committee, Gaston County Museum of Art, Gaston Dance Theatre, and Piedmont Community Charter School.
"I'm honored to join a group of accomplished women, many of them friends," Harrington said. "I couldn't do any of it without the support of my husband, Michael, who is here today and has supported me in everything I have done."
You can reach Kevin Ellis at 704-201-7016 or email him at Kellis@GastonGazette.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Gaston Business Association celebrates the community
