CONTACT:
Joanne Quinn-Smith, PR Director
NAWBO Greater Pittsburgh
Jqsdreamweaver@aol.com
412-444-5197
Members of the National Organization of Women (NAWBO) Pittsburgh Chapter
Mourn the Passing of Mary Pam Kilgore as They Celebrate Her Life and Achievements
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| Mary Pam Kilgore |
PITTSBURGH, August 00, 2013 – Mary Pam Kilgore, CMP, President of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Pittsburgh Chapter, 2013-2014, passed away on July 23, 2013, with husband, Robert, daughter, Sarah, and son, Sebastian, by her side at her home in Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania, following one of many bouts with metastatic cancer.
Valiant woman that Kilgore was, she refused to let her disease define her. In a recent blog, she wrote, “But I am more than my disease. I am a wife, a mother to two grown children, Sarah and Sebastian. I am a daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, friend, and business owner. I volunteer. I mentor.”
As NAWBO members now mourn Mary Pam’s passing, they celebrate her life as a wife, mother, businesswoman, and as the founder of her firm, Kilgore Events and Meetings. On July 27, 2013, members of the Pittsburgh Chapter held a memorial service in her honor.
Kilgore joined NAWBO in 2005 and steadily contributed to the effectiveness of the organization during her eight years as a member. In 2008, she received the “Make the Connection” award from NAWBO for making organizations assets to the community. She rose to President Elect of the Pittsburgh Chapter in 2011, and was elected President for the 2013-14 program year.
She was a key player in the success of Hug-a-Thon Pittsburgh 2012 that won feature coverage in Pittsburgh’s news dailies and coverage by the city’s three, top television stations.
Kilgore also maintained active memberships in a number of other organizations, including Meeting Professionals International (MPI), Business Network International (BNI) South Hills Chamber of Commerce, Washington County Chamber of Commerce, Calliope The Pittsburgh Folk Music Society. Mary Pam was one of the founding volunteers of the annual Pittsburgh Blues Festival Mary Pam was also one for which continued to work throughout 2012
On July 27,2013 at an event at Urban Mountain Gathering Place, NAWBO Greater Pittsburgh awarded Mary Pam Kilgore the Gillian Rudd Founder’s Award.
Gillian Rudd Founder's Award
Nationally, NAWBO Gillian Rudd Business Leadership Award recognizes a woman business owner who has made a significant contribution to the status and visibility of women-owned firms and to the empowerment of women entrepreneurs both nationally and internationally. This award was named after Gillian Rudd, who served as NAWBO’s national president (1987-88) and contributed both strategy and personal charm to NAWBO’s early political advocacy activities. She also was instrumental in helping NAWBO establish the National Foundation for Women Business Owners—now known as the Center for Women’s Business Research.
NAWBO Greater Pittsburgh Gives the Gillian Rudd Founder's Award in the same vein, as this award is for someone who contributes unselfishly -- both to NAWBO and the business and nonprofit community.
The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) propels women entrepreneurs into economic, social and political spheres of power worldwide by: Strengthening the wealth creating capacity of our members and promoting economic development within the entrepreneurial community; creating innovative and effective change in the business culture; building strategic alliances, coalitions and affiliations; and transforming public policy and influencing opinion makers.
The Greater Pittsburgh Chapter is the fifth oldest chapter in the country, established in 1975.
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