For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Lee Rush - 215.538.4796 or lrush@enter.net

Katherine Steinly Receives Feryl L. Spanninger Spirit Award

April 2006 (Quakertown, PA) – JustCommunity, a Quakertown-based nonprofit youth organization presented the first annual Feryl L. Spanninger Spirit Award to Katie Steinly, a Senior at Pennridge High School in Perkasie, PA.  The award goes to an 18-25 year old Upper Bucks County young adult who has provided extraordinary service to youth within their community.  The award is presented annually at the justCommunity CARES Benefit Concert. The 2nd annual took place on April 2, 2006 at the Sellersville Theatre and featured nationally-known folk singer John McCutcheon.

The award memorializes lifelong Hilltown Township resident Feryl L. Spanninger (1925-2004) for his contributions to the social, educational, emotional and spiritual well-being of our area’s youth.

Ms. Steinly meets the criteria for this award with ease, given her exemplary record of service, talent, and care in the Pennridge community.  As a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Perkasie, Katie fulfills an active role in multiple facets of worship.  She sings with the adult choir, (after being a member of the youth and junior choir), plays in the bell choir, contributes music of all kinds on piano and cello, teaches at Vacation Bible School, and also participates as an assisting minister.  Katie makes good use of her time at school as well, as she is a member of Pennridge High School’s National Honor Society, Executive Council, Women’s Choir, Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, District Choruses and the school musical.  Her love of music has led her into playing cello and keyboards in a chamber music group called “Generations.”  She has shown a love for helping others in need, as exemplified by numerous missions with the Appalachian Service Project, as well as benefits she has helped to plan for Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina victims.  We hope to see Katie add to her outstanding record of achievement after she graduates  from Pennridge this June.

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About justCommunity, Inc.

justCommunity, Inc. is a non-profit organization based in Quakertown, Pa., which provides consultation, education and training services in the areas of youth development, community mobilization and restorative practices to schools and government agencies.  An affiliate agency of the United Way of Bucks County, justCommunity is the coordinating agency for the Upper Bucks Healthy Communities/Healthy Youth Coalition, a local grass roots group that promotes the 40 developmental assets for youth. For more information, go to www.justcommunity.com or contact Lee Rush at 215.538.4796 or lrush@enter.net.