REVEREND MARLENE WEBSTER, the 2015 Athena Award winner, shown here minutes after the surprise announcement during the Monday, Dec. 14 Owosso School Board meeting. The announcement was made by Debbie Gilbert, and the flowers were presented by Paul Schluckebier of The Schluckbier/Hood Investment Group of Wells Fargo Advisors, who presents the award. Webster said, it is such a joy to serve in this community.” (Independent Photo/MELISSA SHEPARD)
Reverend Marlene Webster was honored as the 28th Athena Award Winner Monday, Dec. 14 during a surprise announcement at the Owosso School Board meeting.
Webster is the founding Executive Director of Shiawassee HoPE, a nonprofit collective impact effort aimed at supporting Shiawassee County residents in charting a course from poverty to possibility. She also leads the Owosso City Church of the Nazarene, located on the corner of Ball and Exchange Streets in Downtown Owosso.
Marlene serves on several local human service boards including: Shiawassee Health & Human Services Council and the Shiawassee Homeless Coalition. She is the president of the Owosso Ministerial Association. Beginning Jan. 3 through March 27, 2016, the Owosso Ministerial Association announces the first ever Walls of Warmth (WOW) in Shiawassee County. WOW is a rotating winter night shelter for the homeless whereby area churches will host guests for one week at a time.
Marlene also serves on the Owosso Public Schools Board of Education and earlier this year, the Michigan Association of School Administrators recognized her as a “Regional Champion for Children.”
The nominator stated, “Marlene is an advocate for all human kind, but she lives by the motto, ‘if you help a woman, you help a community’. She works tirelessly to advocate for women who are not able to advocate for themselves. She finds homes for families in-need, she welcomes students into her home if they are homeless, she provides counseling to those in-need and performs pro-bono funeral services to honor the deceased. She is a champion of all people.”
Reverend Marlene Webster will be formally honored at the Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce 2016 Annual Dinner and Awards Night on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016 at D’Mar Banquet & Conference Center in Owosso.
