On Tuesday June 15, the fourth annual Patchogue Chamber of Commerce Power in Heels event was held at the Brickhouse Brewery.
The event, which is traditionally held in March, honors women in Patchogue who have distinguished themselves in their community and profession. This year’s honorees were: Michelle Miller-McEvoy; EMT-CC, MPA, Director of Emergency Preparedness EMS, Long Island Community Hospital, Kourtney Bevis; Executive Director, Patchogue Medford Youth and Community Services; Beth Giacummo, Executive Director-Curator, Patchogue Arts Council and Museum of Contemporary Art LI and Michele Cayea, Community Relations Manager, Patchogue-Medford Library.
In addition to the honorees, this year's event featured the presentation of two $250 scholarships provided by sponsor Long Island Community Hospital.
The first scholarship was awarded to Julia James Katz. Katz is currently completing her junior year in high school and is involved in her school's Model UN team, National Honor Society and plays varsity tennis.
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic Katz fabricated hundreds of masks which she distributed for a $5 suggested donation. Her efforts led to monetary donations to Angels of Long Island, the Help Patchogue restaurants feed hospital workers GoFundme page as well as the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.
The second scholarship was awarded to Maddison Eddington. When Eddington heard on the news that face masks were desperately needed she put her sewing skills to work and made 26 masks a day that were then delivered to neighbors’ mailboxes. In addition, Eddington also supplied masks and headbands for Stony Brook Hospital, Long Island Community Hospital, Patchogue-Medford Schools, UPS and FedEx workers, nursing homes and Starbucks employees. In July of 2020 alone Eddington made and donated over 1,000 masks. Eddington is also a goalie in the Patchogue-Medford youth soccer league and plays lacrosse.
In addition to this year's honorees, many past honorees were also present which Executive Director of the Patchogue Chamber was quick to point out.
“[The] past honorees are the people who run this community,” Kennedy said. “It’s an honor to be here and celebrate the contributions that you all make to Patchogue.”
The event can be best summed up by event founder Kathy Fallon who quoted the age-old adage.
“Here’s to strong women, may we know them, may we be them and may we raise them.”
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