Greensburg Philanthropist Commemorated at Dedication Ceremony
Local Lions Clubs Team Up to Support Metzgar Students
Greensburg Philanthropist Commemorated at Dedication Ceremony
Jennings Womack had a vision. The volunteer assistant football coach, mentor, and philanthropist, seeing the need for updates and enhancements to the Greensburg Salem High School’ s fitness center, led the charge to create a state-of-the-art facility to improve student health and wellness and the school’ s physical education program. The renovations began in 2014, spearheaded by Mr. Womack, and included the installation of rubber flooring and securing new strength and cardio respiratory equipment to replace outdated devices. Athletic Director Lynn Jobe’ s efforts and insights as to the logistics of the project are prominent when looking at the functionality of the center. She warmly recalls,“ Working with Jennings was an honor and a privilege as I witnessed his volumes of skills and genuine contacts that transformed ideas and dreams into reality, with the utmost class.” When Mr. Womack passed away in
January 2015, friend Ray Charley continued to raise funds to see the project through to fruition in his honor.
On November 15, 2016, the Womack Wellness and Fitness center was unveiled. Friends, family, and associates of Jennings Womack, as well as students, faculty, administrators, and community members, gathered for the dedication of the center within the Thomas Yarabinetz Alumni Fitness center at Greensburg Salem High School. Granddaughter Amanda Womack spoke of her grandfather’ s love, dedication, and commitment to the athletes of Greensburg Salem. Ray Charley, who operates three Charley Family SHOP‘ n SAVE supermarkets, fondly remembered his friend Jennings, whose optimism and humanitarian efforts inspired Charley and his associates to continue to fundraise to reach the nearly $ 200,000 needed to carry out Jennings’ vision. Seton Hill University studio art major, Saige Baxter, discussed her inspiration for the sculpture she prepared in Mr. Womack’ s honor, describing it as open, interactive, and mountainesque, just as he was as a pillar of the community. The sculpture is located near the entrance to the fitness center, and will serve as a reminder to all of the contributions of Jennings Womack’ s life and legacy.
reensburg Salem
GREENSBURG SALEM SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
Ray Charley and Carole Blair, friends of Jennings Womack, are overwhelmed with joy with Saige Baxter’ s commemorative statue.
Carole Blair, Ray Charley, Lynn Jobe, Saige Baxter, Amanda Womack, and David Zilli at the Womack Wellness and Fitness Center dedication ceremony.
Local Lions Clubs Team Up to Support Metzgar Students
“ Where there’ s a NEED, there’ s a LION,” is a phrase familiar to members of Lions Clubs International, the largest service club organization in the world. Local clubs identified a need and teamed up to assist the students and families of one of Greensburg Salem’ s elementary schools. Metzgar Elementary families have the opportunity to participate in the Lions Lunchables program, a project developed by the Delmont, New Alexandria, and Slickville Lions Clubs. Through Lions Lunchables, students who enroll in the program with parental consent can take home a backpack of healthy food items on Friday afternoons that can be used for their meals and snacks on Saturday and Sunday. Items included in the backpack may include soup, fruit cups, cereal, granola bars, or other easy to open nutritious foods. Students may receive a backpack twice each month.
Many Greensburg Salem students qualify for free or reduced price breakfast and lunch, with approximately 39 % of Metzgar’ s students receiving discounted meals. Currently, 74 students are signed up for the Lions Lunchables backpack program and receive food to help them through the weekend. Metzgar families interested in participating in the program may contact the guidance counselor, Mrs. Jessica Pritts, or principal, Mrs. Federico, for more information. Community members or businesses interested in making a monetary or food donation can contact Lori Harr at llh246 @ comcast. net or Amanda Remic at akbrant @ atlanticbb. net. All donations directly benefit Metzgar Elementary students.
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