On March 30 the HYHO club, along with the community, gathered to honor six hidden figures, a group of women who they say have devoted their time and effort into improving the community.
Elizabeth Harper, Beverly McCoy, Martha MacDonell, Mildred Stewart, Ellen Wright, and Alberta Lee, were all awarded hidden figure awards at the 2019 HYHO luncheon at the Old Barn Out Back.
“The importance of today’s event is to recognize those women that have contributed to the community - their service, all of their contributions and we want to let them know that they are appreciated in this community,” said Linda Washington, the HYHO co-chair.
Alberta Lee, who has served as an Allen County Recorder, Allen County Commissioner, and served on the Lima City Board of Education said she is truly honored to be recognized for her contributions to the community.
“It’s quite an honor to see our community get together and work together and to think that I can be a part of it,” said Lee.
Similar to Lee, Mildred Stewart has been involved in community organizations such as LANIP, Bridging the Gap, and has remolded homes, which is something she said is very important to her.
“I live in a neighborhood that people were letting their homes go down, down, down and I just thought ‘hey, somebody has got to do something about this’,” said Stewart.
The co-chair of HYHO said this organization is vital to the community because it helps build leaders like the six women hidden figures that were honored.
“It’s important to have an organization like this in Lima because of the service that we provide and because of the educational growth and opportunities that are available and we want to have our young people get some of that educational development and financial growth,” said Washington.
