Mary Weaver of rural Rippey has been chosen as the recipient of the Greene County Community Impact Award. The award was established in 2010 to recognize an individual or individuals whose activities have an easily recognized impact upon Greene County residents. Those honored include Lawrence Geisler, the Town and Country Band, Carson Griffith, Vickie and Tim Robbins, Doug Hawn, and Alice Walters.
Weaver has a long history of volunteering, including grant writing for many projects. She wrote the Vision Iowa grant for the Rippey library and community room, and a dozen more including the Galloping Goose bike trail.
Weaver was a “Friends of Rippey” organizer. She served on the Greene County Historical Society board as officer and planner for over 10 years, and she has portrayed Mary Davis, the first female white settler, in Greene County in fifth grade classrooms for several years.
Weaver founded the Greene County Reads program given each year in all the county public libraries. She has also served as past secretary for the Thomas Jefferson Gardens Board, served two terms on the East Greene board of education, and served her church in Rippey in many capacities, including a short missionary stay in Nigeria as a nurse. She is currently serving as treasurer of the Greene County Singers, a newly formed choral group.
Weaver’s other nursing accomplishments include serving as president of the Iowa Public Health Association board, receiving the Lilllian Wald Award for outstanding nursing in Iowa public health work, membership on Sen Harkin’s nurse advisory board, and membership on the Iowa Nurses’ Association state board.
Jerry Roberts of Jefferson, a spokesperson for the Impact Award committee said, “Mary Weaver has truly had an Impact on Greene County with her tireless volunteerism and the sharing of her gifts, time, and talents. The people who nominated Mary cited her gentle persuasion and people skills, which cause others to become involved as well.”
Weaver will be honored Sunday, May 1, in the Greene County courthouse rotunda with a public award ceremony at 3 pm. A reception will follow. All friends and family are invited to attend.
