Each year the NQCC presents a North Quabbin resident with the Barbara Corey Award, named for the Coalition’s original coordinator in honor of her values and dedication to the North Quabbin region. This year’s recipient, Mary Lou Schwab, clearly embodies this spirit. Mary Lou has dedicated her life to service for others. Raising her family in Athol and as owner of a small business, her days are quite filled, but Mary Lou always finds time to be involved in many local efforts to care for others within her community.

Mary Lou is one of the founding members of the Athol Area United Way and has served as an officer, Campaign Chair and on all of the various committees necessary to make the local United Way a success. She has volunteered for this organization since 1983 and continues to serve today. Mary Lou served for fifteen years as a Board member of the Athol-Orange Family Inn and was a founding member of Valuing Our Children. She has served as a member and officer of the Mount Grace Business Women’s Association and has served as a member of the Board of the Human Resource Center.

She has been a long-time member of the Athol-Orange Area Rotary Club. She served for many years as Chair of the Community Service Committee organizing everything from downtown clean up projects to serving community meals. She is currently also a Board member of the Gardner Visiting Nurse Association. Mary Lou has also served as the local contact for the American Red Cross. She has organized local blood drives and been a responder to the needs of local families and individuals for over twenty years.

Mary Lou Schwab demonstrates her dedication to others every day in the way that she chooses to live her life. She is a priceless community treasure who serves often behind the scenes always putting the needs of others before her own.