BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Congratulations are coming for some of Lehigh Valley's biggest supporters of the arts.
ArtsQuest Foundation on Tuesday release the names of the winners of its 2023 Linny Awards, presented to distinguished individuals from the region for their longtime commitment and dedication to the arts.
- ArtsQuest Foundation released its 2023 Linny Award winners
- The awards are presented to distinguished individuals for their commitment and dedication to the arts
- The foundation is also seeking nominations for five remaining categories including its student artist scholarship award
Winners will be honored at the fifth annual Linny Awards Celebration on Nov. 9 at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Barb and the late Jack Yaissle will receive the lifetime achievement award.
Jack Yaissle, a Lehigh University alumnus, founded Cornerstone Financial Consultants. He died in 2020 after a 14-month battle with brain cancer.
The couple volunteered and supported local charities such as ArtsQuest, ArtsQuest Foundation, Lehigh University and St. Thomas More Church.
Barb Yaissle, who graduated from Pottsville Hospital School of Nursing, said ArtsQuest has helped the community in many ways.
“Jack and I dedicated many years in support of the arts in the Greater Lehigh Valley," she said. “We believe the programming and economic impact that ArtsQuest provides the community is vital to its growth and well-being.
"I am so pleased to accept this award on behalf of my husband and myself.”
Lifetime Achievement, Volunteer
Chuck and Cindy Yeoman are the recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award, volunteer category.
The couple has resided in Williams Township since 1992.
Chuck Yeoman, now retired, was vice president, partner and chief operating officer at Campbell Supply Company, where he worked for 37 years. He now consults through his company, CJY Solutions, LLC.
Cindy Yeoman, also retired, was employed with M&M Sales Inc., where she oversaw financial operations and sales support.
In addition, the two spent many years as volunteers with the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, Chuck Yeoman as a Scoutmaster and Eagle Scout Coach and Cindy Yeoman as a Den and Pack Leader.
Over the years, Cindy Yeoman also volunteered with ArtsQuest as an usher, ticket taker, festival set up/take down, beer tapping and stagehand.
Chuck Yeoman is a board member of the Friends of Levitt Pavilion at SteelStacks and an ArtsQuest volunteer.
“We believe volunteering makes our community a better place to live,” the couple said in a joint statement. “Whether it’s setting up tents for Musikfest, sitting on an ArtsQuest Board or Committee, or helping with a Levitt concert, we are always willing to lend a helping hand.
"We thank the ArtsQuest foundation for honoring volunteerism and its important role within our community.”
Philanthropy in the Arts Award
Brenda and John McGlade, who will receive the philanthropy in the arts award, split their time between Bethlehem and Marco Island, Florida.
John McGlade is a Lehigh University graduate and retired chief executive officer of Air Products and Chemicals Inc. Brenda McGlade, a retired music teacher and choir director, received a bachelor's degree at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ.
The McGlades are avid supporters of the arts, including ArtsQuest (John McGlade was an ArtsQuest Foundation Trustee), Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Zoellner Arts Center, Community Music School and Artist Naples in Naples, FL.
Brenda McGlade is active in bringing the arts to children, volunteering in after-school voice, piano and theater activities with the Boys and Girls Club of Allentown and sponsoring summer camp scholarships in arts and music programs for children.
“Access to artistic, cultural and educational experiences is vital when creating a better community,” the McGlades said in a release.
“ArtsQuest provides the Greater Lehigh Valley with such rich and diverse programming. We are pleased to be part of the network that supports ArtsQuest and the ArtsQuest Foundation.”
Business Supporter of the Arts Award
Boyle Construction has been in construction management in the Lehigh Valley since 1977.
Its Building Better Together Committee invests in local organizations, such as ArtsQuest, that help support people in the community where employees, customers and partners live, work and play.
“The Boyle Construction team prides itself on ‘Building Better’ projects throughout the Lehigh Valley,” Boyle President Sean Boyle said.
“We are honored to receive this award in support of ArtsQuest in their mission to provide arts and cultural access and education to the community and as a key element of economic development in our urban communities.”
Seeking nominations
The ArtsQuest Foundation is accepting nominations for the following categories: visual artist of the year, performing artist of the year, emerging artist of the year, arts educator of the year and student artist scholarship award.
Any individual, business or community group interested in nominating a person for the Linny Awards can do so at www.artsquestfoundation.org/linnyawards.
Winners will be selected by the ArtsQuest’s Performing Arts Board, Visual Arts Board, and the ArtsQuest Foundation Board of Trustees and announced in July.
Supporting the arts
The Linny Awards ceremony will take place at the Musikfest Café at ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem.
They are named after the late Marlene "Linny" Fowler, a stained-glass artist and community leader who supported artists and arts organizations throughout the Lehigh Valley for more than a quarter century.
Proceeds from the Linny Awards go to support the nonprofit ArtsQuest Foundation, which Fowler helped found in 2003.
The foundation is focused on supporting and strengthening the long-term sustainability of ArtsQuest, the nonprofit that presents Musikfest and more than 4,000 other programs, events and educational classes annually for our region.
