Girls Inc. to Honor Ruth Blodgett at 26th Boraski Celebration Evening
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Girls Inc. of the Berkshires, the core program of the Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center, will present the 2016 “She Knows Where She Is Going” award to Ruth Blodgett at the Girls Inc. Annual Ruth P. Boraski Celebration Evening to be held at the Colonial Theatre on Thursday, May 5.
Blodgett is the senior vice president of planning and development, and interim vice president of physician services at Berkshire Health Systems. She is responsible for long-range planning, marketing strategies, development and grant management as well as community health and partnership development on behalf of BHS. She is also currently running BHS’s employed physician business, which is comprised of over 130 providers meeting patient needs in the community in more than 20 practices.
Blodgett previously served as Berkshire Medical Center's chief operating officer from 1995-2001, responsible for the operations of the hospital and affiliates including home care and physician companies. Prior to becoming chief operating officer, she was vice president for Ambulatory Care and other hospital services from 1987-1995. She began her career in health care planning and market analysis.
She earned an MBA from the University of Chicago and has a bachelor's degree from Smith College. She recently completed the Leadership Program in Integrative Health at Duke University.
Active in the community, she serves as the president of the Board for Berkshire Theatre Group and secretary for the Center for Ecological Technology. Her past board service includes Berkshire United Way and Berkshire Community College and she has been involved in many community initiatives such as Pittsfield Promise and Pittsfield Prevention Partnership.
She lives with her husband in Dalton, where they have raised three children.
Presented annually since 1990, the “She Knows Where She Is Going” award recognizes strong, smart and bold Berkshire County women leaders who exemplify the vision and values of Girls Inc. Past honorees have included P. Keyburn Hollister, Barbara M. Callahan, Katherine M. O’Brien, Gilda H. Palano, Jane P. Bresnahan, Joan McFalls, Maria S. Brodeur, Marilyn L. Sperling, Margaret Downing, Tracy Ruberto, Kay Klem, Beth Wallace, June Roy-Martin, Gwen Davis-Ouillette, Gail Molari, Sr. Julia Sullivan, Julianne Boyd, Carole Siegel, Dr. Maria Sirois, Jeannie Norris, Nancy Woitkowski, Beth Mitchell, Dr. Mary Grant, Shirley Edgerton, Kate Maguire and Ellen Kennedy.
In addition, to the “She Knows Where She Is Going” award, Girls Inc. will present $10,000 in scholarships to young women who will graduate from high school and go onto higher education. These scholarships are based on financial need and demonstrated involvement in community service. Scholarships are generously underwritten by: Ruth P. Boraski Funds for Girls Inc. of the Berkshires, Berkshire Community College Foundation, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), Rotary Club of Pittsfield and Zonta Club of Berkshire County.
For more information on Celebration Evening, contact Bethany Kirchmann, at 413-442-5174 ext. 12, or bethanyk@brighamcenter.org
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