Catharine and Rob Williams of Strafford will receive the Hepatitis B Foundation’s Community Leadership Award for 2024.
They will be honored on April 5 at the organization’s annual gala in Warrington.
A member of the foundation’s board of directors since 2008, Catharine has served for many years on the executive committee and chairs the development committee, and Rob has been an active partner in their work.
“Catharine and Rob truly embody this award,” said Hepatitis B Foundation President Chari A. Cohen. “They have opened their hearts and their home to the Hepatitis B Foundation. They have helped other families by sharing their own experiences at B Informed patient conferences, and helped the Foundation improve its programming geared towards families impacted by hepatitis B. And Catharine has dedicated countless hours to thinking of new, innovative ways to help the Hepatitis B Foundation and Baruch S. Blumberg Institute further their missions.”
The pair were the initial inspiration and supporters of the #justB storytelling initiative, Dr. Cohen said, which created a global movement of people sharing their experiences living with hepatitis B. Catharine and Rob contributed the seed funding for the foundation’s first three Storyteller videos, setting the stage for the program, which now has more than 80 storytellers from six countries.
Beyond the Foundation, Catharine enjoyed a long career in economic development and Rob worked in aerospace engineering.
The Hepatitis B Foundation’s Community Leadership Award recognizes individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to communities highly impacted by hepatitis B, hepatitis D and liver cancer. Awardees also demonstrate additional commitment to community service outside of the hepatitis B space.
The Williamses will receive the Community Leadership Award at the 2024 Hepatitis B Foundation’s gala on April 5, in Warrington. The event attracts more than 250 leaders from academia, government, business and the regional community every year. Details will be posted early in 2024 on www.hepbgala.org.
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