2021 Elizabeth M. Forsyth Community Service Award Recipient
The Elizabeth M. Forsyth Community Service Award was created in 2004 to acknowledge the impact of individuals, organizations, and groups who have made significant contributions to the community by recognizing local needs and supporting solutions to meet them. The award was named after one of our co-founders, Mrs. Elizabeth M. Forsyth who set a tremendous precedent in her lifetime of service to the Lynchburg community and particularly to Miriam’s House through a tremendous financial commitment. This year’s award recipient has demonstrated significant commitment to Miriam’s House and our work to end homelessness.
BIO
Anne moved to Lynchburg in 1998 with her husband, John, a physician, and her 3 small children. Prior to that, Anne worked as a certified public accountant and computer software trainer in Pennsylvania. Once in Lynchburg, she began devoting her efforts to being a full-time mom and community volunteer.
Anne’s community efforts at first were primarily related to her children’s schools, including serving as president of the PTO for both Bedford Hills Elementary School and R.S. Payne Elementary School, as a math tutor at Linkhorne Middle School, and volunteering in the guidance office and for the theatre program at E. C. Glass High School. She also served 2 different terms as Treasurer for the Friends of the Lynchburg Library.
As a yoga practitioner since college, Anne decided to deepen her practice by attending Yoga Teacher Training, graduating in 2015. She has since completed her advanced certification and has been teaching yoga at James River Studio since 2015. Her work includes frequent offerings of free classes for those who cannot afford it or make it to the studio. Anne also is an avid swimmer, practicing with the master’s swim team 3 times a week, loves to garden, cook, and read, and enjoys spending time relaxing with family and friends at her home at Smith Mountain Lake.
Miriam’s house
Anne joined the Board of Miriam’s House in 2010 and is currently the longest-serving member of the Board. She has served on a number of committees, including Audit, Program, and Personnel. One highlight of her Board experience was the opportunity to travel to Roanoke with Sarah and Kristen for a conference with other homeless service providers to learn as much as we could about rapid rehousing as we prepared to launch a pilot program (now our biggest program!). She spent three years as President of the Board, chaired the Building Committee during the renovation of the basement to office space, and currently chairs the Finance Committee as Treasurer of the Board. Anne joined the Board of CASA in 2019, and currently serves as Treasurer.
Similar to Mrs. Forsyth, Anne’s service to Miriam’s House for the past ten years as a Board Member has resulted in tremendous growth in our programs offered and a significant increase in the number of persons we serve each year. Her leadership to the board and staff in launching a rapid re-housing program, expanding the vulnerable populations served by Miriam’s House, launching a new brand to increase awareness, and overseeing the lower-level renovation has been invaluable.
Former Miriam’s House Board President and 2014 EMF Award recipient, Ellen Nygaard “presented” Anne with this award during our virtual 22nd Annual Luncheon on May 25th, 2021.