Congratulations to Nora Curiel!
The Mary Black Foundation announced today that it had named Nora Curiel of PASOs Spartanburg as its inaugural Dr. George Newby Jr. Health Equity Leadership Award recipient.
The Inaugural Award
The award was established in memory of Dr. George Newby, Jr., the former CEO of ReGenesis Health Care and community health professor at USC Upstate. “George was a tremendous friend and colleague who dedicated his life to ensuring accessible healthcare for all people, but especially for those who have been traditionally left behind or marginalized,” said Molly Talbot-Metz, President/CEO of the Mary Black Foundation. Dr. Newby died due to COVID in October 2020, before the vaccine was available.
The award was developed by the Foundation to honor Dr. Newby and to recognize an individual or organization working to advance health equity by ensuring that all people in Spartanburg County have access to opportunities for health and wellness regardless of who they are or where they live.
Supporting the Latino Community
Nora Curiel is the Coordinator of PASOs Spartanburg, an organization that supports the Latino community with education, advocacy, and leadership development. According to the Upstate Family Resource Center’s executive director, Kelley Ezell, who nominated Nora,
Nora Curiel has strategically developed and led a team of Community Health Workers to fill gaps in our community by connecting families with the necessary resources … She has earned the trust and respect of those with whom she partners.
The Dr. George Newby Jr. Health Equity Leadership Award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant that Nora has designated to support PASOs of Spartanburg, Upstate Family Resource Center, and HALTER.
Congratulations to the Nominees!
The Mary Black Foundation was inspired by the outstanding nominations that we received for the inaugural Dr. George Newby Jr. Health Equity Leadership Award.
While we could only select one winner, the incredible work that is being done to advance health equity in our community is something to celebrate.
The other nominees were:
- Bloom Upstate
- Children and Choices
- Deb Foreman, Uplift Outreach Center
- Institute for Child Success
- Kitta Cates, Healthy Smiles
- Luther Norman, Youth Sports Bureau USA
- Mt. Moriah Baptist Church
- Piedmont Care
- Project Hope Foundation
- SC Infant Mental Health Association
- Spartanburg County First Steps
- SRHS Nurse Family Partnership
- The Link at School District One
The Mary Black Foundation will seek nominations for the 2023 award later this year. For more information, visit www.maryblackfoundation.org.
