Matlacha Hookers present Ann Phillips Award for Courage
For the fourth consecutive year, members of the Matlacha Hookers have submitted nominations to present an award to one special person for her acts of courage and commitment to the Greater Pine Island community. This year the Ann Phillips Award for Courage was presented to someone who has demonstrated these qualities in nearly every aspect of her day-to-day life, Cathy Frahm.
Presenting the Ann Phillips award during the February meeting of the Hookers, was Pastor Heidi Grueser from Pine Island Community Church.
“Often in life we intersect with people who drastically change our lives, our thinking and how we view the world. It is these people who have themselves, learned how to live graciously though life throws them a curve ball or drops a bomb on their very existence,” Pastor Grueser said. “Years ago, my life intersected with such a person. This particular woman gave her life to teaching children and mentoring and loving teenagers on the island, but she didn’t stop there. Cathy Frahm gave her heart, spirit and soul to anyone she cam across who needed a friend, a listening ear, a meal or a hug even when her own life took a turn for the worse.”
According to Grueser, four years ago, Frahm’s teenage daughter was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, and instead of letting the tragedy absorb her, Frahm used it to teach others how to live every second of the day.
“During Chrissy’s illness, Cathy continued to teach kindergarten, help at the Creative Coast Preschool on her days off, run Chrissy to and from doctor’s appointments and continue keeping the family life together, but her efforts went far beyond her family,” Pastor Grueser said. “Cathy also raised money for the Ronald McDonald House, for the Candle Lighters and the Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. Even when her daughter fell into a coma last November, Cathy continued her non-selfish way of living. Instead of asking for privacy during these last days of Chrissy’s life, Cathy opened up her home to all of her daughter’s friends, family and the Pine Island Community Church to visit and say goodbye to Chrissy. Cathy has never stopped loving, living and giving in the hardest and most painful time of her life.”
The Ann Phillips award is possible thanks to an endowment made by Buzzy Phillips and is named in honor of his late wife. The criteria for this award is to recognize a person who has faced hardship and diversity with grace and who has continued to support her community with acts of kindness. Past recipients of the Ann Phillips Award for Courage include Marleen Skeen, Cookie Zigler and Chrissy Frahm, the daughter of this year’s recipient, Cathy Frahm.