A Fulton woman who has focused her time and energy on supporting the rights of others - both at home and abroad - will be honored for her efforts Saturday night.
Nancy McCue has been named the first recipient of the late Jane Bierdeman-Fike Humanitarian Award. The award will be presented during a banquet as the main part of this year's Celia Commemoration - to begin at 6 p.m. in Backer Dining Hall at Westminster College.
The award was created to honor local women who make significant contributions of their time, actions and dedication to social justice, environmental justice, economic equality, community building, education or embracing diversity.
The award is named for Jane Bierdeman-Fike, a Fulton social worker who dedicated her career to advocating for social and economic justice issues and mental health.
Committee member Carmen Brandt said McCue was chosen as the inaugural recipient because of her work with a variety of local organizations, including the Kingdom Center for Women's Ministries, Kingdom Christian Academy and the Community Walks at Guiding Light Missionary Baptist Church. McCue also spent several years as a missionary in Kibungo, Rwanda, where she is now helping with efforts to establish a Center for Women's Ministries.
"Cultural diversity is very important to her - anything to promote people and make the community a more positive and better place," Brandt said. "Any events where they are promoting children and education, she is there. We are glad she is our first (award recipient)."
McCue said she was honored to receive the award, especially because, "I think the values it represents are important."
McCue said she has always embraced differences in others, and hopes to someday see that enthusiasm for diversity everywhere.
"I would love it if people would just drop racism altogether," she said. "It hurts everyone ... the whole fabric of society.
"I have always felt that if people were different than I am, it was an opportunity - some of my best relationships have started that way."