United Way of Horry County (UWHC) has presented the 2022 Hidden Hero Award posthumously to Celeste Bondurant-Bell. The Hidden Hero Award is given annually to an individual or organization that has gone above and beyond to help UWHC. The Hidden Hero recipient is often not recognized by the public for the work that they complete, but they are dedicated to our mission and diligently work to give back to Horry County.
Celeste is the truest example of a Hidden Hero for Horry County. As the Director of Community Development with Little River Medical Center (LRMC), she did many things for LRMC and the community. “She liked working with community leaders and working behind the scene to develop the best community programs that provide education, outreach, and marketing to others,” states Pamela Davis, President & CEO of LRMC.
Pamela also added, “She made her mark on the community and was committed to helping others and making a difference in the lives of those that were disenfranchised. She was always ready to brainstorm new and different ideas and get to the heart of the matter. She has left a mark in everyone’s life and will be remembered for all her hard work, valuable input, and insight in developing programs for all the non-profits she worked with. She is missed by all.”
Three years ago, Celeste brought ideas to UWHC to reinvigorate the Horry County Alliance, which has since transitioned into the Horry County Community Collaborative (HC3), which serves over 100 nonprofits and organizations across the county. “She played a huge role as UWHC shifted to the Community Impact Model,” Blakely Roof, President & CEO of UWHC. Roof continued, “Bottom line, she is one of the main reasons that UWHC is where they are today, and we want to honor her legacy for the work she has done to ensure everyone has access to thrive.”
More information on the Hidden Hero Award and a list of past winners can be found on our website.
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