of Central Bucks County and Surrounding Communities
Biannually, the VIA selects and recognizes an individual or group who has contributed to the community consistent with the mission of the Village Improvement Association. The recipients are honored at the June VIA Luncheon.
(L to R) Joyce Hanson, Dr. Brenda Foley, and Marilyn Mele.
The 2019 recipient of the VIA’s Community Recognition Award is Brenda Foley, MD, assistant director of Doylestown Hospital’s Emergency Department. Dr. Foley joined Doylestown Hospital in 2008 and is President-elect of the Medical Staff. She is recognized for her efforts to combat the opioid epidemic. Dr. Foley helped establish Doylestown Hospital’s “Narcotic-Responsible Hospital” policy several years ago to manage the prescribing of narcotics in the Emergency Department. She also launched the Medication-Assisted Treatment program in 2018, providing access to medications like buprenorphine to help people quit their use of heroin or other opiates. Dr. Foley is a board member of the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission. She contributed to the VIA’s opioid education forum last year and continues to help the VIA meet its mission by addressing the opioid epidemic in its strategic initiatives.
| Year | Organization | Individual |
| 2019 | Dr. Brenda Foley | |
| 2017 | Hannah Sexton – Hannah’s Closet | |
| 2015 | Diane Smith Roxy Reading Therapy Dogs | |
| 2015 | Ray Hendrick “The Bluebird Man” | |
| 2013 | Bucks County Children’s Museum | |
| 2013 | CB Cares Educational Foundation | |
| 2011 | Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve | Hon. Edmund V. Ludwig |
| 2009 | Doylestown Bike & Hike Committee | Karen Thompson |
| 2007 | Heritage Conservancy | Marne Dietterich – Wrapping Presence |
| 2005 | Special Equestrians | |
| 2003 | Larry Schade | |
| 2003 | Rev. John Weatherhog | |
| 2003 | Rev. Tracy Weatherhog | |
| 2002 | Bicycle Trail | Louis White |
| 2002 | Bicycle Trail | Lynne B. Goldman |
| 2001 | Delaware Valley College | Mike & Arlene Stachel |
| 2000 | FISH | Milton Rutherford |
| 1999 | Peace Valley Nature Center | Joe Helberg |
| 1998 | Eleanor Bracer Pitcairn | |
| 1998 | Officer Judy Murphy | |
| 1997 | Penn Engineering | Herman & Ann Silverman |
| 1996 | County Theater | Stuart Montgomery |
| 1995 | Genuardi Family markets | Jane & Chuck Acton |
| 1994 | Doylestown Business and Community Alliance | Walter Conti |
| 1993 | Nature Club | Helen & Ken Gemmill |
| 1992 | Junior Women’s Club | Howard Foote (Posthumous) |
