Now through July 8, the Chester County Single Mothers’ Conference, sponsored by Benchmark Federal Credit Union, is accepting nominations for the Belinda R. Harrison Award, which honors a working single mom who has overcome adversity and is active in her community.

Belinda Harrison was a single mother who worked tirelessly for years in Chester County’s social services and in her community, dedicating her life to empowering women and the underserved.

This year’s award winner will be announced and honored at the 10th Annual Chester County Single Mothers’ Conference, which will be held Saturday, Aug. 13 at Westside Community Center in West Chester. Sponsored for an eighth consecutive year by Benchmark Federal Credit Union, all single mothers can attend the conference free of charge with access to free childcare and a free lunch.

“This year’s theme is Honor the Past, Treasure the Present, Shape the Future. We’d love to honor an outstanding mother in our community, doing great things in the present, who will surely help shape the future,” said Rebecca Worthington, Benchmark Federal Credit Union’s Vice President of Marketing.

The Chester County Single Mothers’ Conference is held every year to encourage, educate, and empower single moms whose role is main provider for the family. For the first time, this year’s conference will be split into two half-day sessions to provide more flexibility for busy single moms. During either of the two sessions, attendees will enjoy a resource fair, workshops, guest speakers, and mommy pampering.

“Single motherhood can take many forms: divorced, widowed, grandmothers raising grandchildren, and single by choice,” said Conference Co-Chairs Guillermina Rios and Briana Villagrana. “We want to be sure all single mothers feel welcome, empowered, and connected to the amazing single mothers in our community.”

The Chester County Community Collaborative organizes the annual conference for the more than 9,000 single mothers who reside in Chester County. More information on the conference can be found at the website, including nominations for the Belinda R. Harrison Award.

Recent winners of the Belinda R. Harrison Award include:

• 2020 – Andrea Howell, a single mother of two children who worked full-time as a full-time student at West Chester University. She also became a first-time homeowner and volunteered in her community with “Shop a Cop” and with children experiencing homelessness and addiction.

• 2019 – Angela Moyer, a single mom who found herself, and her two children, unstably housed a few years ago. She connected with a Chester County agency to obtain affordable housing, secure a full-time position, obtain her own transportation, and set up her children with the resources they needed.

• 2018 – Tierra White worked two jobs while attending school full-time to provide the best life for her daughter. White also volunteered at her daughter’s school.