8th Annual Party with a Purpose Continues To Be Successful

by Julie Cordingley

A beautiful party

By all measurable standards, the 8th Annual Robyn M. Carter Party with a Purpose, recently held, was a success. The room was full of family and friends enjoying good food, cold drinks, danceable music, and poignant memories. For many, it was an annual party they would not miss because it allows for a tangible way to honor and remember a wife, a mom, a schoolmate, a co-worker, and a friend.

The party’s purpose is to raise money to be used toward three Boyertown Area High School scholarships in Robyn’s name; education being so important to her. In the eight years since Robyn Carter passed away from pancreatic cancer, over $85,000 has been distributed; it is an impressive sum that generated an audible gasp and then applause from the attendees. It seemed everyone was proud that they could be a small part of such a large effort.

Robyn's husband, son, and his family love to attend the event to honor her memory.

Recollections of Robyn had people agreeing about how infectious her laugh was because it was “just so over the top.” Or just how suited she was to work at Pine Forge Elementary School because she so loved children. This was evident by the two large tables laden with photos dedicated to some of the big, and little, milestones in the Carter family life. There were also pictures of more recent years, specifically the smiling faces of the high school seniors who were the recipients of Carter’s generous yearly scholarship. 

Event attendees had an opportunity to win various items like Eagles tickets, lottery tickets, restaurant discounts, among other items, in raffles.

This year's event generosity extended further into the community when the party coordinators - namely Robyn’s husband, Rowan, and two of her best friends, Michele Allen and Lisa Surman – kindly asked that if people felt so inclined, they could bring non-perishable food items to help stock Preston’s Pantry. This simple plea resulted in over 500 pounds of food being donated to Boyertown’s Multi Service.

Robyn would have loved this; all of this.

Rowan Carter with co- event organizers.

It has been over 40 years since a chemist job in Malvern lured Julie Cordingley away from her up state, New York home. She is a proud resident of Gilbertsville! Besides working in industry, at various times she has been a stay-at-home mom, and has just recently retired from Phoenixville Area School District as a (wait for it!) chemistry teacher. It has been a life-long dream to be a writer. She figures she can work at that craft while also traveling with her husband in their drivable RV… a retirement present to herself!

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