Award winners to be recognized on November 5th celebration emceed by WTAE Channel 4 reporter Chandi Chapman
PITTSBURGH, PA – October 22, 2025 — Women for a Healthy Environment (WHE) will celebrate its 15th anniversary by recognizing individuals whose work has advanced environmental health across Pennsylvania. The honorees will be acknowledged during WHE’s 15-Year Anniversary Speakers Series on Tuesday, November 5, 2025, at the Pittsburgh Westin.
The event will spotlight the intersection of environmental health and youth leadership while celebrating a decade and a half of WHE’s science-based work to promote cleaner air, safer water, and healthier environments for communities across the commonwealth. The program will feature climate leaders Wawa Gatheru and Isaias Hernandez in a conversation about environmental justice, public health, and community-driven change.
The Healthy Homes Award honors someone whose work has improved family well-being by reducing hazards and expanding access to healthier living conditions.
Karen Benner will receive the Healthy Homes Award for her leadership in shaping WHE’s HUD Healthy Homes Asthma Program and advancing healthier housing practices across the region. Through her partnership and expertise in building performance, she helped WHE create a model that integrates public health, construction science, and safer materials into home renovation efforts.
The Healthy Schools Award celebrates a leader whose work has redefined what healthy learning environments can be, helping children thrive in spaces designed for their well-being.
Shannon Wiggins, Pittsburgh Area Community Schools Site Manager at Clairton City School District, will be recognized with the Healthy Schools Award. Partnering with WHE, she hashelped introduce environmental education lessons during lunch periods, creating new opportunities for students to explore the connection between health and the environment.
The Healthy Early Learning Award highlights an advocate whose work gives young learners a healthier start in life, protecting them from harmful exposures during their most critical years.
Patricia Stanko will receive the Healthy Early Learning Award for her leadership in creating safer learning spaces and advancing environmental health in early childhood education. As owner of Peace, Love, and Learning, she partnered with Women for a Healthy Environment to assess and remediate environmental hazards, setting a strong example for childcare providers across the region.
The Public Health Champion Award honors a trailblazer whose dedication to medicine and community health has advanced understanding, prevention, and equity in the face of environmental challenges.
The Public Health Champion Award will go to Deborah Gentile, M.D., Medical Director, Community Partners for Asthma Care, in recognition of her leadership in addressing asthma disparities, her research on the impact of air pollution on asthma rates and school absenteeism, and her lifelong dedication to delivering high-quality asthma care to vulnerable populations.
“This milestone honors the visionaries and advocates who continue to move environmental health forward,” said Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis, Executive Director of Women for a Healthy Environment. “Their commitment has created lasting change that benefits children and families across Pennsylvania.”
The celebration will be emceed by WTAE Channel 4 reporter Chandi Chapman.
About the Speakers:Wawa Gatheru is a Rhodes Scholar, environmental justice advocate, and founder of Black Girl Environmentalist. Her work amplifies the voices of marginalized communities in the environmental movement and envisions an inclusive, regenerative future.
Isaias Hernandez, known widely as @QueerBrownVegan, is an environmental educator and content creator who demystifies complex environmental topics and brings visibility to intersectional climate conversations.
Tickets and Sponsorship:Individual tickets are available at $100 each. Proceeds support WHE’s year-round programming and advocacy in learning environments and communities. Sponsorship opportunities are available for businesses and organizations wishing to align with the mission of building healthier environments.
Tickets and additional information are available at https://tinyurl.com/2f67z48x
About Women for a Healthy Environment:WHE is a non-profit organization that empowers underserved communities to build resilience, promote equity, and safeguard children from environmental health hazards. WHE collaborates with families, schools, and early learning centers to create healthy environments where children can thrive. Guided by science, it advocates for policies and programs that foster equitable lives free from environmental harms.
