United Way of Central Oklahoma (UWCO) was named the 2023 Bertha Levy Community Impact Award recipient Nov. 9 during the 17th annual Variety Care Diamond Donor Appreciation Reception.

“Our United Way is immensely honored to have received this prestigious award from our Partner Agency, Variety Care,” UWCO President & CEO Rachel Holt said. “Dr. Bertha Levy was an amazing individual who supported affordable and accessible health care, and this award closely aligns with one of our key focus areas: Healthy Citizens. Together, we are building a stronger, healthier, more compassionate place to live every day.”

The awards presented during the reception are in Levy’s honor. Dr. Levy practiced pediatrics in Oklahoma City for 40 years. She treated her patients regardless of their ability to pay.

“The celebration of UWCO’s centennial year is the perfect time to honor the decades of volunteer work and impact they have had on our community,” Variety Care President & CEO Lou Carmichael said. “It is the exact steadfast dedication that the Bertha Levy Award seeks to acknowledge.”

Levy served on Variety Care’s board of directors and was the first individual to be named an honorary life member. In the 1990s, the pediatric wing of Variety Health Center was named after her to recognize her 50 years of service. She was also instrumental in making Oklahoma one of the first states with a Medicaid program.

UWCO’s Board Chair, Shane Wharton, accepted the Community Impact Award on United Way’s behalf during the reception.

“Variety Care has been a United Way Partner Agency since 1960, receiving more than $17 million in funding,” Wharton said. “We are incredibly grateful for this partnership and its positive impact on the health and well-being of our community.”

UWCO’s former President & CEO, Debby Hampton, was also named the 2023 recipient of the Bertha Levy Community Service Award. The award acknowledges extraordinary individual or group contributions that have had an impact on pediatric medicine, maternal care, community leadership and volunteerism, outstanding board membership and more.

“We’re proud to bestow this honor to Debby for her decades of compassionate leadership, successful career accomplishment, and her advocacy for the underserved in health and human service,” Carmichael said.

Hampton served as UWCO’s president & CEO for 13 years. In her tenure, more than $278 million was raised for health and human services programs throughout central Oklahoma.

Through its 18 locations, Variety Care’s mission is making quality health care affordable and accessible. Learn more by visiting VarietyCare.org.