Open Stage to Honor Patty Kim, Tara Leo Auchey, Sharia Benn & Joy Dougherty as 'Women Who Care'

Open Stage of Harrisburg has announced the names of its 2014 "Women Who Care." Initiated in 2000, the WWC program honors women who have demonstrated unselfish devotion to the Greater Harrisburg community and to the arts, including Open Stage. Awards are presented before each Friday night performance of the theatre's STORIES FROM HOME: Dauphin County production, June 19-29.

The 2014 Open Stage "Women Who Care" are: the Honorable Patty Kim, Tara Leo Auchey, Sharia Benn, and Joy Dougherty.

The "Women Who Care" will be formally recognized at a special luncheon for family and friends on Thursday, May 8 at 11:30 at Harmony Hall in Lower Swatara Township.

State Representative Patty Kim, a former news anchor and reporter and Harrisburg City Councilwoman, was elected to her first term in the state House of Representatives in November 2012. As a candidate who believed government should be transparent, responsive and frugal, Kim earned wide support to secure the seat serving the residents of the city of Harrisburg, Steelton, Highspire and part of Swatara Township.Prior to her work in the legislature, Kim was elected to Harrisburg's City Council where she served two terms. Throughout her terms she served as the chairs of Public Safety, Public Works and the Community and Economic Development Committee. Kim also was elected as council Vice President by her colleagues during her second term. A 1995 graduate of Boston College, Kim is married to John Sider and together they have two children, Brielle and Ryan.

Tara Leo Auchey is a writer, editor, and creator of todaysthedayhbg, an online independent news publication that serves the city and its residents. She is also principal and chief advisor to tla Communications, a consulting firm that assists organizations in communications strategies, public outreach, social media, and media relations.Auchey is a freelance columnist for PennLive and the Patriot News, writing the "Q&A with Tara" column that appears weekly in the print and online. She also writes a monthly column for the Burg magazine, and was a professor of writing and communications at HACC from 2005-08. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lebanon Valley College, and a Master of Arts from Penn State University. She is married to Caleb Auchey and resides in Harrisburg.

Sharia Benn is a member of the Open Stage of Harrisburg acting company and has appeared there in numerous productions, including four plays in the August Wilson "Century Cycle,:" THE PIANO LESSON, MA RAINEY'S BLACK BOTTOM, JOE TURNER'S COME AND GONE, and FENCES. Benn also appeared in leading roles in DOUBT, CROWNS, and STORIES FROM HOME. In addition, Benn has been a Youth pastor at Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Harrisburg since 2002. ?She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications from Towson University. She has been awarded the Insurance Industry's most accomplished and distinguished designations, was honored as "Mother of the Year" by the Progressive Baptist Convention, Baltimore, Maryland, and in 2001 was named a "Woman of Excellence" by the Harrisburg Area YWCA. She received the Earth Angel Award from Rejoice and was recognized as an Adult Achiever by the YMCA of Greater Harrisburg. Her education also includes a Certificate of Christian Studies from the American Baptist Church Leadership Institute. Benn is currently an Underwriting Manager for Penn National Insurance. She is married to William J. Benn and has two children, Kelsey and Jaylyn. She will receive her award on Friday, June 20.

Joy Dougherty is a First Vice President and Financial Advisor at Smith Barney, and was a founding member of the Women's Business Exchange of Morgan Stanley. She will receiver her award on Saturday, June 21. She has been an active volunteer with Hemlock Girl Scout Council for over 20 years, serving in numerous leadership roles including Chair of the Financial Management Committees, Junior Troop Leader; Chair of the Capital Campaign; Board Member, Treasurer and Asst. Treasurer of the Board of Directors. She has been very active in other community organizations, serving on the Board of Trustees at the Janus School Board and as an Executive Committee Member, Chair of Finance Committee and Treasurer; past Treasurer and National Board Member of the Turner's Syndrome Society of USA; past Board Member of the Capital Region American Cancer Society; past Honorary Chair of American Cancer Society Golf Tournament and past President and Member of Zonta International. She was recognized with the 1997 Excalibur Award form the American Cancer Society; was named a 1997 Women of Distinction, Hemlock Girl Scout Council; and received the 1999 PA Best Women in Business Award. In 2012 she received the Legacy Award as part of the YWCA "Women of Excellence" event. Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors of the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra and is a member of the Harrisburg Symphony Society. She was Co-Chair of The Art of Personal Style Fashion Show in January, 2014. She resides in New Cumberland, and has two children.

For more information on the "Women Who Care" program and its events, readers may call the Open Stage at 717-214-3248.

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