A woman who has been the eyes and ears of Delaware County for decades has been named winner of the 2024 ATHENA Leadership Award by the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce.

Peg DeGrassa will be formally recognized at the ATHENA Leadership Luncheon Wednesday, Oct. 9, 11:30 AM To 1:30 PM, at the Llanerch Country Club in Havertown.

Find out how you can be a luncheon sponsor.

DeGrassa is the editor of Town Talk Newspapers and The News and Press of Delaware County, and a reporter for The Delaware County Daily and Sunday Times.

A lifelong resident of Delaware County, DeGrassa has worked in the news business for over 45 years.

“I feel so humbled and so incredibly honored to receive the prestigious Delaware County Chamber’s ATHENA Award and to join the ranks of the accomplished and fabulous female community leaders who have received this meaningful award in the years before me,” DeGrassa said. “I am so grateful to the Chamber for this wonderful award and for everything that the Chamber does to promote and support business in Delaware County.”

A committee of community business leaders chose DeGrassa based on her high level of professional excellence, and her eagerness to improve the quality of life for others in the community. She has always been willing to actively assist others, particularly women, in realizing their full leadership potential.

“It is with great pride and admiration that we honor Peg DeGrassa with the 2024 ATHENA® Leadership Award,” said Trish McFarland, president of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce.

McFarland pointed to DeGrassa’s unparalleled dedication to journalism and her unwavering commitment to the community, qualities that “exemplify the spirit of leadership and excellence that this award represents.”

DeGrassa has worked tirelessly to highlight local stories and support the diverse voices of Delaware County, which has made an indelible impact in the county, McFarland said.

“We are thrilled to recognize Peg’s exceptional achievements and her invaluable role in enriching our community. Her legacy of empowering others and championing local causes truly sets a remarkable standard for us all.”

A News Career

Peg DeGrassa discovered her passion for news writing as a child by publishing a monthly newspaper and mailing it out to her large extended family of relatives. She went on to become editor of both her high school and college newspapers.

Her professional career began at The Beach Haven Times on Long Beach Island, New Jersey, covering the music scene at the Jersey Shore.

She began covering municipal meetings in Delaware County and writing feature stories for The News of Delaware County.

For the past 25 years, she’s worked at Town Talk Newspapers, working her way up from reporter to columnist, associate editor, and to editor of Town Talk, Springfield Press, Garnet Valley Press, County Press, News of Delaware County, and later as editor of the merged News and Press of Delaware County.

For the past 10 years, DeGrassa has also been a reporter and feature writer for The Delaware County Daily and Sunday Times, as well as contributor to other news publications in the Philadelphia Cluster of the MediaNews Group.

She continues to put the spotlight on countless local businesses, organizations, schools, and other institutions, while offering features on the interesting people and events in Delaware County and beyond.

DeGrassa has her pulse on the latest trends and her ears attuned to the latest scoops, and over the years she has built a base of trusted sources and relationships with the people of Delaware County.

She is past president of the Delaware County Press Club, where she continues to serve as president emeritus on the Press Club’s Board.

She is also an affiliated member of the National Press Club, a member of the Pennsylvania Newspapers Association, The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia, and the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce.

DeGrassa is a graduate of Archbishop Prendergast High School, attended Penn State University, and received her BA from Neumann College, now Neumann University.

She and her late husband Russ are the proud parents of four children and six grandchildren.

Numerous Awards

DeGrassa is the recipient of numerous Press Awards from the Philadelphia Press Association and Keystone Media Awards from The Pennsylvania Newspaper Association and The Pennsylvania News Media Association for Excellence in “Feature Writing,” “Headline Writing,” “Community Service,” “News Feature Story, “Column Writing,” “Personality Profile,” “Business or Consumer Story,” and “Lifestyle/Entertainment.”

She has also received the Delaware County Women’s Commission “2023 Woman of Achievement Award,” The Pennsylvania Veterans Museum’s “Distinguished Service Award,” The Arc of Delaware County’s “Community Service Award,” Celebrity Boxing’s “Community Champion Belt Award,” District 7 VFW’s “Community Service Award,” The Associazione Regionale Abruzzese Delco’s “Person of The Year” Award, and the VFW Dept. Of PA 7th District’s 2023 “Advocate of The Year Award.”

“I love everything about Delco—its wide variety of people, its unique and interesting places and diverse towns, its thriving business landscape, its sense of community, and its vibrant personality, “DeGrassa shared. “I have always been Delco’s biggest cheerleader!”

About the ATHENA Leadership Award

The ATHENA Leadership Award was inspired by the goddess of Greek mythology known for her strength, courage, wisdom, and enlightenment – qualities embodied in the ATHENA Leadership Model.

The Award is unique in both scope—local, national, and international—and the ATHENA mission upon which it is based.

The ATHENA Leadership Award is presented to a woman —or man— who is honored for professional excellence, community service and for actively assisting women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills.

Since the program’s inception in 1982, Athena International has given the ATHENA award to more than 8,200 exemplary leaders in over 500 communities and 11 countries, including the United States, Bermuda, Canada, China, Greece, India, Russia, United Arab Emirates and United Kingdom.

Delaware County award winners

Here in Delaware County, the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce has presented the award since 1989 to more than 35 recipients. They are:

• 1989 Dr. Sandra Cornelius
• 1990 Dr. Frances Carter
• 1991 Louise Naismith
• 1992 Lorrain McGlinn
• 1993 Hon. Mary Ann Arty
• 1994 Barbara Ann Zippi
• 1995 Theresa Heintz
• 1996 Ellen Fisher
• 1997 Kathy Robson
• 1998 Susan Garrison, Esq.
• 1999 Dr. Rosalie Mirenda
• 2000 Dr. Lilian Meier
• 2000 Cheryl Cunningham  
• 2001 Alice W. Strine, Esq.
• 2002 Carol Goertzel 
• 2003 Cecile Charlton
• 2004 Sally Holub
• 2005 Trisha Cofiell
• 2006 Jayne B. Garrison
• 2007 Joan K. Richards
• 2008 Marianne Grace
• 2009 Margaret L.H. Kuo
• 2010 Barbara Denczi
• 2011 Linda Durant
• 2012 Michele Daly
• 2013 Dana Riker Jackson
• 2014 Nicole deBotton Robinson
• 2015 Colleen Morrone
• 2016 Jennifer Morgan
• 2017 Cathy Judge Cardillo
• ​2018 Danielle McNichol
• 2019 Joanne Craig
• 2020 Dr. Joy Gates Black
• 2021 Rev. Zuline Gray Wilkinson
• 2022 President Judge Linda Cartisano
• 2023 Frances Sheehan

By honoring exceptional leaders, the ATHENA Leadership Award Program seeks to inspire others to achieve excellence in their professional and personal lives.

Find out more and register for the 2024 ATHENA Leadership Luncheon.