Photography by Donovan Roberts Witmer
Mike Greenwald
Using Celebrity for Good
Mike Greenwald does not use the “R” word. Instead he refers to “that time when I no longer have an 8-5 commitment.” In that post 8-5 era, Greenwald (aka Mr. WITF) remains intentionally engaged.
Yearly, bi-annual and monthly happenings require his attendance. Various boards, like the advisory arm of Penn State-Harrisburg’s School of Humanities, mark his attendance. Every spring and fall, the Hershey Theatre asks Greenwald, one of dozens of evaluators, to attend multiple high school performances for its Apollo Awards.
A look at his media career sheds some light on this. “Stumbling” into his career straight from graduate school, Greenwald became a TV producer/director for Central Pennsylvania’s fledgling public broadcasting station.
Producing ground-breaking shows brought luminaries like James Taylor and the Muppets’ Jim Henson into his orbit. He escorted Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey to the studio on a private plane. And once, he covered the story of a lifetime: The blast-off of Apollo 11, the first spaceship to land humans on the moon.
Out Comes the Tuxedo
This high visibility turned Greenwald into a reluctant celebrity, and calls for his help haven’t slowed down much. He still consults for WITF, and he’s a regular emcee at various events, so it’s a good thing he has a fondness for his tuxedo. “Extracurricular activities are in my DNA. My life wouldn’t be complete if I were not involved in some way with activities that help me grow and learn and be helpful in whatever way I can,” Greenwald says.
His current challenge differs: protecting the time he’s worked all of his life to have. Naturally, as a Penn State alumnus, he attends as many games as possible. But it’s hard to fit everything in, so he’s careful about what he says yes to.
Lights…Camera…Act Two
One thing Greenwald does make time for is the treadmill, especially after his triple-bypass surgery 12 years ago. He typically agrees to help with fundraising and promoting philanthropy, whether it’s for arts events, the Foundation for Enhancing Communities or his synagogue after a fire. One particular connection has endured since he ran spotlights for what’s now known as Theatre Harrisburg. Sure, he played Felix Ungar in “The Odd Couple” years ago, but most of his work has been backstage, so you’d never know it unless you followed him around. More visibly, he sits on committees and produces the arts award event he founded back in 1989. (Except for this year, when he was the blushing recipient.)
His advice for people facing the “R” word is: “Continue to live the way you always have; just use your time differently.” He says there’s every reason to keep former colleagues in our lives. “If you’re afraid of losing those contacts, then don’t. Schedule them in. And hang out with young people.” Summing up his career and post-worklife era, he says, “I really think our lives are all about people.” So it’s no surprise that he continues to be surrounded by them.
Ann Barshinger
Humble, Helpful and Seriously Funny
Recently, Ann Boyd Barshinger was asked to become “Miss Boy Scout.” She jokes, “I can tie a square knot; I think that must be why. Although the list they want from me doesn’t have anything to do with square knots.” In addition to Mrs. Barshinger’s radiant personality and generous pocketbook, the Boy Scouts of America were asking for the names of people she knew who might also help. “I have to line my friends up,” Barshinger says, “and see how long they stay friendly with me.”
Apparently, being Ann Barshinger, even at 92, will fill up your calendar. Shuttling between engage-ments, she supports causes as diverse as the Fulton Opera House and the Susan P. Byrnes Health Education Center, a dental center with a horse and buggy outreach, organizations that assist women and children who are homeless, a scholars program, a financial empowerment center and more. She says, “It’s not hard to find ways to help. All you have to do is walk downtown.” Buildings in town bear her name; traveling around Lancaster commemorates her commitment to the community.
From Dawdling to Leading
Though she grew up on a farm raising cows, pigs and chickens in York County, Barshinger shares no hard-knock story. Instead, she claims she was a dawdler, “walking very slowly back from the barn to the house, hoping to be too late to help set the table.” Insisting she’s “not really that interesting,” she says she exaggerates. “After about 10 years, the stories about the trips I’ve taken have gotten pretty wild,” she laughs.
Ann served on the Civil Air Patrol at the York Airport during WWII and later married Richard Barshinger of the former Red Lion Milling Co. dynasty. Joining with Richard to contribute to Franklin & Marshall (the Ann & Richard Barshinger Life Sciences & Philosophy Building and the Barshinger Center for Musical Arts), Ann carries on his legacy since his death in 2001. “I have to look up in the sky once in a while,” she confesses, “and say thank you.”
A Life-Giving Gift
You might recognize her name best through the new Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute. Her $5 million donation was the largest individual contribution to Lancaster General Health, ever.
Randall Oyer, MD, director of the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute, marvels, “Ann comes to every important milestone to let everyone know she’s involved and to offer encouragement.” Barshinger watched friends who had to travel to other metropolitan areas to access all of the services that treat cancer. Says Oyer, “She didn’t see any reason we couldn’t create ‘big city care’ close to home.”
The Institute is designed to reduce suffering and bring healing. The striking, light-filled structure surrounds a tranquil garden and meditation pavilion. Barshinger likes to stop by. She recalls, “I can be eating lunch and someone will come up and tell me what a great experience they had there. It really makes you feel like you did something worthwhile.”
Susan Byrnes
A Big Second Act to Follow
None of us knows what direction our lives will take. For Susan Byrnes, this has been extraordinarily true.
Graduating from York Catholic High School, then serving as a nurse in a DC emergency room, Byrnes noted the advanced diseases that landed people there. Returning to work at York Hospital, she became convinced that educating people to make better lifestyle choices was critical.
She began making pitches in friends’ living rooms, eventually raising the support needed to launch the Byrnes Health Education Center in 1995. Over the next 20 years, over 7 million children and adults would benefit from its fun, prevention-focused offerings.
Following a long career there, Byrnes spent six years in Sedona, Arizona. “I tried an early retirement,” says Byrnes, “and decided I was ready to get back in there, to get back to giving.”
A New Trajectory
She didn’t set out to run for office. All she did was read the paper. Noting that all three county commissioners were up for re-election, she thought, “If I want to make a difference, here’s an opportunity.” York Countians agreed, giving her 8,000 more votes than her closest opponent.
Byrnes says public office “isn’t for the faint of heart.” She remains on a learning curve, digesting the details of overseeing 2,600 county employees, 72 municipalities and a $535 million budget. Serving on 15 boards keeps her out and about most nights and weekends. “I’m hoping to get better with that,” says Byrnes. “Number one, I have to be healthy.” Following another priority, she heads across the street to kiss her grandchildren goodbye before they leave for school.
One of her first actions in office was instituting a Commissioners Gold Coin, which recognizes acts of kindness among county employees; each coin is meant to be passed on. Another is continuing the work she’s done for veterans.
Supporting Other Public Servants
Byrnes comes from a family of veterans, including her grandfather (WWI), her father (WWII) and her son (Iraq War). She helped create the Veterans Memorial Gold Star Healing & Peace Garden and, more recently, a homeless shelter for veterans. At the beginning of her term in January, she expanded her focus to others who protect the public. She points to the importance of emergency responders, especially as they address the heroin crisis. Plus there’s the prison, services for youth and families, the county’s nursing home and more.
Small wonder it’s hard to find time to swim. But true to her principles, Byrnes exercises regularly and pursues other healthy activities like gardening and yoga.
Nona Brown of Brown’s Orchards & Farm Markets says there’s no one she admires more, calling Byrnes “a leader, a collaborator and a positive thinker who is determined and enthusiastic.” Brown says Byrnes’ energy, dedication and compassion for serving others is “nothing short of phenomenal.”
You can bet Byrnes’ latest role in helping her community won’t be her last. But for now, it’s quite enough to keep her busy…and making a difference.