ALLEN COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) -- Thursday evening, the Allen County Board of Commissioners and the public gathered to recognize Barb Richards as she received the 2024 Linda & Jerry Vandeveer Impact Award. Richards was nominated by several different applicants for her support for the community as she has served on various non-profit boards including; YWCA, Fort Wayne Children’s Choir, Fort Wayne Youtheatre, Indiana Artisan (state-wide board), Riley Hospital Philanthropy Council, Run for Riley race, and Riley Radio-thon. Richards has raised $3 million personally for Riley Hospital benefitting many children throughout the state. Richards also spread her broadcasting wings to help in MC at multiple community events including 18 out of the 19 IPFW Tapestry conferences. "Once you move into community, you can really decide to own that community," said Richards. "Once my husband and I settled here, we started having kids, we wanted to make this the best community we could possibly make it for our kids, that's really what propelled me to get involved outside of my job." County Commissioners said in a release, “It was hard to ignore the tireless efforts Barb has committed over the past several decades. While she was honored with the Circle of Corydon Award in 2017 by Senator David Long, we were glad to recognize her at the local level with this Impact Award.” Richards was joined by her colleagues, and family as well as Gerald Vandeveer, the son of the late Jerry and Linda Vandeveer at Thursday's ceremony. "I think what Jerry and Linda started has grown and Gerald, their son, has continued on," said Richards. "I think it's a wonderful example, I think we should all follow his lead."