Gladwyne Resident Honored for Work With Homeless Women, Children

Gladwyne resident Tracey Specter has been working to improve the lives of women and children in the Philadelphia area since 1987.

Specter got involved with Holy Redeemer’s Drueding Center at its inception that year (then called Project Rainbow), and she has helped with its transitional housing program for women and children ever since. The Philadelphia center works to help women gain independence for themselves and for their children through life-skill support and education programs, which include parenting skills, computer skills and learning how to navigate housing and nutrition for their families.

She recently received the Sister Kathryn Etchells Leadership Award at the 25^th Anniversary Gala for the center in late March. Specter served on Drueding Center’s Board of Directors for 12 years and also volunteered on a grassroots level, including teaching cooking seminars. The center also recently announced an on-site food pantry. 

“I was very touched, and I feel very honored because it has really been a significant part of my life,” said Specter, whose husband and four children have also been involved at the center.

Sister Kathryn Etchells was the first administrative person Specter came in contact with. It was she who encouraged Specter to get involved and encouraged her to be on the board. 

“There have been hundreds of women—many I’ve met personally—who have truly graduated and gone on to being successful in terms of being able to support themselves and their families,” Specter said.

One of those women is Tyiesha Shields, who went to Drueding Center when her daughter was 4 days old.

“My experience here has been an amazing experience,” said Shields, who graduated from Drueding Center and now volunteers there herself. “During my time here, I received my high school diploma, went to a nursing program and am now at the Community College of Philadelphia to become a certified nurse.”

Shields’ daughter attended Drueding’s child-care service, and Shields comes back to volunteer whenever she has the time. Drueding Center welcomes back program graduates who are out on their own if they ever need help with anything, she added.

“They really want a positive outcome for mothers and their children,” Shields said. 

Specter said the program has been an extremely rewarding experience.

“If you aren’t involved in Drueding Center, I feel it really enriched my life by giving back, and I hope that people would consider getting involved in Drueding Center themselves.” 

Specter also serves as vice president and development chairwoman for the Perelman Jewish Day School, and she serves on the board of the Philadelphia Jewish Day School Collaborative, the Board of Trustees of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and the board of Maccabiah USA.

For more information about Drueding Center, or to get involved or give a donation, visit druedingcenter.org.