The first Martha Hardee Award for Community Service was presented Wednesday, Oct. 14, at the Whispers luncheon held at the Country Club of Whispering Pines.

The event, planned by Sharon Mathias, Sally Nealon, Mary Steffan, Marilyn Navarro and Joan Bruno was attended by 87 people.

In 1964, Martha Hardee gathered a dozen women from Whispering Pines who met monthly for lunch. As the group grew, a fundraiser project to support the Moore County agencies was born and the Whispers organization was started.

To honor Martha Hardee, Whispers decided to present an award for community service to a dedicated woman in the village. Ron Hardee, a guest at the luncheon, was presented the first award in honor of his late mother.

A second award posthumously recognized Jean Fisher, who in 1972 took over as editor and publisher of "The Pitch," the Whispering Pines newspaper. She kept the residents informed of village activities and worked tirelessly on behalf of animal welfare projects.

Mary Galtere, recipient of the Hardee Award, moved to Whispering Pines with her husband in 1997.

She created the "Good Hands Gang," an effective community-help organization centered in Whispering Pines. With her guidance, this group of volunteers raises funds for Christmas gifts and Easter baskets for needy families, food for charitable organizations, personal care packages for dialysis patients and others, makes toys, mittens, hats, slippers and other items that benefit those in need.

The village manager, Steve DeBolt, guest speaker, addressed the Whispers on the state of the village. His comments included the environment, lake conditions, future village development and community concerns in general.