News & Stories
Pearl S. Buck International Launches New Janet L. Mintzer Center with Grand Opening Celebration June 3, 2021
The thunderstorms, torrential rain, and the temporary loss of power couldn’t dampen the spirits of the packed house Thursday, June 3 as Pearl S. Buck International celebrated the grand opening of its new conference and event center and the woman it has been named for, Emeritus President & CEO Janet L. Mintzer.
The beautiful state-of-the-art event space was named in honor of Mintzer, who dedicated nearly 20 years of leadership and love to Pearl S. Buck International before her retirement in May 2020. The new Janet L. Mintzer Center was launched with a morning ribbon-cutting ceremony and evening grand opening gala dinner at Pearl S. Buck International’s Hilltown, PA headquarters.
Pearl S. Buck International staff, volunteers, donors, friends, and Board members, as well as community and business members and leaders all turned out for the big day. In addition, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, representative of Pennsylvania’s First Congressional District, Pennsylvania State Senator Steve Santarsiero of State Senate District 10, and Pennsylvania State Representative F. Todd Polinchock of the 144th Legislative District, all attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony and/or the evening celebration. During the morning festivities, Mintzer was presented with citations and offered congratulations on the culmination of four years of planning, fundraising, and hard work in bringing to life this vision for the future of Pearl S. Buck International.
In addition to the gala dinner being an opportunity to finally commemorate Mintzer’s long career at Pearl S. Buck International, a celebration that had been delayed a year by the Covid-19 pandemic, it was a chance to recognize all the capital campaign donors for their commitment and generosity to the project and the organization.
“This special day is a celebration of fours year of truly hard work that started with a vision and was realized through the amazing dedication of Pearl S. Buck donors, friends, and staff,” noted Anna Katz, Pearl S. Buck International President & CEO. “We would not be here today if it were not for your support. I truly thank you. Each of you has played a critical role in supporting the mission of Pearl S. Buck International of bridging cultures and changing lives. We see the new Janet L. Mintzer Center as an amazing opportunity to further our mission.”
Mintzer noted that when the idea for the project was first being realized, “our strategic plan direction was going to be to really embrace the aspects of Pearl Buck that address diversity, inclusion and acceptance of all peoples. It came to me that we should start using this space for an event and conference center that could be used for the community to bring all people together. There is no other place in this county that brings together peoples of different races, different cultures, different ethnicities. We’ve got all these separate places, but where’s the place where we all come together? This is the place. This is what Pearl Buck would want, this was her legacy, her vision of bringing people together.”
In addition to hosting Pearl S. Buck International signature events such as Woman of Influence and programs such as High School Global Leadership and Welcome Workplace intercultural competency training, the Janet L. Mintzer Center will provide the perfect venue on 67 acres of woods, manicured lawns and award-winning gardens for business meetings and retreats, community and civic gatherings, family special events, weddings, and more. In keeping with the work and mission of Pearl S. Buck International, it will also serve as a center that truly furthers Pearl Buck’s cross-cultural and humanitarian legacy as a community hub for dialogue and education.