This year, Kathryn “Kitty” Moeller is the honored recipient of the Libby Award. According to Moeller, the Libby Award was created in 2000 by the Flint Women and Girls Fund Advisory Committee, and is presented every two years to a woman who “inspires diverse groups of women and girls, acts as a role model and empowers women.” The first recipient of the award was Olivia “Libby” Maynard, whose advocacy for women was well-known.
Moeller has followed Maynard’s footsteps and is also known for her dedication to volunteering, community service, philanthropy and woman empowerment. “I have a commitment to work for the better good and to make our community a stronger place for everybody,” Moeller says. She has served on many boards, including: The Junior League, Urban League, First Presbyterian Church, MTA and Planned Parenthood, to name a few. “I was on the Urban League board for six years,” Moeller shares. “It was a wonderful experience to work with so many people who were dedicated to helping others. It was such a privilege and pleasure to know them.”
She was also very involved at the Genesee District Library and has served as a national volunteer for the Girl Scouts of the USA (one of the first organizations she became involved with), and is a past chair of the Flint Women and Girls Fund Advisory Committee. She was also very involved with United Way for many years.
“Congratulations to the 2018 Libby Award winner,
Kitty Moeller! Kitty embodies someone who
inspires diverse groups of womenand girls,
acts as a role model, and empowers other women.”
Community Foundation of Greater Flint
Born and raised in Detroit, Moeller moved to Flint after marrying her high school sweetheart, Bill Moeller, who had moved his business as a stock broker and investment advisor to the area many years ago. When they moved to Flint, she only knew two people – a college roommate and a friend of Bill’s parents who spent hours with them when they first arrived, showing them houses on an icy, winter day. “We never went back to Detroit. Flint has been our home ever since,” Moeller remembers.
The Moeller’s raised their three children in Flint and now have six grandchildren. While raising her family, Moeller owned a needlepoint business in Grand Blanc for 20 years. She retired in 1995, and since then, has continued her commitment to community service.
Moeller first got to know people in the area by attending First Presbyterian Church in Downtown Flint and serving on their board of directors. “It didn’t take long for Flint to feel like home,” Moeller admits. “People were so accepting – that’s the first thing that impressed me. Accepting people for who they are is a huge strength that Flint residents don’t realize they have.”
She is currently on the board of directors for Communities First, Inc., which she very much enjoys. “Communities First is working hard to turn this city right-side-up,” she points out. Moeller was nominated for the Libby Award by Communities First Co-founder, Essence Wilson.
“Kitty is a wonderful person to know. She is infectiously
positive and supportive. You can’t help but feel empowered
and charged by her natural energy. I am happy to call her a
friend and to see her recognized with the 2018 Libby Award.”
Essence Wilson, Co-founder, Communities First Inc.
In October, a reception was held in Moeller’s honor by the Flint Women and Girls Fund Advisory Committee at the Capitol Theatre. She was honored and humbled to have been chosen as the recipient of the Libby Award, feeling that many others are deserving of the honor. “There are so many people in this community doing incredible things,” she says. “Having been involved in selecting women for the award, I was particularly overwhelmed.”
Moeller’s daughter and daughter-in-law traveled from out of town for the event. “The ceremony was fabulous!” she exclaims. “I’m still in shock. It never occurred to me that anyone would nominate me. It was just wonderful! There were so many people there who I am so fond of.”
She has always been an advocate for women. She remembers telling her own daughter, who was incredibly talented in mathematics, that she should become an engineer. “Why would I want to be an engineer?” her daughter asked, thinking that an engineer was a person who drove a train. And then, “She became an engineer!” Moeller shares. “Girls can be whatever they want to be.”
Moeller plans to continue empowering women and convincing them to get involved, as well as promote the importance of volunteering. “People who volunteer have a sense that something outside of themselves is more important,” she says. “Our country was founded by volunteers, and Flint has a strong history of volunteering. People in Flint are still doing something outside of themselves – I see it all of the time. Flint has a true sense of community,” says Moeller, “and strong women make a huge difference. They are finally realizing the power they have to help other people.”
Photo by Kayce McClure
