The Pennsylvania Beverage Association is pleased to extend its congratulations to Joe Brake, Vice President and General Manager of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of the Lehigh Valley, for being one of two recipients of the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Awards from the ArtsQuest Foundation in Bethlehem
The other award winner is renowned artist Steven Tobin.
Brake will receive the Lifetime Achievement - Volunteer in the Arts Award honors during the Linny Awards celebration November 10, 6 p.m., at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way in Bethlehem.
“I’ve known and worked with Joe for many years, and now as President of the Pennsylvania Beverage Association. He has always been a very active supporter of community groups and events and works constantly to make a positive contribution to the Lehigh Valley,” said Tony Crisci, Legislative Counsel to the Pennsylvania Beverage Association. “Under his leadership, Lehigh Valley Coca-Cola has also been recognized for its initiatives to promote recycling and reduce water consumption at its facility, which is a winner of the Wildlands Conservancy Ark Environmental Award.”
A longtime volunteer in the Lehigh Valley region, Joe Brake has been involved with numerous community, arts and cultural organizations for more than three decades.
Brake currently serves on the boards of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs Charities and Best Inc. and as a member of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Governors.
He has also served as member of the Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America - Minsi Trails Council, a member of the Executive Committee of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the boards of the Bach Choir, Lehigh Valley Partnership and the Miracle League of the Lehigh Valley.
Brake is the recipient of the Priscilla Payne Hurd Award from the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce, the Lehigh Valley PICPA Service Award from the LifePath Foundation and the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Boy Scouts of America – Minsi Trails Council.
He was the honorary chair of fundraisers and campaigns for the American Lung Association, the Bethlehem Rotary Club, Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Pediatric Hospital “Gala in the Garden.”
He and his wife Mary Pat reside in Coopersburg and are the proud parents of two grown children, Dan and Kelly, and five grandchildren.
“As an artist and philanthropist, Linny Fowler had an immeasurable impact on the arts in our region and the Linny Awards are designed to recognize our thriving arts community, including our talented artists, arts educators, students and supporters of the arts,” says ArtsQuest Foundation Executive Director Jeff Parks. “Joe Brake and Steve Tobin are two individuals who truly embody the spirit of what these awards are all about – dedication and passion for the arts and our community.
“Joe has done so much for our region and inspired so many through his generosity and his volunteerism, while Steve has really helped place the Lehigh Valley on the map as a home for world-class artists, so we are truly honored to present these two men with our inaugural Lifetime Achievement Awards,” said Parks.
Tickets for the Linny Awards are on sale now. All proceeds from the event will go to support the nonprofit ArtsQuest Foundation, founded in 2002 by Mrs. Fowler.
For more information on the ArtsQuest Foundation and the Linny Awards, please visit the ArtsQuest Foundation website.
The Pennsylvania Beverage Association represents bottlers, franchise companies and suppliers in the non-alcoholic beverage industry in the Commonwealth on issues pending before the General Assembly and executive agencies.
The Association also undertakes educational programs and builds partnerships on behalf of members on issues such as litter control, recycling and healthy diets.
