The Carbon County Community Foundation is pleased to announce that Kathy Kovatch Reaman has been named the third annual recipient of the Elissa M. Garofalo Community Impact Award.

Established by friends and family and with sponsorship from Wild Elder Wine & Cider Co., the award is presented in memory of Elissa Garofalo to someone who demonstrates leadership, vision, and impact in Carbon County. During her 21 years with the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, Garofalo helped bring numerous heritage, recreation, and community projects to fruition, leaving a lasting impact throughout the region.

From helping expand the D&L Trail and launch the “Get Your Tail on the Trail” wellness initiative to her earlier work revitalizing Jim Thorpe’s Broadway, Garofalo was passionate about creating places and opportunities that brought people together and strengthened the communities she served.

A lifelong resident of Nesquehoning, Reaman is the daughter of the late John “Sonny” Kovatch and Helen Kovatch. She earned her degree in business administration from Susquehanna University and later received her MBA from Moravian University.

Reaman spent 25 years working in finance and accounting for her family’s business, the Kovatch Organization, carrying forward the values instilled by her father, including the importance of giving back and strengthening the local community.

In 2024, Kathy and her husband, Ric, opened Narrow Valley Sportsplex in Nesquehoning, transforming a portion of the former KME property into a vibrant community destination.

Today, the facility offers a wide range of athletic, recreational, wellness, and family programming, providing opportunities that previously often required local families to travel outside the area.

But Kathy’s vision extends beyond athletics. Under her leadership, Narrow Valley has become a place where children, families, schools, athletes, and community organizations can connect. Summer camps provide opportunities for children while supporting working families, and in 2025 the Sportsplex introduced a before- and after-school program to help address a childcare need in the community.

Kathy has also worked to make opportunities more accessible and bring new resources into Carbon County. Narrow Valley has hosted specialized clinics and programs, including an international soccer camp, and has partnered with St. Luke’s University Health Network to expand access to sports medicine, injury-prevention education, wellness initiatives, and athletic health resources.

Her leadership has also reflected a commitment to ensuring local children and families can participate regardless of financial circumstances.

In 2025, Narrow Valley received a $10,000 community grant to help offset summer camp costs for local children, supporting scholarships for families based on need.

“Kathy embodies the qualities this award was created to recognize—leadership, vision, and a commitment to making Carbon County stronger,” said Sharon Alexander, President of the Carbon County Community Foundation. “What stands out about Kathy is her ability to see what a community needs and then find ways to make it happen. She has taken a property with deep roots in Carbon County and created something that looks toward the future, giving local families new opportunities to connect, grow, and thrive close to home.”

“I’m truly honored to receive this award, although I have to admit I accept it with some hesitation because so much of what we’ve accomplished at Narrow Valley has never been about one person,” Reaman said.

“It has been the result of an incredible team, the support of my husband and my children, our community partners, and so many people who believed in what we were trying to build. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of something that creates opportunities for local families and strengthens our community, and I’m especially humbled to have that work connected to Elissa’s legacy and the incredible impact she has had on Carbon County. I’m grateful to be included in that legacy, but I also know that this honor belongs to so many people who have helped us along the way. I’m simply very fortunate to be one of the people who gets to be part of it.”

In addition to her work at Narrow Valley, she serves as president of Kovatch Enterprises and volunteers at St. Jerome Regional School through the Home and School Association. She and Ric are the parents of Emily, Lauren, Megan, and AJ Reaman.

Community members are invited to submit nominations for the award each year, which are reviewed by a committee of Garofalo’s loved ones. The award includes a $500 stipend, which the recipient may use for professional development or direct to a local charity of their choice.

The award presentation will take place as part of the 20/20 Circle Annual Meeting & Grants Dinner, where attendees will also hear presentations from this year’s nonprofit finalists and take part in awarding a $6,000 community grant from the 20/20 Circle fund.

For more information about the event or to purchase tickets, visit www.cccfoundpa.org.