2012 Hometown Spirit Award Co-Recipient

From nominators: 

When one thinks of the term ‘community-minded’, the first name to come to mind is Joy Pike.  I have had the honor of calling Joy Pike my close friend and associate for more than four-years, and in that time I have NEVER known her to turn her back on a person or organization in need of her help. From neighbors requiring a visit and a bowl of homemade chicken soup to cure their ill, to taking both a leadership and/or volunteer role in making a Town’s event more enticing and fun for all, Joy may always be counted on to see the task is completed with a smile and little-to-no fan fare for herself. 

Many people know Joy as the Treasurer of Heart of Cary Association, and she was for eight (8) years until this past June when she became its Board chairperson. And many people know Joy, along with her husband Dan—endearingly called Mr. Joy Pike—are USA Baseball Host ‘Parents’ who open up their home, heart and lives to two young players yearly for a week or more. And others know Joy as the organizer and ‘force’ behind the annual Ole Time Winter Festival bringing arts and crafts and entertainment to our Downtown the first Saturday of every December, providing the perfect lead-in to the Town’s Heart of the Holidays celebration that evening. No small undertaking. But that’s not all. Joy also serves as Board treasurer of the (proposed) Downtown Cary Children’s Museum, providing her tight-fisted expertise and helping keep the fledgling organization in the black. She is also a member of Sister Cities Association of Cary helping when called upon to organize and assure their receptions and events are enjoyed by all in attendance.  Additionally, Joy has been and still is instrumental as the lead community volunteer for Cary’s annual end of summer Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival, working tirelessly with Joy Ennis in organizing and shepherding the hundreds of vendors and thousands of visitors who take part in that August event. She has volunteered countless hours of herself to other community events including Spring Daze Arts & Crafts Festival, Cary High School Silent Auction, various youth events, the Downtown Farmer’s Market and Howlin’ Good Halloween, as well as other personal causes like the Psoriasis Foundation, all for the purpose of helping create a better life for others. 

With all this, lesser people would have had enough on their plate in which to be involved, but not Joy Pike. Because when Cary Band Day rolls around, Joy is the person responsible for the Heart of Cary’s parade participation by organizing the float riders as well as candy and bookmarks handed-out to the thousands lining the parade route. During this busy time of year she has also been instrumental in soliciting and collecting gifts for HoCA’s Holiday Toy Drive—because as she says “No child should find an empty space under their tree Christmas morning”. And her generosity doesn’t stop there, because whether it’s helping ‘sweep’ the Downtown streets four times a year as part of the Spruce Program, or enlisting the assistance of others with the many from-the-heart events throughout the year, Joy is always thinking of others more than herself.  And one last thing: Joy has served as the Precinct 04-01 Poll Judge every election for the past number of years, always displaying a fair, impartial and welcoming attitude toward voters and poll workers alike when attending to their questions and needs. 

Of a more personal note, Joy’s mother has been confined to a wheelchair for a number of years. Joy has been a devoted daughter, going out of her way to see to her mother’s well-being, thereby ensuring her mother’s quality to her life, keeping sure she still enjoys ‘la famiglia’, whether hosting large family dinners in her home—“There’s always room for one more”—taking her mother to church regularly, to the occasional Cary Arts Center play, outdoor concert and, of course, their weekly BINGO game. 

All-in-all, if this honorarium is designed to recognize one outstanding Cary resident who demonstrates their love of community by the role they play in keeping Cary’s small-town charm thriving, I cannot think of another person more selfless, and giving and fitting to be honored with the title Hometown Spirit Award Winner, than Joy Pike. And I believe all who know her would agree.  Respectfully submitted by Terry ‘Doc’ Thorne… as well as a host of others too numerous to name. 

From Don Hamilton:  I worked as the District Captain for the area where Joy lives and works.  She and I have attended countless meetings and events together.  I’ve always been impressed with Joy’s work ethic to get things done, but more importantly the attitude in which she goes about it.  She is outgoing, friendly, and looks at things with a “glass half full” mentality.  It was always a joy to see her because I knew the meeting would fruitful and enjoyable.  Joy is very deserving of this award.    

Nominated by: Don Hamilton and Terry Thorne