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Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesOn Island Profile: Julie Printy

On Island Profile: Julie Printy

Julie PrintyJulie Printy says she isn’t the type to blow her own horn about what she does for the community. Her goal lies in a different direction. If she inspires one person to give to the less fortunate, she says, her effort was worth it.
Printy learned as a child, through her family and as a Bluebird and Campfire Girl, the meaning of giving help to others.
"My family influenced me to help others because I had a ‘special cousin’ who was an inspiration for me to go out and raise funds selling candy and such for his school," Printy says. "And as a Campfire Girl growing up in New Hampshire, we worked to help our community."
Her dear friend Mary Crossier, who had been the owner of Gannet Hardware and is the current owner of Gallows Bay Hardware, convinced her to move to St. Croix in 1990 to work at her store.
At the time people were in dire need of help in the wake of Hurrricane Hugo, which hit in September 1989.
"I am truly blessed, so I wanted to give back to the community," Printy says. "Non-profits are dear to my heart."
She saw there was a need to help people get back on their feet, so she helped as one of the original servers of meals to the homeless every Wednesday at My Brothers’ Table in Frederiksted.
In 1990 she was active in the startup of the Closet to Closet resale shop run by the Women’s Coalition. Printy helped build up stock in gently used clothing and household items.
"I was begging friends to bring in their used clothing," she says. "I was sorting merchandise and ironing clothes."
She still helps out the Women’s Coalition any way she can with events such as its annual art auction.
Over the years Printy has served on the board of directors of a number different non-profit groups and is currently on the board of the Boys and Girls Club.
"We are currently in our annual fundraising campaign at the Boys and Girls Club, and if we all give a little here and there, we can raise enough to keep the clubs open," she says. "That $5, $10 or $25 donation all adds up."
The campaign runs through July and people can call 778-8990 to make a donation.
Printy says a mentor of hers was Pat Henry, who served as president of the St. Croix Hotel and Tourism Association and general manger at Divi Carina Bay Resort and Casino, which hosts the annual Holiday Hope Benefit for the Boys and Girls Club. Henry passed away in September after a brief illness.
"Something would come up and I didn’t have the time to help, but Pat would say, ‘We’ll do it, we’ll find time,’" Printy said. "He never said no."
Printy, the general manager at The Palms at Pelican Cove resort, is often behind the scenes at fundraisers held there, such as the St. Croix Animal Welfare Center Fur Ball or clambake.
She says she is able to help non-profits with assistance from her great friends and family, who she says also get involved.
With the economy the way it is now and the cuts in budgets, Printy says she really feels for the directors of non-profit agencies trying to make ends meet.
"It’s hard to ask people right now for donations," Printy says. "People are giving, but not like they used to. Times are tough, but we’re not giving up."

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