Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/859684
T ierra L. Dobry, a member of the first graduating class of Montgomery County Community College's Dental Hygiene Program in 1975, was the kind of person who was invested in helping others and her community. "She was a very selfless person; she always thought of others first," says Leanne Campbell, a dental hygienist who worked with Tierra at King of Prussia Dental Associates, where Tierra was a dental hygienist for 25 years. According to her sister, Tonya Thornton, "Tierra loved her job and found great satisfaction in being a dental hygienist. Tierra was grateful for the training she received in the College's Dental Hygiene Program." "Our family had limited resources, and our mother worked very hard to provide the bare necessities," Thornton said. "Tierra worked and saved to put herself through school. She thought it was a valuable program, and she knew her dental hygiene training would change her life." After Tierra died on Dec. 23, 2010, from a long struggle with breast cancer, her family, friends and co-workers wanted to do something special in her memory. Since her husband, Ed Dobry, is a retired track coach, and their three sons—Jerod, Jason, and Jonathan—were all involved in athletics, the idea of hosting a 5K for student scholarships and to advance dental care in the community seemed to be a natural fit. The family knew the gift of education would change lives, just like it did their mother's. Working together, family members, friends and colleagues formed the Tierra L. Dobry Foundation, a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization and held the first Routes of Hope 5K Run/Walk on Nov. 5, 2011, at Pope John Paul II High School in Royersford. Since that inaugural race, the Tierra L. Dobry Foundation has raised more than $50,000 for 14 scholarships for students in Donor Spotlight 34 M O N T G O M E RY C O U N T Y C O M M U N I T Y C O L L E G E Tierra's legacy runs on By Diane VanDyke The Dobry family. Front row, from left: Ed Dobry, Tierra Dobry and Jonathan Dobry. Back row, from left: Jason Dobry, Natalie Dobry (Jason's wife) and Jerod Dobry. Photo courtesy of Dobry family