Women’s History Month - June Holt

For Women’s History Month, the Leonard Parker Pool Institute for Health is sharing the stories of women who have made a difference in the Lehigh Valley. June Holt is among those influencers, a woman who provided decades of community service, and inspired appreciation of the arts in Allentown and the greater Lehigh Valley.

Watch this video to learn more about June Holt:

A partner to best friend Leon Holt for over 70 years, June Holt embodied civic leadership within the Allentown community with grace and admiration. Moving from New York City to the Lehigh Valley, the couple called Allentown their new home and place of service in 1957. A proud graduate of Cornell University, June's presence and inspiration in the local art scene made a lasting impact. It was a snowy December night in 1964 when the Society of the Arts was born as an extension of the Allentown Art Museum, and where June Holt served as a founding member. The group affectionally known as "SOTA" formed to further the service programs in place at the Art Museum and to contribute to the social and cultural life in the Lehigh Valley.  

Her years of meritorious volunteer and community service garnered recognition from the Women's Educational Liaison Division to the United Way in Lehigh County. June's volunteer work with United Way was cited in her prestigious reception of the organization's 19th annual Silver Bowl Award in 1984. With emotion upon receiving the honor, June Holt said, "I'm greatly honored with the award ... this is the closest to 'Miss America' I'll ever get." Bright, sensitive and perceptive, June also served on the boards of the YWCA, Wiley House (now known as KidsPeace), Lehigh Valley Hospice and The Bach Choir of Bethlehem.  

This Women's History Month, we recognize June Holt as an influential woman who impacted quality of life in the Lehigh Valley.