Longtime Columbia community activist Cathy Novinger will be awarded the United way of the Midlands 2010 Humanitarian of the Year Award Thursday night at a dinner at the Columbia Convention Center. Novinger is currently executive director of the Palmetto AgriBusiness Council and president and CEO of Novinger QTR inc. in West Columbia. The award is presented annually to a person who has exhibited extraordinary service and philanthropy in the Midlands. Novinger has served on numerous boards and committees over the decades, but lately has been active in helping to create remedies for the area’s homelessness issue and in addressing the local need for public transportation. Novinger spoke with The State recently about her life’s journey:

What does it mean to you to be named Humanitarian of the Year in the Midlands?

“I am extremely honored and humbled by this award, because I’ve always viewed myself as a businessperson, and always thought other people saw me as a businessperson. I didn’t know people thought of me as a humanitarian and I never really thought of myself as a humanitarian. In the business community, you’re often put in a box. You’re either business or you’re an environmentalist. You’re business or you’re a do-gooder. So the fact that I’ve crossed those lines in recognition is very, very humbling to me. I’ll be honest with you; I didn’t realize that I did humanitarian things. I just saw things that needed to be done and tried to help. when this award came my way, I was surprised.”

You’ve been dealing with health problems. How are you feeling and what is the state of your health?

“I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer six years ago. I became acutely aware that women just didn’t understand the symptoms. I didn’t. I realized there was a huge lack of awareness and education, so we started the South Carolina Ovarian Cancer Foundation here in the Riverbanks region. we go out and we do “lunch and learns” trying to educate women on the symptoms. we have fundraisers for a media campaign to get the awareness out there on the issues. It is one of the worst cancers you can have as far as survival rate. There was a void there that needed to be filled, so I stepped up on that. I’ve been at this battle — it’s been a battle — for more than six years. I’ve had various surgeries, lots of chemotherapy, lots of radiation. and right now I’m still in chemo, but it’s maintenance. once a month. It puts me down for a couple of days and I pop back up. and right now, I’m doing very well.”

Novinger’s husband of 45 years, Bob, recently was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer and also is in treatment. “thank goodness, God has given us a peace about it,” she said. “We’ve been blessed with that.”

What do you think the attitude is in the greater Columbia area toward the homeless issue?

“I was a late-comer to the issue, really, and I have been surprised, because I had perceived this as being a downtown issue, an economic development obstacle, if you will. … (But) this issue is pretty broad.”

Novinger said she was surprised at how many people had stepped up to meet the needs. “What I’m finding out by the number of checks that we’ve received from individuals who would just write a check for $10 or $15 is — people care. they really care. and I was just surprised and delighted to see that.”

Novinger said even people with safety, security and management concerns who live or run businesses in neighborhoods near where the new homeless Transition Center is being built at Sumter Street and Elmwood Avenue, came to the table with their support — provided the project is run correctly.

Going back to your days at SCANA, you have had an interest in public (bus) transportation in this region. As you know, it’s very expensive. How vital do you think public transportation really is to this area?

“The city has taken a step so that tells me that they recognize they have a huge responsibility in this. and Richland County said, ‘OK, we know we have a responsibility in it.’ and so, that’s great. How can you have a capital city and not have public transportation? How many of these workers at the fort (Jackson), get there and back and forth on the bus? I’ve seen the numbers. The hospitals? Midlands Tech? and doctors? I mean, it’s insane to think this city could even possibly operate without a public transit system.”

How did you manage to scale the heights of South Carolina’s only Fortune 500 company from a file clerk to vice president at the age of 32?

“I happened to work for a company, and a CEO, Virgil Summer, who at the time, saw the value in diversity.” Novinger said he opened doors by establishing special training programs for African-Americans and for women and put an emphasis on promoting from within. “Because of that new culture and that commitment, that enabled people like me to have an avenue to move forward. … had it not been for that, I would still be a clerk typist. It is amazing what one person, or one corporation can do.”