May 22, 2004 By Amy Karpinsky 3 min read

Commitment is the key to success, according to Fayette County Commission Chairwoman Angela Zimmerlink. “If you are 100 percent willing to pay the price, you will be 100 percent likely to succeed,’ said Zimmerlink in a speech Thursday at the Mom’s Shower/Spring Fling 2004 sponsored by Fayette Healthy Start at the Holiday Inn.

The annual event was geared toward new and soon-to-be mothers enrolled in the Head Start program. Numerous pregnant women, infants and children attended the event, aimed at teaching participants how to clean up their homes and lives. During the afternoon, mothers played games and won prizes.

Using her own goal of becoming a county commissioner as an example, Zimmerlink urged the women to set a specific goal and work until it is met. She added that it doesn’t help to dwell on the past. Zimmerlink said she could have thought of her unsuccessful campaign for county commissioner in 1999 and let it stop her from running, but she didn’t.

“You have to remember your successes and accept all types of possibilities,” she said. “If you really want it bad enough, you’re going to do it.”

Zimmerlink distributed several handouts outlining keys for success. She stressed that to achieve a goal, a date to achieve it must be written down. She urged the women to use any of the 50 tips that work for them.

Zimmerlink said spring-cleaning can be used as a beginning to cleaning up your life and getting it in order.

“Spring is the perfect time. The flowers are blooming and it gives everyone a nice feeling,” she said.

Kylie Sims, information referral specialist for Head Start, explained that the home-based program cares for prenatal and postnatal mothers and children up to age 2. She said the community-based program has more than 250 women enrolled, ranging in age from 13 to 44. Sims said the program is free for participants and there are no income guidelines.

Sims said the goal of the organization is to have a resource for mothers and reduce the infant mortality rate in the county, a figure that has declined since Healthy Start began several years ago. In 2003, 95 percent or 242 out of 255 pregnant participants who were enrolled into case management during the first trimester were connected with a prenatal provide by the end of the first trimester.

Also during the event, Fayette Healthy Start proudly announced that 54 Wilson Ave. in Uniontown is the new home of the organization. The 14-room house was purchased earlier this year thanks to the help of two Allegheny County Foundations.