Nancy Tosti receives statewide award for volunteer work

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Nancy Tosti, pictured with her husband, Deacon Tom Tosti, and daughter Kimberly, received the Hearts and Hands award from the Utah Nonprofits Philanthropy Day organization.

PARK CITY — Nancy Morin Tosti, a St. Mary of the Assumption parishioner, was recently recognized for her service at a Utah Nonprofits Philanthropy Day luncheon. Along with other volunteers in the community, Tosti received the Hearts and Hands award.

For the past five years, Tosti, who lives in Oakley and runs her own business as a manufacturer of liturgical furnishings (since 2001), has been a volunteer at Peace House, a nonprofit organization in Park City that provides services to those affected by family violence, abuse and sexual assault.

She has been a Peace House board member for three years. For those years, she has also chaired a large committee that organizes the annual Bling Fling accessory boutique fundraiser. Last year, Bling Fling raised more than $70,000 for Peace House and helped fund a new 40,000-square-foot facility on the outskirts of Park City.

“Nancy has really supported Peace House through the years,” said Sally Tauber, the organization’s director of marketing and development, who nominated Tosti for the award.

“She is very dedicated with her work chairing the Bling Fling event,” Tauber said of Tosti. “It is such a massive event, and there is so much work involved. It raises a significant amount of money for Peace House, and we are so grateful for her support.”

Those funds “are very meaningful to Peace House in supporting families affected by domestic violence,” Tauber said. “Without that support, we may not be able to serve as many families as we do.”

In acknowledgment of her work with Peace House, in addition to the Hearts & Hands Award, Tosti received a certificate of appreciation from Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox’s office. She and the other recipients were recognized by Cox and others Nov. 19 at a special luncheon.  

Not someone who likes to put herself forward, Tosti said she felt very humbled being nominated for the award and “even more humbled receiving it. … I work with a very large team to do Bling Fling, and I don’t feel like it’s me that did all this work, but they could only honor one person, so I was honored to receive it.”

Tosti estimates she contributes 200 to 300 volunteer hours to Peace House each year.

She first learned of the nonprofit when she was seeking help for a family member who was in an abusive relationship, she said.

“I feel like it is a worthwhile organization,” she said. “I love what it stands for and it fit well with the service I do for the Church.”

A cradle Catholic, Tosti is married to Deacon Tom Tosti, who was ordained in 2004. The couple has two children and one grandson. She went through the diaconate training program with her husband and assists him in his work as a deacon in their home parish.  

“We do everything as a team,” she said.

Her responsibilities involve anything from coordinating liturgical services, to preparing documents and acting as a wedding coordinator. Tosti is also an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion and a master catechist.

“I really would like to acknowledge the Peace House organization itself for the work they do in Summit and Wasatch County for the victims of domestic violence; it’s an awesome organization,” she said.